Capitals name Adam Oates 'co-coach' of AHL's Hershey Bears during NHL Lockout

With the NHL currently in a lockout, the Washington Capitals have announced head coach Adam Oates will "co-coach" the Hershey Bears, Washington's AHL affiliate

Scott Gomez, Joey Crabb, Nate Thompson sign with ECHL's Alaska Aces

NHL Lockout 2012: For owners and players, the time's come to talk

While the early days of the NHL lockout have been largely unproductive and filled with bravado, it's about time for both sides to get serious or face serious consequences.

NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin continues strong play for Dynamo Moscow

Alex Ovechkin is playing in his homeland instead of for the Washington Capitals as the NHL lockout continues, but he tallied a shootout score and is continuing to play well for Dynamo Moscow of the KHL.

Ovechkin has three points - a goal and two assists - in as many games for the club. In their most recent game Wednesday, against Ak Bars Kazakn, he had a secondary assist and scored on a backhanded shot in the team's 3-2 shootout win. Ovechkin began his career as a youth with Dynamo Moscow when he was only 16, scoring 69 points for the team before being drafted first overall in the 2004 NHL Draft by Washington.

Goalie Michal Neuvirth is also playing in Europe, although his team, HC Sparta Praha lost despite 34 saves, in his team's most recent game in the Czech Extraliga. Both players will return to the Capitals when the lockout is finished.

NHL Lockout: Brooks Laich to sign with Swiss club, according to report

Capitals forward and NHLPA representative signs to play abroad.

What's A Locked-Out NHL Fan To Do? Salvation Lies In The AHL

So, there won't be any hockey in Washington, D.C. for a while. What's a fan to do? Head to Hershey, of course.

NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin Records Assist In KHL Return

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin made his Kontinental Hockey League debut with HC Dynamo Moscow on Thursday and recorded a primary assist in the club's 7-2 win over HC Dinamo Minsk. It was Ovechkin's first game with Dynamo Moscow since leaving the club for the NHL following the 2004-05 season.

Ovechkin played 17:38 minutes of ice time and attempted a game-high seven shots on net in addition to the assist. After falling behind on two separate occasions, Dynamo scored six unanswered goals and finished with four power play goals.

While the stadium was hardly filled for Ovechkin's debut, the 4,414 fans in attendance had a chance to see the Capitals superstar lay out Libor Pivko with an enormous open-ice hit.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL Lockout 2012: NHL Cancels Preseason Games Through September 30, Three Capitals Games Wiped Out

The National Hockey League preseason schedule through Sept. 30 has been cancelled, the league announced Wednesday. The cancellation is due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement between NHL owners and the Players' Association.

This cancels three Washington Capitals preseason games, which includes the Baltimore Hockey Classic scheduled for Sept. 26 at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Capitals released this on their website Wednesday:

Per the Capitals' and Ticketmaster's refund policy, customers who purchased single-game tickets to events that are cancelled will receive a full refund.

Last year's inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic, against the Nashville Predators, was a tremendous success as the teams played in front of a sellout crowd of 11,082 fans who witnessed the first professional hockey game played in Baltimore since 1997. The Capitals organization was overwhelmed with the support from the city of Baltimore and our fans in Maryland, and we look forward to bringing this event back to the city in the near future.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin Threatens To Stay In KHL 'If Salaries Get Slashed,' No One Believes Him

Alex Ovechkin officially signed with Dynamo Moscow Wednesday and almost immediately made a vague threat to stay in Russia if player salaries get cut as the result of an ongoing NHL lockout.

"As to the future, it will depend on what kind of conditions there will be in the NHL with the new CBA," Ovechkin said. "If our contracts get slashed, I will have to think whether to return there or not. I won't rule out staying in the KHL, even past this season."

Since the lockout is still in its early days, Ovechkin has apparently embraced the brinksmanship mode of communication popularized by both sides of the dispute.

Katie Carrera of the Post lays out Ovechkin's predicament nicely.

If Ovechkin were to stay in Russia whenever the NHL resumes, he would be in violation of his contract with the Capitals, which runs through the 2020-21 season. The breach of contract would also go against the agreement between the NHL and KHL about honoring each other's player contracts, would bring sanctions from the IIHF and likely lead to the NHL saying its players can't participate in the Olympics.

The 2014 Winter Olympics, for the record, will be held in Sochii, Russia, and the prospects of Ovechkin putting his chance to play for an Olympic gold on Mother Russia's soil are, to put it mildly, unlikely.

It's only Day 4, folks. There's much more stuff like this to come.

NHL Lockout 2012: Capitals Cancel Rookie Game, Michal Neuvirth Signs With Czech Team

The Washington Capitals are hunkering down for the 2012 NHL Lockout, with their first player reaching a deal to play overseas while an exhibition game for the team's rookies has been cancelled.

Goalkeeper Michal Neuvirth won't get rusty while waiting around for the season to start, as he's decided to play for Sparta Praha in the Czech league. While Alexander Ovechkin is reportedly going to sign with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL, that's not official yet, while Neuvirth will definitely be adding his name to the over 30 players taking their skills overseas while the NHL is locked out. The Capitals will have both of their potential starting goalkeepers staying sharp during the lockout, as Braden Holtby, still on a two-way contract, will play for the Hershey Bears of the AHL.

Meanwhile, the team has cancelled a rookie game with the Philadelphia Flyers, which had been scheduled to be held on Thursday, and with it an opportunity for the team's young players to suit up officially as Caps players for the first time.

For more on the Caps, head over to Japers Rink and continue to check out SB Nation DC.

NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin To Sign With KHL's Dynamo Moscow, According To Report

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has signed with Dynamo Moscow of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, Sport-Express' Slava Malamud is reporting via Twitter. Ovechkin's move comes almost two weeks after he told the Washington media his plans of playing in Russia if the NHL and players union did not agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Ovechkin, 27, played for Dynamo Moscow during the 2004-05 NHL lockout. Dynamo Moscow was also Ovechkin's first professional hockey team which he first began playing for at the age of 16.

On Monday, Ovechkin told Sovetsky Sport that he believes the NHL lockout could wipe out the entire NHL season and he planned on playing in Russia if that happens.

"If the League [NHL] continues to insist on their [demands], then it will take a full year," Ovechkin told Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport as translated by Yahoo’s Dmitry Chesnokov. "That’s because we are not going to cave in. Then I will spend the entire season in the KHL. It’s an absolute reality."

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NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin Says Players 'Are Not Going To Cave In'

NHL Lockout 2012: NHL Releases Statement To Fans

Less than 12 hours after locking out its players because a new collective bargaining agreement could not be reached by the Sept. 15 deadline, the NHL released a statement Sunday morning on its official website that was directed toward upset fans:

Despite the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the National Hockey League has been, and remains, committed to negotiating around the clock to reach a new CBA that is fair to the Players and to the 30 NHL teams.

Thanks to the conditions fostered by seven seasons under the previous CBA, competitive balance has created arguably the most meaningful regular season in pro sports; a different team has won the Stanley Cup every year; fans and sponsors have agreed the game is at its best, and the League has generated remarkable growth and momentum. While our last CBA negotiation resulted in a seismic change in the League's economic system, and produced corresponding on-ice benefits, our current negotiation is focused on a fairer and more sustainable division of revenues with the Players -- as well as other necessary adjustments consistent with the objectives of the economic system we developed jointly with the NHL Players' Association seven years ago. Those adjustments are attainable through sensible, focused negotiation -- not through rhetoric.

This is a time of year for all attention to be focused on the ice, not on a meeting room. The League, the Clubs and the Players all have a stake in resolving our bargaining issues appropriately and getting the puck dropped as soon as possible. We owe it to each other, to the game and, most of all, to the fans.

This is the second NHL lockout in the past seven years and the third since 1994.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL Lockout 2012: The Die Is Cast On Hockey's Massive Gamble

Eight years ago, the NHL sacrificed a season to bring financial stability to the league. With the third lockout of Gary Bettman's reign, the league is putting those hard-won gains at risk.

NHL Lockout 2012: Brooks Laich Says Players 'Have To Fight This Time'

As several members of the Washington Capitals took part in an informal workout Friday afternoon at Kettler Iceplex, the atmosphere was not unlike that of a team's breakdown day at the end of the season.

NHL Lockout 2012: Capitals Assign 21 Players To Hershey

The Washington Capitals assigned 21 players to the Hershey Bears of the AHL on Friday, ahead of the deadline for a collective bargaining agreement on Saturday night. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will begin locking out players out at 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday if the NHL and NHLPA don't reach a deal. Many teams are now attempting to get player moves out of the way, as it appears unlikely that a deal will be reached.

The official site for the Capitals reported the players assigned include Mike Carman, Stanislav Galiev, Garrett Mitchell, Danick Paquette, Mattias Sjogren, Matt Clackson, Zach Hamill, Ryan Potulny, Ryan Stoa, Brett Flemming, Tomas Kundratek, Dmitry Orlov, Cameron Schilling, Dustin Stevenson, Kevin Marshall, Patrick McNeill, Garrett Stafford, Brandon Anderson, Philipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby and Dany Sabourin.

Forward Tom Wilson was also involved in a transaction Friday, as he was loaned to Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC. Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL Lockout 2012: A Tale Of Two Lockouts

As with last year's NBA lockout, television may be the key to bringing the NHL's players and owners together.

NHL Lockout 2012: Gary Bettman Says No Season Without New Deal

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters Thursday afternoon that there will not be a 2012-13 NHL season without a new collective bargaining agreement in place, according to Matthew Cotts of CTVNews.ca. In a press conference following a two-hour meeting with the NHL's board of governors Bettman said that "We've had seven years of incredible competitive balance," according to Cotts. Bettman went on to say that "the game on the ice has never been better. But I'm not going to apologize for saying we need to adjust [the current system]."

Representatives of the NHLPA and the owners were in negotiations Wednesday, while at the same time the NHLPA held meetings with almost 300 players to discuss the state of the situation. Union head Donald Fehr says that the league is asking for a 17 percent cut in player salaries, and it doesn't sound as if the players are going to accept that anytime soon. Bettman stated that the offer will be on the table until 11:59 Saturday night, at which time the players will be locked out if a deal is not reached.

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL Lockout 2012: Capitals Star Alex Ovechkin Confirms Plans To Play In KHL

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin confirmed on Friday afternoon that if the NHL faces an extended lockout he will be playing in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

With the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Sept. 15, and the promise from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman that the players will be locked out without a new one in place, the question of 'if' there will be a lockout has slowly started to become 'how long' will there be a lockout.

Via CSN Washington:

"We'll see what's going to happen," Ovechkin said following an informal practice with teammates at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington. "No one wants to be in a lockout but if [there is] I'm going to play in the KHL. It's not a surprise. I will go."

Ovechkin has spent the last two weeks skating with teammates and has added nine pounds to his 232-pound frame.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.

After Labor Day Holiday, NHL Labor War Approaches

In a normal NHL year, the passing of the Labor Day holiday would usually mean that training camps were just around the corner. This year, however, is far from normal.

NHL Lockout 2012: Dynamo Moscow Has 'Moral Right' To Alex Ovechkin's Services, According To KHL President

NHL Lockout 2012: Michal Neuvirth Says He Could Play In Europe In Event Of Work Stoppage

If a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by the NHL and its players and a lockout occurs, Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth might take his talents to Europe. That's what the backup recently told the Washington Post's Katie Carrera.

Neuvirth's decision is not official, but the 24-year-old said he does have options if the league and its player continue to stalemate on a new deal.

"Obviously, I have a plan B," Neuvirth said after an on-ice workout at KCI Thursday. "I got a few offers from Europe but I haven’t decided. I still want to play here the whole season."

Neuvirth admitted waiting around for something to happen is difficult.

"It’s a tough situation and we all don’t know what to do," Neuvirth said. "We’ve got to wait, and like I said to the teams I’ve talked to, I’m going to wait to the 15th then I’m going to decide what I’m going to do."

Last season, Neuvirth played in 38 games for the Capitals, compiling a 13-13 record with a 2.82 goals against average.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.

NHL Lockout: Alex Ovechkin Pursuit 'Isn't Necessary,' According To Dynamo Moscow President

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is expected to be pursued by Kontinental Hockey League champion Dynamo Moscow, the team he played for during the last NHL lockout in 2004-2005. However, on Sunday, Dynamo president Arkady Rotenberg said about bringing Ovechkin back to Russia:

"I'm actually against it. And I don't see any prestige in it," Rotenberg said.
"I think that Ovechkin isn't necessary."

With another NHL work stoppage looming, the Dynamo's general manager, Andrey Safronov, said on Saturday the team would talk to Ovechkin if there was indeed an NHL lockout. If he wants to bring Ovechkin to Dynamo, he will need to convince Rotenberg that the Capitals star is necessary to their efforts to defend their Gagarin Cup championship. In addition, Dynamo has already reached their limit of five players from overseas leagues on their roster.

Read more on the Capitals at Japers' Rink and SB Nation DC.

NHL Lockout: Alex Ovechkin Will Be Targeted By KHL Champions Dynamo Moscow If NHL Locks Out Players

Alex Ovechkin could be headed back to the Dynamo of the KHL if the there is indeed an NHL lockout.