How North American Sports can rebuild itself...

We are now at Day 130 (or so) of the NBA lockout and despite recent optimism I would bet on the lockout ending on or near December 15th; very similar to the last one. With the NHL starring down the exact same pipe in 2012, I would like to offer my solution. It is not a new concept but to North American sports fans it would be foreign.

Use a likeness to the English soccer system by creating three tiers based on relative competitiveness and financial success.

Now lets be honest; the three tiers would not be equal BUT the opportunity for promotion and demotion is there. Lucrative TV contracts and sold out arenas await teams in the "Premier" league BUT opportunity to win for "have-not" teams awaits in say a second or third. If you still want to have the top eight advance from each league to a playoff format then so be it but the overlaying point is to allow teams of all economic systems the chance to succeed.

Another huge plus to this system would be creating 15 brand new teams in the third division; this allows small financial investment for locales where the NHL would like to be but population, corporations, large enough arena etc do not exist.

This is true parity. You give all teams the opportunity to win a championship that matches the level of commitment by their ownership group. Do the rich get richer...yes. But that is sports; you win...you win.

Here is a sample of the League with the corresponding divisions based on each teams value by 2010 Forbes.

Premier League

Anaheim Ducks

Boston Bruins

Chicago Blackhawks

Colorado Avalanche

Dallas Stars

Detroit Red Wings

Los Angeles Kings

Minnesota Wild

Montreal Canadiens

New Jersey Devils

New York Rangers

Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh Penguins

Toronto Maple Leafs

Vancouver Canucks

Second League

Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets

Buffalo Sabers

Calgary Flames

Carolina Hurricanes

Columbus Blue Jackets

Edmonton Oilers

Florida Panthers

Nashville Predators

New York Islanders

Ottawa Senators

Phoenix Coyotes

San Jose Sharks

St. Louis Blues

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington Capitals

Third Division (speculative)

Cleveland

Hamilton

Kansas City

Las Vegas

London

Miluakee

Moncton

New Orleans

Oklahoma City

Portland (Ma.)

Portland (Ore.)

Quebec City

Regina

San Francisco

Seattle

The way you ensure parity is you promote the top three promoters in the second and third divisions and demote the bottom three in the premier and second divisions.

It is a different system but one that perhaps could benefit North American sport.