NHL cancels regular-season schedule through Dec. 30; can 2012-13 season be salvaged from lockout?

The NHL is cancelling its regular-season schedule through Dec. 30, according to Darren Dreger of TSN and Rich Chere of the Star Ledger. And pretty much the only one in shock might be Steve Burton.

Previously, the NHL's 2012-13 regular-season schedule had been cancelled through Dec. 14.

Via Chere, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL was "trying to give buildings sufficient flexibility … shorter horizon also would suggest we are closer than we are right now."

If you're looking for silver linings, know this: There are 13 games scheduled for New Year's Eve that haven't been cancelled, and hence they could be a nearly full slate of action to usher in a new NHL season.

So if you're like, 'Hey, why not just cancel the full month of games?' … welp, maybe the NHL fancies Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin on Dec. 31 as a sufficient way to kick off a restarted season.

The other silver lining is that this cancellation leaves plenty of time before Gary Bettman's de facto deadline in January, after which a minimum 48-game season wouldn't be possible.

In fact, as much as a 57-game season can be saved if the games begin around Jan. 1; and one imagines the NHL has schedules prepared for any start date.

But we've gotten to the point where Bettman's deadline should harden. Let's set a date that's a real "hill to die on" and then either get this deal settled or wipe away the season — as crushing, damaging, shortsighted and absurd as that move would be.