Let's Make A Deal

The NHL's most recent lockout—the league's third since the 1994--95 season—came to a merciful end early on Sunday morning when commissioner Gary Bettman and players' association head Don Fehr announced they had settled on the framework of a new collective bargaining agreement. Here's how hockey's drawn-out labor struggle, which wiped out nearly half the season, compared with the recent Congressional negotiations on matters of even greater importance.

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FISCAL CLIFF

NHL LOCKOUT

Money Difference

Fiscal Cliff: $650 billion

President's first proposal was for $1.55 trillion in new tax revenue; GOP countered with proposal for $850 billion in new revenue.

NHL Lockout: $462 million

Owners wanted to cut the players' share of the NHL's $3.3 billion in revenue from 57% to 43%.

Roots of Conflict