Dear NHL,
Nobody cares about your drama. This may sound harsh, but believe it or not, the average person has little to no interest in how your millions are divided among the overpaid members of your franchise. Believe it or not, this lockout is not enthralling news. This lockout is a headache.

Actually, scratch that. This lockout is a headache for the general population. For those personally invested in the hockey industry, it is a migraine. The petty carelessness of this lockout, the second in seven years  has had a massive spillover effect far beyond your negotiating tables. Pause to consider the storeowners selling NHL gear, the bars that rely on customers coming out for the big game, the vendors at all the arenas. Of course, these everyday people who depend on your industry are swimming in money and can completely afford this lockout, right?

Now, the general public does, of course, appreciate how hard this situation is for those negotiating. Owners — it’s difficult to rake in huge salaries and drive around in fancy cars; in fact, it practically verges on a humanitarian crisis. And to the players — living the dream of millions of young children worldwide who drag their bleary-eyed selves out of bed to get to that 6 a.m. hockey practice must be challenging, without a doubt. Being blessed enough to do what you love at the highest level is certainly a chore.

So maybe it is okay if these negotiations continue all year. Money is important, after all, especially when you find yourselves making a lot of it. Your dedicated fans will no doubt return with just as much fervor for the next season. And even if those surrounded by palm trees in warmer climates forget about their teams, you can always count on those beer-drinking, igloo-inhabiting Canadians to care once the lockout ends. After all, what else is there to do way up there other than watch hockey?

Unless…no, wait, this might sound ridiculous, but…what if everyone really does forget about hockey? What if they move on to other sports like basketball or baseball or football? What if no one really does care? Maybe it’s time to figure out what to do with your millions, shake hands like grownups and get back on the ice.

But, hey, if that doesn’t work, you could always take up football.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 4 print edition. Emma Dolhai is a contributing columnist. Email her at [email protected].