Players scatter on Day 1 of NHL owners’ lockout
NHL players began scattering across the globe Thursday in search of work on Day 1 of the lockout, with no negotiations scheduled between union and management.
While rinks from Pittsburgh to Montreal to Anaheim figure to be quiet in the coming weeks, the ice will be crowded with high-priced talent in places such as the Czech Republic.
Jaromir Jagr skated for the first time with the Czech team Rabat Kladno, wearing the blue and white colors of the club that nurtured him before he arrived in the NHL in 1990. His father is the club president.
The Finnish league had its season-opening games Thursday night and several NHL players were involved.
Ville Nieminen, who played for Stanley Cup finalist Calgary Flames last season, set up Tappara’s only goal in a 6-1 loss to Ilves.
Esa Pirnes of the Los Angeles Kings had three assists and Tomi Pettinen of the New York Islanders had two assists as Lukko routed Assat 6-1.
Two of Sweden’s biggest stars, 2002 NHL MVP Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche and Toronto captain Mats Sundin, will likely skate in their home country later this season.
Other NHL stars returning home include forwards Martin Rucinsky, Vaclav Prospal and Martin Straka and defender Jaroslav Spacek. Their presence should be a major boost for the Czech league.
Jagr, who would have been working out with his New York Rangers teammates if not for the lockout, also returned to the Czech Republic during the 1994 NHL lockout. He scored eight goals in 11 games for Kladno.
Pavel Barta, a Czech league official, said about 30 of the 73 Czech-born NHL players will come home to play in local leagues during the lockout — which both NHL owners and players say could wipe out this entire season. Among them is Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche, who is expected to join HC Moeller Pardubice.
In North America, the predominant sound at NHL practice arenas was silence. In Columbus, Ohio, the speakers outside the Blue Jackets’ arena were quiet instead of blaring franchise highlights.
Some players held informal workouts, while others were busy looking for work — either overseas, or in the revived World Hockey Association that plans to open Oct. 29 or in a six-team circuit called the Original Stars Hockey League that will feature four-on-four play.
Others are expected to appear in the AHL, where the season begins Oct. 13. Three Ottawa Senators regulars will play for a farm team in Binghamton, N.Y., and Ottawa goalie Dominik Hasek is expected to at least work out with the minor league team for two weeks.
The league is seeking massive economic change, and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has said the confrontation possibly could extend to the 2005-06 season and jeopardize the NHL’s place in the 2006 Winter Olympics.