December is upon us in the 2021-22 NHL season -- and with it the annual tradition of predicting which teams will make the playoffs based on their spot in the standings after American Thanksgiving. There were some eye-opening performances over the past week that produced some notable changes in our Power Rankings.

Plus, no matter how a team looks so far, there's at least one player on each roster who needs to step up; we identify one for all 32 clubs here.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors rates teams against one another -- taking into account game results, injuries and upcoming schedule -- and those results are tabulated to produce the list featured here.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to last week's rankings, published on Nov. 24. Points percentages are through Tuesday's games.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 0.738
Upcoming schedule: vs. OTT (Dec. 2), vs. BUF (Dec. 4), @ WPG (Dec. 7)

Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The Hurricanes haven't seen the best of Kotkaniemi. Yes, the center matched last season's goal total (5) in his first 20 games this season, but he is only averaging about 12 minutes of ice time per game and has taken his time getting up to speed in Rod Brind'amour's world. Carolina has also been red-hot out of the gate, shielding Kotkaniemi as he finds his way. Now is the time for his personal storm surge.

2. Florida Panthers

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 0.750
Upcoming schedule: vs. BUF (Dec. 2), vs. STL (Dec. 4), @ STL (Dec. 7)

Spencer Knight. The Panthers truly haven't had many passengers this season; everyone's giving a steady effort. That includes Knight -- until he hit some recent speed bumps. It's not unusual for a young goalie to slip, and in Knight's past five appearances, he is 1-3-0 with an .882 save percentage and 3.63 goals-against average. Knight's goalie partner Sergei Bobrovsky has dealt with injuries this season, and Knight has been relied on maybe more because of it. Florida can't afford to see Knight lose confidence.

3. Washington Capitals

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 0.717
Upcoming schedule: vs. CHI (Dec. 2), vs. CBJ (Dec. 4), vs. ANA (Dec. 6)

Daniel Sprong. Last season was the best statistical campaign of Sprong's career (13 goals and 20 points in 42 games). This season has been a different story. Sprong has produced just three goals and six points in 20 games for a Capitals team that could use more depth scoring. Sprong was a healthy scratch last week, after collecting just three points in 11 games. To play a more regular role for Washington, Sprong has major ground to make up.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 0.717
Upcoming schedule: vs. COL (Dec. 1), @ MIN (Dec. 4), @ WPG (Dec. 5), vs. CBJ (Dec. 7)

Justin Holl. Holl had a well-deserved coming-out party last season. He has remained on Toronto's second pairing with Jake Muzzin this season, but the results have dipped. Holl has been a healthy scratch several times, has remained without a point through 17 games (despite averaging over 20 minutes of ice time) and has struggled defending in transition. The more these Leafs heat up, the more obvious it is they need Holl to step up.

5. Edmonton Oilers

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 0.750
Upcoming schedule: vs. PIT (Dec. 1), @ SEA (Dec. 3), vs. LA (Dec. 5), vs. MIN (Dec. 7)

Kailer Yamamoto. Yamamoto has been riding shotgun with Leon Draisaitl on Edmonton's second line ... so why only five points in Yamamoto's first 20 games? The lack of production has been a theme for Yamamoto, especially when he was pointless through the Oilers' first seven games. Things haven't picked up a whole lot since, even while Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have been thriving on that second unit. Yamamoto would like to join them.

6. Calgary Flames

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 0.705
Upcoming schedule: @ LA (Dec. 2), @ ANA (Dec. 3), @ VGK (Dec. 5), @ SJ (Dec. 7)

Sean Monahan. While Andrew Mangiapane and Johnny Gaudreau and Jacob Markstrom (and on and on) are playing so well in Calgary, Monahan has faded into the background. His scoring has been streaky -- just two goals and 10 points through 22 games -- plus Monahan has been below average in the faceoff dot (49%) and has a team-low minus-six rating. It's puzzling, and there is plenty for Monahan to improve.

7. Minnesota Wild

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 0.705
Upcoming schedule: vs. NJ (Dec. 2), vs. TOR (Dec. 4), @ EDM (Dec. 7)

Jordan Greenway. The Wild are another team that's had even contributions throughout the lineup. Greenway is someone from whom they could utilize more consistency, especially in how he uses his 6-foot-6 frame to advantage. That's an area where Greenway can always have an impact, even when he isn't adding much offensively (which, with only three assists over 17 games, he hasn't been).

8. Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 0.667
Upcoming schedule: vs. STL (Dec. 2), @ BOS (Dec. 4), @ PHI (Dec. 5), @ MTL (Dec. 7)

Corey Perry. We'll call this a "keep stepping up" designation for Perry. He has found a groove lately after a nine-game point drought to start the season. Perry is a 36-year-old veteran, but injuries to Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point require more from everyone offensively, and Perry is no exception. Five points in 20 games -- with four of those coming over consecutive tilts in late November -- gives him a lot on which to build.

9. Colorado Avalanche

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 0.639
Upcoming schedule: @ TOR (Dec. 1), @ MTL (Dec. 2), @ OTT (Dec. 4), @ PHI (Dec. 6)

Darcy Kuemper. The Avalanche have been rolling thanks to star turns up front (looking at you, Nazem Kadri). Goaltender Kuemper hasn't been keeping up. He recorded nine wins in his first 15 starts but produced average stats (.903 save percentage, 2.84 goals-against average) in that stretch, and he was aided by Colorado's offensive attack. That red-hot scoring run won't last forever, and Kuemper needs to be there with more support when it inevitably evens out.

10. New York Rangers

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 0.725
Upcoming schedule: vs. PHI (Dec. 1), vs. SJ (Dec. 3), vs. CHI (Dec. 4), @ CHI (Dec. 7)

Alexis Lafreniere. The dreaded sophomore slump has set in hard for the first overall pick of the 2020 draft. Through the Rangers' first 20 games, Lafreniere managed one goal and six points, while his ice time declined to about 11 minutes per game. New York has been getting contributions offensively elsewhere to help in their strong start, so there's no question Lafreniere is lagging well behind his teammates -- and individual expectations.

11. Winnipeg Jets

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 0.545
Upcoming schedule: vs. NJ (Dec. 3), vs. TOR (Dec. 5), vs. CAR (Dec. 7)

Blake Wheeler. Wheeler has been in a funk. The Jets captain hadn't registered a goal through 17 games, and he has only seven assists to show despite top minutes. Coach Paul Maurice recently reunited Wheeler with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, which could give Wheeler a spark. Certainly, the Jets could stand taking some pressure off Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois, who have had tremendous starts to the campaign.

12. Anaheim Ducks

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 0.587
Upcoming schedule: vs. VGK (Dec. 1), vs. CGY (Dec. 3), @ WSH (Dec. 6), @ BUF (Dec. 7)

Jakob Silfverberg. The Ducks could use more from Silfverberg. The 31-year-old wing has been a perennial 20-goal scorer (except in the nightmare 2020-21 season for Anaheim), but he has been off that pace this season. Silfverberg did miss time due to COVID-19, a potential factor in his grabbing just one goal and nine points through 16 games. Anaheim can't wait much longer for Silfverberg to rebound, though.

13. Vegas Golden Knights

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 0.571
Upcoming schedule: @ ANA (Dec. 1), @ ARI (Dec. 3), vs. CGY (Dec. 5)

Mattias Janmark. Janmark hasn't been the difference-marker Vegas needed amid all of its early-season injuries. He is certainly capable of contributing more than the one goal and four points he's managed through 16 games. Janmark has seen his ice time suffer accordingly, as coach Peter DeBoer is perhaps sending a message about expectations.

14. St. Louis Blues

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 0.614
Upcoming schedule: @ TB (Dec. 2), @ FLA (Dec. 4), vs. FLA (Dec. 7)

Colton Parayko. Parayko led the Blues with 16 giveaways through 21 games. That helps sum up some of his struggles this season. The blueliner has shown uncharacteristically poor puck management, and St. Louis relies on Parayko to be more responsible. His stats across the board have suffered (nine points and a minus-three rating through 21 tilts), and the Blues' overall defensive play has slid too.

15. Columbus Blue Jackets

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 0.600
Upcoming schedule: @ DAL (Dec. 2), @ WSH (Dec. 4), vs. SJ (Dec. 5), @ TOR (Dec. 7)

Jack Roslovic. Roslovic has worked to put a sluggish start behind him, and he isn't done yet. There's more depth to Roslovic's game, and it's slowly emerging, with three goals and eight points through 19 games. But Roslovic registered only 25 shots on net in that span, an area he could definitely elevate to make himself more of a threat.

16. Boston Bruins

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 0.579
Upcoming schedule: @ NSH (Dec. 2), vs. TB (Dec. 4)

Taylor Hall. Boston has a few players fighting to get on track. Hall is right up there. He has lacked consistency through 18 games, punctuated by multiple stretches without a point. Hall's five goals and 10 points in that span is mediocre for someone averaging more than 15 minutes per game (and given his skill level). Boston knows what he's capable of; they just need a whole lot more of it.

17. Pittsburgh Penguins

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 0.568
Upcoming schedule: @ EDM (Dec. 1), @ VAN (Dec. 4), @ SEA (Dec. 6)

Brian Dumoulin. Dumoulin had his season interrupted by COVID-19, like many of his teammates. Now that he is back, he needs to step up. Dumoulin has been too erratic at times in the defensive zone, and his two assists in 16 games feels underwhelming. There's more there that Pittsburgh needs from one of its most important defenders.

18. New Jersey Devils

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 0.550
Upcoming schedule: @ MIN (Dec. 2), @ WPG (Dec. 3), vs. OTT (Dec. 6)

Nico Hischier. How do the Devils get Hischier going? New Jersey's captain scored just two goals in his first 19 games, and only six of his nine total points came at even strength. Hischier's advanced stats have been fine, but logging almost 20 minutes per game should generate more on the scoresheet from a player of his caliber.

19. Dallas Stars

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 0.600
Upcoming schedule: vs. CBJ (Dec. 2), vs. ARI (Dec. 6)

Tyler Seguin. To be fair, Seguin is coming off major surgeries to his hips. Recovering from that type of trauma is difficult. But Dallas also wants to see its star shine again. Seguin has been streaky this season in collecting five goals and nine points through 19 games, and he has endured a few multigame droughts. There's plenty of time for Seguin to find his form.

20. San Jose Sharks

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 0.568
Upcoming schedule: @ NYI (Dec. 2), @ NYR (Dec. 3), @ CBJ (Dec. 5), vs. CGY (Dec. 7)

Nick Bonino. It took Bonino 18 games to score his first point of the season. He had two through 21 tilts, a strangely low total given that he is playing north of 16 minutes per game. He isn't shooting the puck a whole lot either (33 on goal for the season), and San Jose can use all the offense it can get. If Bonino is going to be logging decent minutes, the Sharks will need more consistent output to match.

21. Nashville Predators

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 0.568
Upcoming schedule: vs. BOS (Dec. 2), vs. MTL (Dec. 4), @ DET (Dec. 7)

Mattias Ekholm. The Predators hold Ekholm to a high standard, hence the four-year, $25 million extension he signed in October. That deal doesn't kick in until next season, giving Ekholm time to start playing like himself again. He has been average so far defensively, registering 13 giveaways and the worst plus-minus among Nashville blueliners (minus-six) through 21 games. And up front, Ekholm has only tossed in three assists. The Predators are used to more impact.

22. Los Angeles Kings

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 0.524
Upcoming schedule: vs. CGY (Dec. 2), @ EDM (Dec. 5), @ VAN (Dec. 6)

Viktor Arvidsson. Arvidsson has been finding his game as of late. Los Angeles can only hope that process continues. Arvidsson wasn't producing much (five points in his first 11 games) and missed a couple of weeks due to COVID-19. But like others who have dealt with setback, Arvidsson can strive to make up for lost time. A recent three-point stretch over two games was his best of the season, and it's something on which to build.

23. Philadelphia Flyers

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 0.500
Upcoming schedule: @ NYR (Dec. 1), vs. TB (Dec. 5), vs. COL (Dec. 6)

Cam Atkinson. Momentum is a funny thing. Atkinson arrived in Philadelphia to score six goals in his first five games. He scored one goal and added three assists in his next 15. That's been hard on the Flyers, who have been shut out three times in the past month and have scored more than two goals in a game only three times through that stretch. Philadelphia wanted Atkinson for a reason, and he has to show it again.

24. Detroit Red Wings

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 0.543
Upcoming schedule: vs. SEA (Dec. 1), vs. NYI (Dec. 4), vs. NSH (Dec. 7)

Nick Leddy. The Red Wings have leaned on their young guns, but veterans like Leddy can pitch in more. The 12th-year blueliner hasn't always asserted himself this season, and it has shown in his seven assists and minus-seven rating through 22 games. And his overall possession numbers (currently on the wrong side of 50%) could be improved, as well. With a few adjustments, Leddy can be a stabilizing force on Detroit's back end.

25. Buffalo Sabres

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 0.432
Upcoming schedule: @ FLA (Dec. 2), @ CAR (Dec. 4), vs. ANA (Dec. 7)

Aaron Dell. The Sabres really miss Craig Anderson. But the veteran goaltender is still week to week with an injury, so the play of Dell backing up Dustin Tokarski has come under (justifiable) scrutiny. Dell is 0-4-0, with an .862 save percentage and 4.56 goals-against average. Tokarski is doing his best filling Anderson's shoes, but Dell isn't helping carry the load at all for Buffalo.

26. Chicago Blackhawks

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 0.381
Upcoming schedule: @ WSH (Dec. 2), @ NYR (Dec. 4), @ NYI (Dec. 5), vs. NYR (Dec. 7)

Dominik Kubalik. Kubalik had a strong showing for the Blackhawks last season. He is a long way from that now. The winger sputtered after a decent start, grabbing just three assists through 12 games in November and collecting only seven on the season. Chicago has looked better recently, but Kubalik is still hanging back.

27. Vancouver Canucks

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 0.348
Upcoming schedule: @ OTT (Dec. 1), vs. PIT (Dec. 4), vs. LA (Dec. 6)

Elias Pettersson. Pettersson has faced his share of criticism for a brutal start in Vancouver. The Canucks star center generated just four goals and 11 points (seven on the power play) through 22 games. It's been a surprising lack of production by the Swedish player, who previously averaged around a point-per-game pace to earn a three-year, $22 million extension from Vancouver in October. It's about time he lived up to that again.

28. Seattle Kraken

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 0.386
Upcoming schedule: @ DET (Dec. 1), vs. EDM (Dec. 3), vs. PIT (Dec. 6)

Philipp Grubauer. It's easy to forget that Grubauer was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season. He hasn't played anywhere close to that level yet in Seattle. Grubauer was 6-9-1 in his first 17 games, with an .890 save percentage and 3.03 goals-against average. His fellow Kraken goaltenders haven't been great, either; but Grubauer, especially, has more to give.

29. New York Islanders

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 0.353
Upcoming schedule: vs. SJ (Dec. 2), @ DET (Dec. 4), vs. CHI (Dec. 5), @ OTT (Dec. 7)

Mathew Barzal. In a rough season for the Islanders, Barzal hasn't looked his best. Whether it's the more defensive role with which he has been saddled or just all the changes to New York's lineup, Barzal's production hasn't been there early. He tallied four goals and eight points through 17 games and was a minus-eight (worst among Islanders' forwards). New York has been one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league this season, and a boost from Barzal would go a long way.

30. Ottawa Senators

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 0.237
Upcoming schedule: vs. VAN (Dec. 1), @ CAR (Dec. 2), vs. COL (Dec. 4), @ NJ (Dec. 6), vs. NYI (Dec. 7)

Tim Stutzle. Stutzle needs some traction. He has recently moved to center, and coach D.J. Smith is clearly trying to find the right combination of players to support Stutzle getting back to his greatest self. Through his first 19 games, Stutzle was minus-10 with one goal and eight assists. It's a lot less than Ottawa was expecting out of him following a strong, 29-point rookie season.

31. Montreal Canadiens

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 0.292
Upcoming schedule: vs. COL (Dec. 2), @ NSH (Dec. 4), vs. TB (Dec. 7)

Jeff Petry. It's been a rough start for Petry. Montreal's top defenseman had just two assists and a minus-four rating through 24 games, and he simply hasn't been executing at a high enough level. Maybe it's the lack of Petry having his usual partner Joel Edmundson, who is injured. Maybe it's Petry's age (33) starting to catch up to him. His advanced stats haven't been glaringly awful, but Petry also isn't the difference-maker Montreal needs.

32. Arizona Coyotes

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 0.261
Upcoming schedule: vs. VGK (Dec. 3), @ DAL (Dec. 6)

Jakob Chychrun. Chychrun was supposed to be the best part of a bad Arizona team. He's not. Chychrun had six points in 22 games, a minus-24 rating and a 2.8 shooting percentage. He still eats up more than 25 minutes of ice time per game for the Coyotes, but after last season's 18-goal breakout campaign, the expectation was for Chychrun to step it up further on the Coyotes' back end. They're still waiting.

Arsenal defender Gabriel fought off an attacker armed with a baseball bat who attempted to steal various items including a Mercedes parked inside the garage of his north London home.

Abderaham Muse was jailed for five years last month after attempting to steal the Brazilian's £45,000 car, a mobile phone and a watch after tracking Gabriel and his friend Rodrigo Tavares as they returned from a night out in August.

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CCTV footage captured the incident, in which Gabriel can be seen taking off his watch and holding it up in the air before Muse lunges at him with a bat.

The Arsenal star strikes him and wrestles him to the ground. Muse and his two accomplices, both of whom have not been caught, then ran off.

Nobody was hurt in the incident and speaking at a news conference on Wednesday ahead of the club's trip to Manchester United, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "Obviously it's not a nice thing to go through when you have family involved and they are trying to access your own house.

"Gabi showed a lot of character. You see the reaction that he had straight away. Credit to the boy. And after that he was fine, obviously he was shocked, obviously there are a few things that he wanted to change in his life to try to prevent those things happening.

"The club gave him the support that was needed to try and forget about the situation, learn from it and move on."

Muse, who was said in court to have convictions dating back to 2009, was sentenced for one count of robbery and one of possession of an offensive weapon. He also had a previous conviction and was subject to a 56-month sentence on licence for possession of heroin with intent to supply at the time of the attack.

At the time of sentencing last month, judge Anupama Thompson said of Muse: "While you didn't specifically target the victim on account of him being a well-known footballer, there was a realisation this person was wealthy and worthy of robbing.

"You saw a nice car and a nice house and thought it was rich pickings. Fortunately, thanks to the brave actions of the people you targeted, no further damage was done.

"You have an appalling record for a man of 26. This was an horrific and frightening attack on a group of people who were simply coming home from a night out."

The Premier League have held discussions with Qatar-owned beIN Sports following an anti-gay rant by pundit and former Egypt international Mohamed Aboutrika on one of its shows.

Aboutrika spoke for two uninterrupted minutes about the Rainbow Laces initiative in the league, criticising it and LGBTQ+ players several times.

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He said that homosexuality was an affront to the Muslim religion and made it clear that he wanted the sports channel to avoid showing any pro-LGBT+ content.

"We wholeheartedly disagree with the pundit's views. The Premier League and its clubs are committed to supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion and making clear football is for everyone," a Premier League spokesperson told ESPN.

Many LGBTQ+ groups have expressed unhappiness at the fact the World Cup is being hosted in Qatar where homosexuality is illegal.

"As a global media group we represent, champion and support people, causes and interests of every single background, language and cultural heritage across 43 hugely diverse countries, as we show every day," beIN Sports said in a statement.

The segment has been criticised by several LGBTQ+ groups on social media.

"So disappointing to see Egyptian legend Mohamed Aboutrika dismissing the Premier League's rainbow laces campaign and using theological positions to do so. No challenge from beIN Sports -- he was given space to deny the rights and existence of a community," the European football equality network Fare said on Twitter.

ESPN has reached out to LGBTQ+ rights group Stonewall and the Rainbow Laces campaign for comment.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Stephen Curry has made Azzi Fudd his Splash Sister.

Curry is bringing the star UConn freshman basketball player into his SC30 Inc. brand in a unique, wide-ranging partnership that will support her successes both on and off the court as the nation's top recruit builds her collegiate career -- a multidimensional name, image and likeness contract.

The Golden State Warriors' reigning NBA scoring champion, with two young daughters, has long been dedicated to helping women shine and vowed to do more for the women's game. In 2018, Fudd participated in Curry's elite camp as one of two women invited to take part, and she and Curry have continued to build their friendship since. Curry also held an all-girls camp that summer.

Fudd's involvement with SC30 -- the athlete-run organization handling Curry's off-court business -- also will entail far more than strictly a sponsorship deal.

Curry plans to personally mentor the 5-foot-11 guard from Arlington, Virginia, who played at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., as she balances school, basketball and the demands of being a face for female athletes. He wants to help Fudd show the world who she is through not only her personality and passions but also by providing a platform and financial backing to share her values and ideas.

"Azzi Fudd is the best choice to start a brand relationship like this because she is the next face of women's basketball and has been a part of SC30 Inc. and the Curry Brand family since she was an invitee to the All-American Camp," Curry said.

Two-time NBA MVP Curry and his SC30 team plan to give Fudd guidance through professional services and growth opportunities to develop her brand. That will mean chances to host and attend events and be part of new brand partnerships, as well as to deliver her personal social impact initiatives while additionally promoting and being involved in some of those dear to Curry and his family.

"Our values are aligned when it comes to family, and in terms of hard work and for the appreciation of blessings in your life," Curry said. "For me, this is the right time because I have identified the platforms that I have, aligning purpose over profit, and the ability to collaborate with the right partners for the right opportunities. I want to be able to unlock that for Azzi, and for other talented athletes and influencers that see the world the same way I do. It is my hope that we can inspire the next generation of athletes and non-athletes who want to do amazing things."

College student-athletes can now be compensated, and Fudd's UConn teammate Paige Bueckers received a deal from Gatorade on Monday.

For Fudd, like Curry, this could just be the start.

"Since I first met Steph at his camp a few years ago, I've stayed connected to him and have always admired his incredible talent and accomplishments, but also his humility and the impact he has on people," Fudd said. "As I continue to focus on becoming the best player and student I can be while in college, I also look forward to broadening my understanding of business and life beyond basketball. This partnership with Steph and his SC30 team will help me do that. I'm really excited about everything we'll do together in the future."

Welcome to the end of baseball ... for a while, at least.

At 11:59 p.m. ET, the collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association is set to expire. If there isn't a new one in place by then, the owners are expected to lock out the players.

So what does that mean for the rest of the offseason? How long will it last? What are the sticking points in the negotiations? What's a lockout, anyway?

ESPN baseball expert Jesse Rogers tackles those questions and more.

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How did we get here? What is a lockout -- and why now?

The last deal between Major League Baseball and the MLBPA was negotiated in 2016. The current collective bargaining agreement covers everything from how long the season will last to what kind of per diem players receive on the road. It also addresses the greater economics of the game, like free agency and arbitration. And it ends at midnight. If a new deal isn't in place, owners are expected to choose the lockout option to push the union into a more urgent state of negotiation. It's essentially the antithesis of a player's strike. Since players don't get paid in the offseason, nor are there games, there's nothing for them to strike over. Instead, the league can choose to halt all player activity as it relates to their teams. No free-agent signings, no use of team facilities -- in fact, no contact of any kind between team and player -- is allowed until a new agreement is reached.

How long is the lockout expected to last? Could games be lost next year?

Yes, games could be lost. That's always a possibility once a work stoppage occurs, but with three months until the regular season begins, it would be shocking if 2022 didn't go a full 162 games. There is a chance spring training doesn't start on time, using that period as a soft deadline to force some issues to get resolved, but we're far from that happening. The sides already lost a lot of money during the pandemic. Anything short of a full season would be another devastating blow to the sport, both economically and from a public relations standpoint.

What are the main sticking points in the negotiations between the owners and players?

Economics. Players feel, with the emergence of analytics within front offices, that fewer and fewer second- and third-tier players are getting paid when they finally become free agents after six years of major league service time, which is often when a player turns 30 or very close to it. In general, players would like to be paid more at younger ages because that's when they are in their prime. The system also favors keeping players in the minor leagues for several weeks extra to slow down their major league service time. Players hate that. Additionally, they feel the cycle of teams rebuilding (aka tanking) is limiting payrolls. They would like some guardrails within the system to prevent those cycles. One good thing for the players: As long as there is no salary cap, the system will always pay the best of the best -- something the league likes to emphasize. Owners haven't even offered a hard cap during negotiations.

What does the lockout mean for free agency and trades? Are the winter meetings canceled?

Everything halts -- except that teams still can talk to each other. Conceivably, trades could be consummated during the lockout, but not announced until after it ends. The major league portion of the winter meetings, scheduled for next week, would be canceled. There would be little point to holding the meetings as agents couldn't meet with teams. In fact, team personnel aren't even allowed to speak to the media about players on 40-man rosters during the lockout. The minor league side of the meetings would continue. Offseason drug testing will stop as well. It will pick up as soon as a new CBA is ratified.

Who are the leading figures on each side of the bargaining table?

Former big leaguer Tony Clark is the face of the player's union while commissioner Rob Manfred is the same for the league. A lot of negotiating is done by their lieutenants, mainly lawyers Dan Halem for the league and Bruce Meyer for the players. Some owners are in on the meetings while the executive board of the union consists of eight players: Max Scherzer, Marcus Semien, Gerrit Cole, Francisco Lindor, Jason Castro, Zack Britton, Andrew Miller and James Paxton. They report back to player reps for each team who will keep the rank and file informed as needed.

How much animosity is there?

Perhaps animosity is too strong of a word. There's definitely a disconnect. The league believes major league baseball players have the best system among all professional sports unions -- starting with baseball not having a hard salary cap -- but is open to a few tweaks. The players want more dramatic change, beginning with ending the cycle of rebuilding. Some of the rhetoric from last summer's pandemic negotiations is probably shaping the public's perception of these, but at least the sides are talking. Is it all in good faith at the moment? Perhaps not, but they'll eventually get down to brass tacks and figure it out.

What are the key dates to watch out for as the lockout continues?

Not all teams have announced spring training report dates yet, but let's use Feb.1 as a soft deadline for camps to open on time a little later that month. Even if there is a scramble, it allows enough time for players to get where they need to be. The good news is that other than the winter meetings, the baseball calendar is pretty clear in December and January, so it's not like the shutdown will impact games or events. Essentially, the sides have up to two months to figure this out before issues start to arise. Pushing back the start of spring training could mean losing spring games, which means losing money. The dynamic between the sides may get ornery at that point -- if it isn't already by then.

What are some of the more radical changes to the game we could see as a result of a new CBA?

Let's start with an expanded postseason. The league wants 14 teams to make the playoffs with a creative attempt to incentivize winning. The best team in each league would receive a bye, while other division winners would get to choose their wild-card opponent. That's pretty dramatic. We could also see a pitch clock implemented, and eventually, further caps on the number of pitchers on a roster. Off the field, the nature of arbitration could change, as well as the age or service time in which a player becomes a free agent. The amateur draft could be in for a change as well. As for service time manipulation, there may not be a compromise that fully solves that problem. Move back the date which gives a player a year of service time, and teams will just keep players in the minors longer.

Which side is more likely to get what it wants?

The system won't turn into a win-win for the players, but in terms of getting a few things moving in their favor, they should end up with something to be happy about. It could be in the form of an overhauled arbitration system, the designated hitter in the National League, a higher luxury-tax threshold or a quicker route to free agency. They just won't get all of those things.