SB Nation DC - NHL Lockout 2012: Brooks Laich to sign with Swiss club, according to reporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-09-30T21:40:03-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30342802012-09-30T21:40:03-04:002012-09-30T21:40:03-04:00Adam Oates will co-coach AHL's Hershey Bears
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<p>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</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> have announced current head coach Adam Oates will be serving as a "co-coach" of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, <a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/hockey-washington-capitals/capitals-talk/Oates-Caps-staff-to-coach-in-Hershey?blockID=781591&feedID=6458">via</a> Kellie Cowan of CSN Washington. Oates will be joining head coach Mark French on the coaching staff.</p>
<p>The decision was made by Capitals general manager George McPhee, who believes this is the best way to utilize his coaching staff during the ongoing lockout and will keep them active, engaged and working.</p>
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<p>"We think it's a great opportunity for all of our coaches in the organization to work together to learn the nuances of our system of play," McPhee told Vogel. "We also think it's a great opportunity for our NHL coaches to get to work with our young players and frankly to give them something to do. There's no sense in them sitting in Washington when they could be active in Hershey."</p>
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<p>Washington's assistant coach Calle Johansson and associate goaltending coach Olie Kolzig will also be joining Oates and French on the Hershey's coaching staff.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/30/3435260/capitals-adam-oates-hershey-bears-nhl-lockout-2012-ahlRonit Shah2012-09-28T15:34:11-04:002012-09-28T15:34:11-04:00Scott Gomez, Joey Crabb, Nate Thompson to ECHL
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<p>Three NHL players join the ECHL's Alaska Aces for training camp on Friday, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.alaskaaces.com/news/aces/201209/nhl-forwards-scott-gomez-joey-crabb-nate-thompson-open-camp-with-aces">as the team has announced </a>the signing of <span>Scott Gomez</span>, <span>Joey Crabb</span> and <span>Nate Thompson</span> as the NHL lockout continues.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/">Montreal Canadiens</a> forward Scott Gomez, an Alaskan-born hockey player, would be in his tenth NHL season, with 169 goals and 686 points in 902 career games. Gomez has struggled the past two seasons, scoring just nine goals in 118 regular season games with the Canadiens since 2011. The forward played for the Aces during the 2004-05 lockout, scoring 13 goals and putting up 73 assists in just 61 games.</p>
<p>Joey Crabb, who signed with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> as a free agent in 2012, has played in 144 NHL games with the Atlanta Thrashers and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a>. Drafted in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a>, Crabb made his NHL debut for the Thrashers in 2009.</p>
<p>Thompson has played in 265 games in the NHL after being drafted by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/">Boston Bruins</a> in 2003. He has played the past two full seasons with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a>, with 29 goals and 35 points in 147 games those two years.</p>
<p><i>This story was originally published on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2012/9/28/3424442/alaska-aces-nhl-lockout-2012-scott-gomez">SBNation.com.</a></i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/28/3424618/scott-gomez-joey-crabb-nate-thompson-sign-with-echls-alaska-acesBrandon Worley2012-09-28T08:02:15-04:002012-09-28T08:02:15-04:00Time to talk for NHL, NHLPA
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<p>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.</p> <p>If you haven't paid attention to the NHL labor negotiations since the lockout officially started on Sept. 16, you haven't missed much. Since the dispute officially began nearly two weeks ago, there hasn't been a single negotiating session between the two sides.</p>
<p>That's expected to change Friday, when the two sides will hold a scheduled meeting. They'll only be looking to settle some of the Collective Bargaining Agreement's non-core economic issues, but that still beats the prior lack of dialogue between the two sides.</p>
<p>What has taken place in the vacuum of talks is the usual brinksmanship and hyperbole that can be expected between the two sides.</p>
<p>Some owners quickly decided to announce cuts in team personnel just days after the lockout began - and before much actual income was lost. The <a href="https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Red Wings</a> - one of the league's high-revenue clubs - were hit with a $250,000 fine for an interview in which a team official compared the players to livestock.</p>
<p>Players - at least the high-end ones - have begun to find work in Europe, opting to keep skating in a competitive situation while some others ominously discuss another lost season for the league.</p>
<p>One thing that's important to remember in labor talks is that an impression of solidarity is deemed highly important, not only to get out the message, but also to give the other side the impression that their side won't blink.</p>
<p>The NHL owners are under pain of heavy fines not to discuss the situation, in part to let the negotiators - led by Gary Bettman - do their jobs, but also to not reveal the disparity between high-revenue clubs that are losing money in a protracted dispute and the lesser-revenue clubs who do not take as much of a financial hit by not playing games.</p>
<p>While the players have no edict not to discuss the situation, NHLPA head Don Fehr has crafted a public relations strategy to present a unified front. But while some of the league's top stars can find temporary homes in Europe, the larger portion of the NHLPA's 600-plus locked out players will sit idle, waiting for a new deal to be struck.</p>
<p>After the initial show of strength on both sides, which was unaffected by the NHL cancelling the remainder of the 2012-13 preseason schedule Thursday, things will become serious in the next week or so when regular-season games are taken off the board, because the financial stakes go up for both sides.</p>
<p>One critical point is this: despite missing the opening of training camp and the cancellation of the first week of preseason, the players haven't lost much money at all to this point in this dispute.</p>
<p>Players don't get their regular pay until the regular season starts, unless they have a negotiated bonus that pays them before the season. The bulk of the players are missing out on the small stipend they get during training camp, but for the most part, players that are going overseas now actually will be supplementing their income - at least temporarily, since they wouldn't draw an NHL paycheck until October.</p>
<p>Most players will also get an escrow check on Oct. 15 for money withheld under the last CBA, reportedly in the neighborhood of 8 percent of last year's salary. That will take some of the sting out of not getting an NHL paycheck that month, since it roughly translates to the check players would have gotten for the first 6 games of the season - approximately two weeks' worth.</p>
<p>But, if the labor dispute drags on much longer past the scheduled start of the NHL season, players - most of whom won't be able to find a spot in Europe - will begin to feel the pressure of lost income they may never get back.</p>
<p>The owners, on the other hand, have taken the first financial hit by losing preseason games which are largely profitable since the players are paid minimally this time of year, although it's likely that some of those lost dates - and cash - will be replaced with rescheduled contests once the CBA is settled.</p>
<p>The NBA played a limited exhibition schedule to tune up for the 2011-12 season once they settled their labor dispute last November. Without any team holding camp yet, it's likely that there would be at least a handful of games before the season starts; not only to get players ready, but also to recoup a bit of that lost income for the owners.</p>
<p>Realistically, a lost year would be catastrophic for both sides.</p>
<p>For players, with a limited career lifespan, whatever gains they would obtain to preserve a higher percentage of league revenue would be wiped out with the loss of a season's pay - not to mention that percentage would be greatly reduced due to lost revenues by the league, something that may not return to 2011-12 levels until they hang up their skates.</p>
<p>For the owners, while they could sustain the immediate financial hit of another year lost, the damage to franchise values and the lost sponsors and ticket sales likely would negate what they could gain extracting an extra percentage point or two from the NHLPA. With league revenue and franchise values growing - and the ability for the owners to sell teams at a healthy profit when the league is operating - it's unlikely that the owners are willing to reset the league again over percentage points. Most importantly, losing two seasons in a span of a decade certainly would batter the league's credibility with those who help make the game a worthwhile investment.</p>
<p>The core dispute still remains the splitting of revenue that reached $3.3 billion last year - although that figure seems likely to go down if this dispute drags on much into the regular season. While the players got 57 percent of league revenue in the last CBA, and the owners initially offered the players 43 percent this time around, it seems like the two sides eventually will agree on an approximate 50-50 split, at least over the life of the new deal.</p>
<p>Compared to implementing the cap, this is a relatively minor negotiation, as any talk of the players taking the salary cap off the table is more a tactic, as the NHLPA well knows that likely would cause the season to be lost and reset negotiations back to 2004.</p>
<p>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, as both sides will face serious consequences if they don't.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/28/3421224/nhl-lockout-2012-nhlpa-gary-bettman-donald-fehrTed Starkey2012-09-27T12:02:09-04:002012-09-27T12:02:09-04:00Ovechkin playing well in Russia
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<p><span>Alex Ovechkin</span> is playing in his homeland instead of for the <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Capitals</a> as the NHL lockout continues, but he tallied a shootout score and is continuing to play well for Dynamo Moscow of the KHL.</p>
<p>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, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2012/09/27/ovechkin-records-assist-shootout-goal-in-dynamo-moscow-victory/">he had a secondary assist and scored on a backhanded shot in the team's 3-2 shootout win</a>. 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.</p>
<p>Goalie <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> 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.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/27/3417876/nhl-lockout-2012-alex-ovechkinRodger Sherman2012-09-25T12:19:35-04:002012-09-25T12:19:35-04:00Brooks Laich signs abroad for lockout
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<p>Capitals forward and NHLPA representative signs to play abroad.</p> <p><a href="https://www.japersrink.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Capitals</a> forward <span>Brooks Laich</span> has signed with the Kloten <a href="https://www.broadstreethockey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Flyers</a> of Switzerland's National League A, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaStrozyk/status/250583040265424897">according to a report</a>. The news comes a week after Laich, Washington's NHLPA player representative, said <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/capital-games/Capitals-Begin-Life-During-Lockout-170191376.html">he was going to look to play elsewhere during the NHL lockout</a>, which is approaching its two-week birthday.</p>
<p>Laich becomes the third Capitals player to decided to sign with a European team, as goaltender <span>Michal Neuvirth</span> is playing in the Czech Republic and <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> is in Russia.</p>
<p>The Canadian native has been a staple in the Capitals lineup for the past three season, as he played in all 82 regular-season games during the 2007-08, '08-09 and '11-12 seasons.</p>
<p>Last summer, Laich signed a six-year, $27 million contract extension. The forward rewarded the Capitals with a 16-goal, 25-assist season. His best season was in '09-10 when he tallied 25 goals and 34 assists in 78 games.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: transparent;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><i>For more on the Caps, head over to </i></span><a href="http://japersrink.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;"><i>Japers Rink</i></a><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><i> and continue to check out </i></span><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a href="http://dc.sbnation.com"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">SB</i></a><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;" href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> Nation DC</a></i><a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #093369; font-weight: bold;">. <br></a></i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-capitals/2012/9/25/3405538/nhl-lockout-2012-brooks-laich-washington-capitals-klotenJared E. Smith2012-09-21T09:01:34-04:002012-09-21T09:01:34-04:00What's A Locked-Out NHL Fan To Do? Head To Hershey
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<figcaption>You won't find scenes like these in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>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. </p> <p>With the NHL lockout in its first full week, and little movement in the negotiations between the two sides, and all September preseason games wiped off the books this week, it's looking less and less likely that the NHL will start on time.</p>
<p>For hockey fans around Washington who have been getting their hockey fix streaming KHL games to see <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> skating in unfamiliar Dynamo Moscow blue and want the live hockey experience, the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears are set to start on time in October.</p>
<p>Given the unique circumstances of this year's NHL lockout, many clubs will be sending their top young talent to their AHL affiliates this season, with the Bears suiting up <span>Braden Holtby</span> and Dmitri Orlov, among others. While normally the 10,500-seat Giant Center draws well for Bears games, the rising talent level in the AHL along with the addition of some of the league's locked-out stars means that the Bears should be offering a very entertaining brand of hockey this fall.</p>
<p>"I think a lot of the talk goes back to the 2004-05 season and everybody had their eye - especially in the East division - on the Binghamton <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Senators</a>, when they had <span>Ray Emery</span> was their goaltender and <span>Jason Spezza</span> was their star scorer and <span>Antoine Vermette</span> was sniping too," Bears play-by-play man Scott Stuccio said of the upcoming season. "You had players like that [who] came down and there hasn't been much talk of talent like that since then other than guys coming down with conditioning assignments in the National Hockey League. This particular year there's a lot more talk.</p>
<p>"It's the third [lockout] under Gary Bettman's tenure and [with] the development and scouting by the National Hockey League, there is exponentially more talent in this league. The first and second year NHLers are going to be here in this league playing.</p>
<p>"We're going to see <span>Adam Henrique</span> with Albany in our third home game [on Oct. 27]. Opening night here at Giant Center [on Oct. 20] is against Buffalo's affiliate Rochester, the second-oldest team in the league and the top young talent of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Buffalo Sabres</a> will be here.</p>
<p>"You look all year long, you're going to see some popular guys. This year, more so than ever, compared to the last two lockouts, it's really going to feed the league with a lot of good talent."</p>
<p>Anyone who's been to Hershey over the past few seasons has enjoyed one of the most unique and boisterous crowds in the AHL, and the Bears have performed well. They've won three Calder Cups in the past six years while producing some of the players that pull on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Capitals</a> sweaters today. While some of the league's clubs don't enjoy a lot of support, the Bears have now led the AHL in attendance for six years running.</p>
<p>"The first thing is that if you want to be as close to an NHL atmosphere as you possibly can, the fact is that this place is filled up. It is," Stuccio said. "Six years running, it's led the AHL attendance.</p>
<p>"It's a building that has many of the amenities that few, if any, other buildings in the league has for players and for fans. It's really set apart in that way ... the league went from 80 to 76 games last year, which means [that] we lost two home games, but we still averaged more than we did the year before. In terms of overall attendance, [we drew] a little over 9,800 per game.</p>
<p>"It's amazing for a building that [seats] 10,500 and the fact is that it's just about filled - if not totally filled - every night. For the hockey atmosphere, you can't get anything better in the AHL. This place is amazing. Amazing atmoshphere - especially when they're winning. It's a loud building in here. The fans also let the team know when they're not doing well, too."</p>
<p>The Giant Center is across the parking lot from Hersheypark, and the original home of the Bears, historic Hersheypark Arena. With the tourism that the town generates from being home to chocolate giant Hershey, fans also can sample some of the local fare before or after games.</p>
<p>"Great places," Stuccio said. "The Bears Den in the Hershey Lodge has its own distinctive style to it in the modeling of the old Hersheypark Arena inside. Really good venue, good food, a lot of people go there afterwards ... Chocolate Ave. behind the park is filled with small but excellent restaurants and sports bars all the way down. Anything within a mile of the Giant Center, there's a lot to do."</p>
<p>A visit to Hershey also gets a strong backing from Capitals radio voice John Walton, who called games for Hershey from 2004 to 2011.</p>
<p>"For any Caps fan that hasn't been to Hershey, I strongly recommend making the trip," Walton said. "Going to a hockey game in Hershey should be on every fan's bucket list, because no small town anywhere in the world has the passion for the game that Chocolatetown does. Just get your tickets in advance. A lot of games, especially on Saturday nights, sell out quickly."</p>
<p>For fans who can't make it to Hershey, there is good news, as Hershey is scheduled to play a game on Dec. 6 at Verizon Center against the Norfolk Admirals - technically a Norfolk home game.</p>
<p>When asked if the team is looking forward to its first visit to Washington since becoming a Caps affiliate again in 2005, Stuccio laughingly replied "Yes."</p>
<p>"It's going to be a lot of fun for that game. The odd part, it's not a home game for us, but I think we're going to have the home fans rooting for us. It's going to be a pretty amazing atmosphere if we can play that game there, if nothing is finalized, with the NHL, maybe we can give them some incentive (laughs).</p>
<p>So while the Capitals are locked out, the good news is that fans can enjoy one of the most unique venues in the AHL, and support a club unlike many others across the league.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/21/3366694/nhl-lockout-2012-american-hockey-league-hershey-bears-washington-capitalsTed Starkey2012-09-20T14:50:01-04:002012-09-20T14:50:01-04:00NHL Lockout 2012: Alex Ovechkin Records Assist In KHL Return
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<p>Washington Capitals captain <span>Alex Ovechkin</span> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/alex-ovechkin-debuts-khl-blows-libor-pivko-hit-173015525--nhl.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter"> an enormous open-ice hit</a>.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Dbv-yYTJSFY" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><i><i>Read more on the <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Capitals</a> at <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=washington%20capitals%20sb%20nation&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapersrink.com%2F&ei=Tpo5UIygK6GY2AW_oIDYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFkIgls_FTMNuFgatLuLey0WPYRuA">Japers' Rink</a> and<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a>. </i>Stick with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/10/13/2488190/nhl-labor-negotiations-nhlpa-collective-bargaining-agreement">this StoryStream</a> for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl">SB Nation's hockey hub</a>.</i></p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/20/3364188/nhl-lockout-2012-alex-ovechkin-dynamo-moscow-dynamo-minsk-khlMatt Brigidi2012-09-19T17:03:20-04:002012-09-19T17:03:20-04:00NHL Lockout 2012: NHL Cancels Preseason Games Through September 30, Three Capitals Games Wiped Out
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<p>The National Hockey League preseason schedule through Sept. 30 has been cancelled, <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=641879">the league announced Wednesday</a>. The cancellation is due to the lack of a collective bargaining agreement between NHL owners and the Players' Association.</p>
<p>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 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.jacketscannon.com/">Columbus Blue Jackets</a>.</p>
<p>The Capitals released <a href="http://capitals.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=641878&navid=DL%7CWSH%7Chome">this</a> on their website Wednesday:</p>
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<p>Per the Capitals' and Ticketmaster's refund policy, customers who purchased single-game tickets to events that are cancelled will receive a full refund.</p>
<p>Last year's inaugural Baltimore Hockey Classic, against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ontheforecheck.com/">Nashville Predators</a>, 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.</p>
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<p><i><i>Read more on the <a href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Capitals</a> at <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=washington%20capitals%20sb%20nation&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjapersrink.com%2F&ei=Tpo5UIygK6GY2AW_oIDYBQ&usg=AFQjCNFkIgls_FTMNuFgatLuLey0WPYRuA">Japers' Rink</a> and<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a>. </i>Stick with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2011/10/13/2488190/nhl-labor-negotiations-nhlpa-collective-bargaining-agreement">this StoryStream</a> for more coverage of the NHL labor situation, and for coverage across the National Hockey League head over to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl">SB Nation's hockey hub</a>.</i>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/19/3359458/nhl-lockout-2012-preseason-games-canceled-september-30Brandon Scott