Commandant

Happens all the time at every level of hockey. Better players get jobs, worse players get cut. This doesn't irritate me at all because the players are locked out, not on strike. They can go wherever they can find a job. Funny though, we complain about the NHLers who take jobs in the Euro leagues, but we don't complain that guys like Jeff Skinner and Adam Henrique and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are sent to the AHL where they take away jobs from AHLers, who then get less money, but still work in the ECHL, who then see their guys lose jobs. But thats never something fans complain about.

Today I took a look at 7 players who may have played their last NHL game if a lockout lasts a full season. One of those players is a long-time Hab and one of my favorite players. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/19/lockout-2012-last-stand-for-long-time-nhl-stars/

We've launched a new edition to the website, Last Word Radio. Our first show came out tonight and we talked about the day in the NFL. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/16/announcement-last-word-on-radio-launch/

And if he gets injured playing in Europe?

Correction: The lockout will start in Quebec. Its legality and whether backpay will be owed will be determined at a later date. Max's look at CBA negotiations and the battle that has begun http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/15/cba-talks-get-tense-nhl-vs-nhlpa-and-fan-vs-fan/# My look at recent NHL contracts signed by teams in the last weeks before the lockout http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/15/nhl-last-minute-signings-hypocrisy-or-smart-business/

A look inside the Strategy of the NHL and the NHLPA in this labor dispute. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/13/divide-and-conquer-the-strategy-of-the-nhlpa-in-this-labour-dispute/

Absolutely, I was agreeing with you. I just think the discussion will start in Football and Basketball and move on from there.

Absolutely, the pay for play arguments always start in football, and to a lesser extent basketball. I doubt many boosters are paying big money to NCAA hockey players under the table.

It never mattered how well Gretzky or Lemieux could play defence. The puck was on their stick for the majority of their shifts... the best defence is having the puck.

they don't decide who is amateur or not, they decide who is NCAA eligible.

The Olympics abandonned the requirements that athletes be amateur almost 25 years ago. They allowed pro hockey players (including NHLers) into the 1988 games in Calgary. Only the NHL did not shut down and only a few players were released (Jim Peplinski and Brian Bradley were two examples of players released by their NHL clubs to play in the games).

Chasing the Perfect Hockey player, an NHL Happy Hour piece with Max Vasiliev. http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/12/chasing-perfection/

The reason the NCAA calls the CHL semi-pro is because of the NHL contracts. It has nothing to do with the stipend. The CHL has explored the option of their players playing NCAA after junior was finished in the past and that is the answer the NCAA gave.

This is all a divide and conquer strategy by the NHLPA. Get Molson, and the two Alberta owners to not support a lockout. They are already proposing increased revenue sharing to try and get the small market teams on their side. The more division in the ownership group the better for the NHLPA, and vice versa for the players staying united vs the owners.

I don't think there is anything special about Kirill Petrov. Do you mean Kirill Kabanov, the talented player who is a nutbar?

Pittsburgh is debatable but i have them in the same tier as Montreal, so you are right in that there isn't much difference there Ottawa I've got a level ahead because they have prospects at every position, while we are thin at LW and have nothing in terms of goaltending.

I think we stay top 10, but not top 5 if we give the Habs credit for Price. Reason being that we have to give teams like tampa credit for Stamkos, Hedman, Connolly (who are all younger than Price), Islanders get Tavares, Oilers get their youth, etc.... if we add all players say under 25, we are doing well with what we have (Subban, Price, Patches) added to the mix, but of course could use always use a little more.

Organizational rankings part 2, the top 15 featuring the Habs http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/09/top-shelf-prospects-nhl-team-rankings-the-top-15/

Absolutely... but even if there is a season, he's staying in Russia. Organizational Rankings are out. Teams 30-16 http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/08/top-shelf-prospects-nhl-team-rankings-part-one/

I have heard the same. Its unfortunate cause this could be a bit of a lost year development wise if he doesn't move up the lineup.

I believe so. However, one wrench in the whole thing...... this is all rules from the old CBA. They may not necessarily be the same in the new one.

Deemed Amateur according to who? The NCAA doesn't deem them amateurs, they deem it a semi-pro league because some of the players in it are signed to pro contracts and as such once you play in it you lose your NCAA eligibility. However a big thing here is the Entry-Level Slide Rule. Once you are sent back to junior you aren't getting paid and your contract slides to the next season.

2 years, 9 million (4.5 per season) or 7 years 38.5 million (5.5 per season) Let Subban pick.

Today Top Shelf Prospects is back with a look at the Winnipeg Jets http://lastwordonsports.com/2012/09/07/top-shelf-prospects-winnipeg-jets/

A player has a window where he can sign.... that is the summer. Once he is returned to his junior team he becomes draft eligible again.... just like all other junior aged players who are 18 years old. As for preventing from gainful employment goes, that is not the case in this situation. The player has signed a contract (or player card) before he can be eligible to play in the CHL. He can't play in the NHL until the following season... so making him wait through the draft is not seen as a restriction on his employment. No more so than it is for any junior aged player. If you are playing major junior you must pass through the draft undrafted 2 or 3 times (depending on birthdate) before you are a full free agent. However after each time you pass through the draft you do have the limited summer window in which you can sign a deal.