The following is a daily log of the NHL lockout, which began
September 16:
TOTAL DAYS: 53
GAMES ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR TODAY: 4
GAMES CANCELED TO DATE: 481
LAST WORK STOPPAGE: 1994 (103 days)
NEWS OF THE DAY: The lockout is still showing no signs of coming
to an end, but, for once, the NHL was able to focus on more
prosperous times.
Defensemen Ray Borque, Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy were
inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday along with
former Calgary general manager and current Phoenix senior
executive vice president Cliff Fletcher.
Fletcher was confident that the work stoppage would not have
much of a long-term negative effect.
"The game is going through a difficult time now," he said. "But
it has before and it has always prospered because of the people
involved and their willingness to put the good of the sport
ahead their own interests. I'm confident it will happen again,
and we'll be back stronger than ever."
The news was not all good, however, as former St. Louis Blues
center Mike Danton was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison after
pleading guilty to a murder-for-hire plot in July. He is
expected to be transferred to a Canadian prison, although he may
not be able to return to the United States once his sentence is
completed.
Danton spoke with TSN on Monday and said that he still hopes to
continue his playing career after serving his time.
"I want to say to everyone that I will continue to work with my
doctors in getting back to full mental, emotional and physical
health," Danton told the network. "With a clear healthy mind, my
doctors believe that, if given the opportunity, I will be able
to become an even better player, playing the game I love with a
clear and healthy conscience."
Danton, who was accused of attempting to hire a hitman to kill
his agent, David Frost, also said that the whole story had not
yet been reported.
"My closest friends and doctors are the only ones that know
exactly what I've been through. Make no mistake, any media
member that has been seduced by other individuals' lies has
mistakenly aligned themselves with preserving a false
perspective on the truth of the matter."
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Former Montreal Canadiens right wing Alexei
Kovalev, who is an unrestricted free agent, became the 251st
NHL player to sign with a European club Monday, joining various
others with AK Bars Kazan. Tampa Bay Devil Rays center Vincent
Lecavalier signed with Kazan on Thursday, joining seven other
NHL players, including Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya
Kovalchuk and New York Rangers defenseman Darius Kasparitis.
New York Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr will be joining Kovalev
in Russia. Jagr, who had been playing in his native Czech
league, signed with Omsk Avangard.
ONE YEAR AGO: Vincent Lecavalier recorded his third career hat
trick and Nikolai Khabibulin made 15 saves as the Tampa Bay
Lightning routed the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins, 9-0, for
the most lopsided win in team history.
Martin Brodeur made 26 saves and Scott Stevens scored 6:34 into
the third period as the New Jersey Devils posted a 1-0 victory
over the Ottawa Senators in a rematch of the 2003 Eastern
Conference Finals.
Patrick Marleau scored midway through the third period as the
San Jose Sharks snapped a three-game winless streak with a 3-2
triumph over the Washington Capitals. San Jose coach Ron Wilson
was victorious in his first game in Washington since being fired
by the Capitals after the 2001-02 season.
Defenseman Radoslav Suchy scored 80 seconds into overtime to
give the Phoenix Coyotes a 4-3 win over the Mighty Ducks of
Anaheim, snapping a nine-game winless streak.