According to TSN, NHL players voted "overwhelmingly" [1] in favor giving the NHL players association power to file a disclaimer of interest by Jan. 2. That gives the NHLPA's executive board power to dissolve the union, thus allowing players to individually filling lawsuits against the league deeming the lockout to be illegal.
The NHL has already taken preventative measures against such a scenario, filing a class action complaint in federal court last Friday seeking a declaration confirming that the lockout is legal. The league also filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board claiming that the NHLPA has engaged in unlawful subversion of the collective bargaining process by threatening to disclaim interest.
Games are currently cancelled through Jan. 14 due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement, and it is believed that any further cancellations might mean the loss of another season. Last season, the NBA players filed a disclaimer of interest as a means of accelerating negotiations, and a new CBA was agreed upon 12 days later.
For more on the NHL lockout and the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins [2].
Links:
[1] http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=412078
[2] http://www.weei.com/bruins
[3] http://www.weei.com/category/boston/bruins