You just have to love Mike & Marian Illitch. Even though the owners (including the Illitch's) were a large part of this $#!@#$%# lockout, this is better than what most fan bases get from their owners at the end of a work stoppage.

Either way - it's a nice touch. Received in my email today...

Dear Red Wings Fans,

In our now 30 years of owning the Red Wings franchise, we have experienced many ups and downs. No situation is more frustrating, though, than working through the process of establishing a new collective bargaining agreement. We join the rest of our organization today in thanking fans of Hockeytown for your patience over the last few months.

We are sorry for the delay in starting the season and the unfortunate public nature of the negotiations. Thankfully, with this new deal, we will be assured of a settled labor environment for many years to come.

We recognize that no team excels like this one has without incredible fan support. And we understand the special bond that has been formed over the years: we do not take lightly our responsibility as owners.

Thank you for being a part of our team. We look forward to delivering another memorable season of Red Wings hockey.

Sincerely,

Marian & Mike Ilitch