NHL Lockout 2012 - News Update: Podium Creates Buzz on Twitter; Deal Done by Today with Christmas as Start of Season?

Twitter exploded Wednesday night when it was announced that a podium had been set up in New York by the NHL.

The entire twitter community got together and anticipated some sort of major announcement regarding the CBA negotiations that have dragged out the 2012 lockout for two months.

Here is how some fans were feeling last night waiting for the announcement that has yet to come.

‏@Amisek25: I'm more tense over #PodiumWatch than the last presidential campaign! I need hockey now!

@XIGRIMxREAPERIX: BREAKING NEWS: Gary Bettman "I did not have sexual relations with that podium" #podiumwatch

 ‏@shawncurtis430: I'm chill about this whole #podiumwatch thing but I will be angry if@EASPORTSNHL doesn't include the podium as an unlockable in NHL 14.

‏@TheNYRBlog: Source telling me NHL podium in hotel is for press conference tomorrow announcing CBA agreement.

 ‏@dutchysc: I believe if they peeled back the NHL logo on that podium in NY it would read bushleague!

@bergeronprocess: In case the @NHL was wondering, we miss the game so desperately that we've been watching a podium for an hour. So end the bloody lockout

‏@stefaniealva: Weird. The NHL made us so desperate to relate over something we went crazy over a podium... #WeWantHockey

 ‏@RealJackEdwards: Proof of hallucinogenic power of Podium: RT @HackswithHaggs: Waiting to hear a report that @wyshynski caused NHL podium to hover in mid-air

 ‏@HackswithHaggs: Waiting to hear a report that @wyshynski caused the NHL podium to hover in mid-air Yoda-style to the delight of everyone.

 ‏@TedStarkey: Notice the NHL is using the dark home podium. The road podium wears white.

 ‏@colea77: If they cancel the NHL season, I'm setting that podium on fire.

 ‏@thegrlonthewall: You know the lockout has made us all crazy when the appearance of a podium becomes HUGE NHL news. #NHLPodium

 ‏@tpanotchCSN:the way they handle this podium w/NHL badge; take it out of its giant box; set up nice and clean; it's like ... it's the Stanley Cup!

 ‏@PensPuddles: 90% of the people I follow are tweeting about a podium in an empty conference room. I feel like this is the week the lockout broke us.

 ‏@TedStarkey: Instead of a night full of NHL action, we have writers tweeting aboutpodium assembly. This might be the low point of the lockout.

 ‏@BroadStBull: #podium is trending in NHL circles!

 ‏@cazzball: Come on.... RT @bruce_arthur Hey, the NHL podium is coming back! What a rollercoaster! A terrible, terrible rollercoaster.

The lockout could come to an end if indications from past reports are correct. The NHL and NHLPA have been in contentious negotiations since November. This Tuesday and Wednesday the players and a few owners met to resolve the issue and it seemed to be a major turning point in the negotiations. Whether or not the league ends the lockout this week is still to be seen, but the podium buzz on Twitter clearly indicates that the fans are anxious for the season to start. Negotiations are slated to resume on Thursday. According to Eklund at Hockeybuzz.com, the owners are willing to leave arbitration the same as in the last CBA negotiations and forget about contract limits. Both sides are also interested in an amnesty buyout clause. Eklund also insists that Christmas Day might be the start of the new season.