Five groups deserving of sympathy during NHL lockout

• Team employees, arena workers, nearby restaurants have become collateral damage
• Fan miss out on hockey and probably won't get a break on ticket prices
• Fringe NHL players missing opportunities for lucrative call-ups

It's difficult for most of us to relate to an NHL ownership-player squabble that centers on the issue of how to divide up $3.3 billion in revenue every season. But there are interested parties who are worthy of our sympathy during this lockout:

1. Workers left unemployed: Team employees, arena workers, small business owners and waitresses at restaurants are example of those paying a price. Undoubtedly, thousands of workers have become collateral damage, caught in the crossfire of the owners vs. players battle. The cancellation of games is taking money directly from their pocket. The league has enacted four-day work weeks for its employees, accompanied by a 20% reduction in pay. A handful of NHL teams have also announced layoffs and pay cuts. The economic impact of the NHL lockout is a heavy burden for many.

2. Fans: Without fans' patronage, there is no $3.3 billion for owners and players to argue about, but fans' views and opinions are of no relevance in this fight. Fans pay the tab for the NHL to exist, but they have no seat at the bargaining table. NHL officials and players say they feel sorry for the fans. But when this fight is over, the two sides aren't going to shake hands and say 'Let's both take two percent less' so we can cut ticket prices. Ticket prices won't be raised immediately after the lockout, but lockout history shows ticket buyers can count on paying more to watch NHL games over the next few years. Some fans are saying they will protest the lockout by not renewing their season tickets, but history also shows the vast majority will come back because they love the game.

3. Teemu Selanne and Daniel Alfredsson: NHLers who play into their late 30s or early 40s aren't doing it for the money. They have enough to last their lifetime. They play because they love the game. They have impeccable reputations as people and players, and they are being deprived of playing what might be their final NHL season. This is the third time in Selanne's career that he has lost games because the owners have locked him out. If not for those lockouts, Selanne would likely have reached the career 700-goal plateau. If this is his last season, he probably will fall just short of that total.

4. Fringe NHL players: The average NHL salary is $2.3 million, but on the bottom of each team roster is a handful of players on two-way contracts who shuttle between the minor league team and the NHL team. There were roughly 130 NHL players last season who played eight or fewer games. Most live with the hope of one or two call-ups per season. Their contract might say they are $500,000 NHL players, but they only get that rate for the few days they get called up. Otherwise, they receive minor-league salaries.

5. Los Angeles Kings: The Kings finally win their first Stanley Cup after 45 years in the NHL, but their ability to fully market or celebrate their success has been undermined by the lockout. If this lockout continues for a lengthy period, how many of the "new" fans they gain last season will be lost?