Gretzky Expects NHL Lockout to be Resolved By January 1

(Reuters) - Hall of Fame center Wayne Gretzky expressed optimism on Monday that the National Hockey League's (NHL) second lockout in eight years will be resolved in time for the showcase outdoor Winter Classic on New Year's Day. Gretzky, who retired from the NHL in 1999 and remains the league's all-time points leader, said obstacles behind the labor dispute between owners and players should be quicker to overcome than the ones that forced the cancellation of the entire 2004-05 campaign.