Fan anger grows as more NHL games are canceled

• Rangers season ticketholder is on verge of dropping his plan
• Sharks fan said NHL lost PR momentum of 50-50 offer by walking out of the room so quickly
• Sabres fan says players will never win this fight

USA TODAY Sports asked for hockey fans' opinions after the league on Friday canceled games through Nov. 1. A sampling:

Detroit Red Wings fan Kenny Harker: "This is ridiculous! Where's the sense of urgency? The season is slowly slipping away and the fact that they keep taking 3-5 days off between talks is crazy. They need to be locked in a room for days at a time, where both sides are negotiating and working on a deal to get back out there. They say they care about the fans, well prove it then. The fact that this has happened three times in 20 years is unacceptable. Especially since one of those was a lost season, don't let it happen again."

Montreal Canadiens fan Jesse Van Buskirk: "I'm thoroughly disgusted with the NHL lockout. It seems the more that I support this league, the less respect I get back in return."

New York Rangers fans Jeff Levi: "I'm a Rangers season ticketholder for 10 years and I'm on the verge of asking for my money back and never come back. The NHL could fold, for all I care. Three lockouts under Gary Bettman is unacceptable. What is this lockout gonna do for the fans? NOTHING except raise ticket prices every season just like since the last lockout. I think Gary Bettman will be mistaken when he said that we're not worried about the fans, they'll come back like they did after the last lockout."

San Jose Sharks fan Janice Dressler: "I think Gary Bettman has made many miscalculations in this latest lockout. First of all, I think he underestimates the fan's intelligence and anger towards him and the NHL. Although both sides lose the PR war until a settlement is done, whatever PR gain the NHL got from the 50-50 offer was lost the minute they walked out of the room 10 minutes after reviewing the NHLPA's proposals. Both sides need to show that they're willing to sit down, negotiate for prolonged periods of time before they have any credibility. So far, I've seen none of that, particularly from the NHL. My anger and bitterness grows by the day, and I don't think fans will be quick to forgive after this lockout. ... The disregard and disrespect the fans have gotten isn't lost on us. Both sides had better get this settled soon -- or the NHL may never recover from the blow this lockout has dealt."

Columbus Blue Jackets fan Brad Jackson: The cancellation of games comes as no shock to me given the events that transpired (Thursday). The NHL has not negotiated in good faith during the whole lockout and the months leading up to it. I would normally be upset about a lockout or missing any hockey games in a normal year, but when you add in the fact that Columbus was set to host the All-Star Game this season, it becomes that much more frustrating. This is a market that will support a winner, and we've been void of that for every year of the franchise with the exception of 2008-09. The rabid hockey fans in the city, need something to look forward to, and finally... Columbus gets the All-Star Game. But, it seems there is a curse on this franchise, and nothing good can happen to really turn this city into the hockey crazy city it can be.

The major problem I have with the negotiations is the owners' unwillingness to honor the contacts that the players have signed. Where is this acceptable practice in the world? How can you agree to a contract with somebody, and turn around and say the contract will not be honored as it was signed" It seems that this was part of the owner's plans all along, if that's the case, the contracts that were signed this off-season were negotiated or at least agreed upon to by owner's who full and well knew they were going to go after a % of those contracts. That seems to be blatant ethic violations. Which, seems to be par for the course for the owners."

Boston Bruins fan Dan London: "I've had the feeling that the lockout would last long into the season and probably end up resulting in a lost season...again. Unfortunately, the constant labor battles have become a norm for hockey fans and we've grown to expect them."

Buffalo Sabres fan Dan Roesch: "Players will never win this fight. These owners didn't become rich from their hockey team. The owners made their money elsewhere and bought a hockey team. ... The lockout is taking away from the players their livelihood and their earnings. The lockout is taking away from the owners their side hobby. The faster the players realize this, the sooner we will have hockey."

Pittsburgh Penguins fan Michael Atkinson: "I think the news that the NHL has officially canceled games through Nov. 1 is actually a positive sign. The few games between the already-canceled first two weeks of the season and the somewhat arbitrary Nov. 2 deadline that Bettman has stamped as the latest possible start to an 82 game season were clearly not going to happen. If the NHL was as turned off by the PA's proposals (Thursday) as they led on to the media, they would have canceled a much larger block of games and the fans would be left hopeless until American Thanksgiving.

"At this point all of Bettman and (Donald) Fehr's comments, as well as their underlings from (Bill) Daly to (Sidney) Crosby, are PR spin and until a cancellation is taking us deep into November, there is hope for a deal in the next 10 days That being said, it's Oct. 19 and it's time for them to quit the posturing and the feather ruffling and get something worked out for the sake of the fans, the sake of the workers, and for the sake of the game."

Detroit Red Wings fan Rodney Urbaniak: "I'm not concerned thus far about the cancellations. A shorter season wouldn't be a big deal to me, however my breaking point would be the cancellation of the Winter Classic. The Winter Classic is the only thing the NHL has done lately that's been a huge success. You cancel this, you might as well cancel the season."

Sabres fan Dan Szudik: At this point, you have to feel the NHL is playing the PR game to perfection. It really makes it look like the NHL is doing everything they can and this is all the players fault. What a difference a week makes in the world of public opinion.

Philadelphia Flyers fan Joe Giordano: "I'm beyond disgusted in both the players association and the league because in my opinion, this negotiation has not been conducted in good faith by either side. I've also come to the point where I almost want thhe entire season to be cancelled, so that I can get out of my contractual agreement to purchase season tickets, and subsequently get my money fully refunded. I won't say that I will not continue to be a fan of a sport that I grew up playing, and still love, but as far as being a paying customer, I'm almost done."

Jim Korchinski, who has a luxury suite in Edmonton and also goes to Phoenix Coyotes games: "Bottom line, I lost interest - discovered fall baseball, have a home in Scottsdale - bought two new cars - one in AZ, one in Canada, and am taking the family to Mexico (twice) instead of buying into hockey this year. If hockey comes back, I can sell my tickets based on my decision to pass on hockey this year. Wake me up in March when the points are more scrutinized."