In an expected move, but nonetheless depressing, the NHL has officially cancelled the NHL preseason through September 30th.

NEW YORK – The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012 preseason schedule through Sept. 30. In addition, the 2012 Kraft Hockeyville preseason game, scheduled for Oct. 3 in Belleville, Ontario, has been postponed to 2013. The cancellation of the schedule was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players’ Association and the NHL. While the Kraft Hockeyville game has been postponed, many of the scheduled celebrations in the winning community of Stirling-Rawdon, Ontario, will proceed as planned beginning on September 30.

The preseason was supposed to start for our beloved Montreal Canadiens this Sunday, September 23rd against the Ottawa Senators, but we can kiss those dreams goodbye.

Since the league tabled it's last offer, there have been no official negotiations about the CBA, with each side seemingly playing chicken until the other capitulates on something to begin this next stage.

At this point it seems inevitable that we're going to miss some games in the 2012-13 season, the question is just how many.

It seems absurd to think we could lose a whole season, and I don't believe that's in the cards, but both Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman are extremely stubborn and smart negotiators. This is a board room war, and we can't even see light at the end of the tunnel.