- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings Danny Cleary said it could be a long lockout.
“I think people don’t think it can go a year,” Cleary said after several Red Wings held an independent skate at Troy Sports Center. “As players, we think it can. Maybe longer.”
“Just trying to be realistic,” Cleary said. “I think the league is waiting for us to make the move, and we’re waiting for them to move. So someone has to move. And I don’t see it coming from our end. We’ve given them a couple of good options that they can work with, and they, obviously, feel it’s not good enough.
“We’re at a stalemate, I guess you can say. We’re stuck in the middle right now.”
- Pavel Lysenkov via twitter: Alex Semin will play for Sokol (Krasnoyarsk) in Russia’s 2nd league, and without a salary.
- Matias Strozyk via twitter: Timra would like to sign Henrik Zetterberg, but his insurance would cost $166,000 per month.
- David Pollak via twitter: Martin Havlat is in the Czech Republic, but hasn’t decide if he’ll play there.
- Chris Kuc via twitter: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews won’t decide on European options until mid to late October at the earliest. Jonathan Toews on the owners, “If they want to hurt their own game and drive it into the ground that’s what they’ll do.”
- Craig Custance via twitter: Tuukka Rask is headed to HC Plzen in the Czech Republic.
- Charlotte Checkers via twitter: The Checkers have signed Dan Ellis to a pro tryout contract.
- Eric Stephens via twitter: Francois Beauchemin said he’s interested in playing in the Quebec caravan tour.
- Matias Strozyk via twitter: Jan Mursak signed with Olimpija Ljubljana of the Austrian League.
- Andy Strickland via twitter: Chris Stewart and Wayne Simmonds have signed with Eispiraten Crimmitschau GmbH in Germany’s 2nd division.