<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The 2004--05 NHL lockout was a lockout that resulted in the cancellation of what would have been the 88th season of play of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was the first time the Stanley Cup was not awarded since 1919, the first time a major professional sports league in North America canceled a complete season because of a labor dispute, and the second time after the 1994--1995 MLB strike that the postseason of a major professional sports league in North America was canceled . The lockout lasted 10 months and 6 days starting September 16, 2004, the day after the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) that resolved the 1994--95 lockout expired . The lockout of the 2004--2005 season resulted in 1,230 unplayed games . The negotiating teams reached an agreement on July 13, 2005, and the lockout officially ended 9 days later on July 22, after both the NHL owners and players ratified the CBA . </P> <P> The NHL, led by Commissioner Gary Bettman, attempted to convince players to accept a salary structure linking player salaries to league revenues, guaranteeing the clubs what the league called cost certainty . According to an NHL - commissioned report prepared by former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Arthur Levitt, prior to 2004--05, NHL clubs spent about 76 percent of their gross revenues on players' salaries--a figure far higher than those in other North American sports--and collectively lost US $273 million during the 2002--03 season . </P>

Why was there an nhl lockout in 2005