I'm very relieved to hear this:

NHL Board of Governors End Meeting [^]

“'If we don't have a new [Collective Bargaining Agreement] so that our players can start the season with us in October, we will not open on time,' Bettman said following a four-hour meeting with owners and GMs.“

I was very fearful that we'd be seeing scab players next year.  If that were to have been the case, I don't know that I would have gone to any NHL games next year unless the ticket prices were significantly lowered.  Lower quality product, lower prices. 

If the NHL and NHLPA get their act together with a new labor agreement, they'll keep the high quality product on the ice and I'll pay the regular price for my season tickets.  Otherwise it'd be a rip off. 

Whether or not the next season will actually start on time is a different story.  I'm not optimistic at the moment.  I've lost a lot of my faith in the two parties and I don't see much evidence that they'll make progress.