Sharks' owners not likely in group that supports NHL lockout

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has threatened a $1 million fine to any team that speaks publicly about the ongoing lockout, so it's unlikely that anyone knows how the Sharks' ownership group feels about the labor dispute, but Kevin Kurz of CSNBayArea.com thinks that San Jose's brass might not be in favor of the work stoppage.

In public, the league has presented a unified ownership front claiming that all 30 NHL clubs are content with the lockout. A system in which only eight NHL owners need to be in agreement with Bettman to shoot down a CBA proposal has led to speculation about which teams are holding up the negotiating process.

Via CSNBayArea.com:

CBC's Elliotte Friedman on Wednesday made his best "educated guess" as to the clubs that are considered the hard-liners, and are therefore holding up the bargaining process while they insist on getting as many givebacks (and money) from the players. In his estimation, they are: Boston, Anaheim, Columbus, Florida, the New York Islanders, Phoenix, St. Louis, Washington and Dallas.

The Sharks have been running a successful business for years, selling out 110 consecutive home games and building an home ice atmosphere that is one of the most electric in the league. While San Jose's ownership group is likely in favor of a new collective bargaining agreement, it's unlikely that they are content with the revenue that the lockout is costing them. A lost season might do them more harm than good.