2004 World Cup of Hockey: One Last Look?

A year from now, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey will be underway, with the game's top players representing their countries for the first time since the 2002 Winter Olympics. But the competition itself may be dwarfed by a greater and graver drama: The collective agreement between the NHL and the NHL Player's Association expires September 15, the day after the World Cup championship game. Given the current pessimism surrounding negotiations, next year's international showdown could be the last you see of your favorite NHL stars for some time.