But the fifteen-week wait was most miserable. The "settled" issues were ridiculously trivial. Many of the final positions were similar to entry positions back in September.
The whole delay seems to me to be largely a stalling tactic. Stalling for what? Probably to allow multiple cash-starved, near-bankrupt NHL franchise do a bunch of things the past three months, while not having to pay out payroll and other out-gos. VERY suspicious to have the New Jersey Devil's franchise, an organized crime syndicate if there ever was one, go from nearly bankrupt to brand-new Sugar Daddy arriving with bucks, just days before the lockout-ending agreement was announced.