Saturday's Dump & Chase: J.P. Dumont Still Hopes for NHL Return

Sure, all of us fans want to see the NHL come back to us as quickly as possible, but one former Nashville Predator is hoping to get back into the league himself. As part of his coverage of the players' local workouts at A-Game Sportsplex, the Tennessean's Josh Cooper caught up with J.P. Dumont, and that story leads off our Saturday hockey notes...

Nashville Predators News

J.P. Dumont skates and waits | The Tennessean
J.P. still hopes to catch on with an NHL team, but hey, at least with his buyout he's still going to receive paychecks during the lockout.

David Climer: NHL will survive this lockout | The Tennessean
Climer points out how diehard hockey fans are, and how that emboldens the owners. One critical point is off, however - pointing to individual contracts like Shea Weber's as a sign that owners need to be saved "from themselves" is nonsense. In a hard cap environment, every extra dollar that a guy like Weber gets is one less for everybody else. It's the overall share of HRR that matters.

Arena secures $10M line of credit for future improvements | nashvillepost.com
Details from the recent Sports Authority meeting include a dedicated fund for capital improvements at Bridgestone Arena.

Jersey Fouls: Brad Marchand’s nose, Wild Fouls and delicious Mac-n-Chez | Puck Daddy
Paul Nicholson of @Predfans fame contributed a pretty awful Mike Fisher jersey for this edition.

Chris Mason Breaks Out Bold Predators Logo on New Brian's Gear - The Goalie Magazine
Mase is going to be sporting some spiffy new equipment whenever the season does start.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

NHL lockout: Leafs-Wings Winter Classic could die in November - thestar.com
Commissioner Bettman is threatening to cancel the Winter Classic sooner, rather than later, to avoid giving the NHLPA any leverage in CBA negotiations. *facepalm*

Accountant blows whistle on numbers - The Globe and Mail
Canada's "champion of forensic accounting" says there is plenty of room for interpretation when it comes to statements that the league as a whole is losing money.

An interview with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly - Tampa Bay Times
Daly argues that the NHLPA hasn't been as compromising as people generally believe.

Is this the worst moment in Edmonton Oilers franchise history? | Edmonton Journal
Progress on a new Oilers arena has ground to a halt, and now the owner is threatening the team's future in Edmonton.

Steve James, director of ‘Hoop Dreams,’ on concussions and why NHL needs to end fighting now | Puck Daddy
As in any other industry, employee safety can become an overwhelming financial issue. Sure, fans love the fights, but over time the league will be compelled to reduce its part in the game.

Tired of crickets in NHL rinks? Perhaps a cricket inspired spin-off could cure what ails you | Backhand Shelf
This one's for you, J.R.

The Deadspin Twitter -100*: The 67 Worst Accounts In Sports
A few hockey entries make the list, thanks in part (or in whole?) to our own Sam Page.

Derek Boogaard -- Dead NHL Star's Parents File $9.8 Million Lawsuit | TMZ.com
This reads rather strangely. The parents are reportedly suing the NHLPA for not filing a grievance on their behalf to fight for the remaining salary from Boogaard's NHL contract. Wouldn't the real target be the NHL and the New York Rangers, then?

Watch Guy Boucher’s awesome hockey stick baseball pitch at Tampa Bay Rays game (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
OK, this is awesome.

Blue Jackets Foundation has contingency plan for community grants - Fox Sports Ohio
We've talked about how team staff in various NHL cities are feeling the pinch, but charitable foundations will also take a hit during this work stoppage.

Limited-Time Offers Save Hockey Players & Goalies on New Equipment | Hockey Gear HQ
These coupon codes are still valid, saving goalies 10%, and skaters 20% on skates, sticks, and more - but for how long?

And lastly... a little Don Cherry perspective on the lockout:

NHL Lockout 2012: Should the Players Dump Their Union?

Part of the conventional wisdom around this NHL Lockout is that eventually the owners and players will split Hockey Related Revenue somewhere around the 50/50 mark, based on comparison to the recent CBA's struck by the NFL and NBA. But does that really have to be the case? Are there other world-class sports leagues out there which provide a different model on how to proceed?

For more on this, I'll yield the floor to Senator Blutarsky:

With former MLBPA chief Don Fehr at the helm, the NHLPA has the best leadership it has ever had, by a wide margin. Yet with the NHL seeking to further ratchet down the players' share of revenues, one must concede that at some point it cases to be worth maintaining the union.

...

To see how a non-unionized labor market works in a major professional sports league, one need look no further than the English Premier League.

With total 2010-2011 revenues (the most recent season for which figures are available) of 2.3 billion Pounds (about $3.7 billion), the EPL is the world's most lucrative soccer league.

...
And with no union, players claimed a full 70% of total EPL revenues. That's a lot better than the 57% the NHL players settled for in their last CBA, to say nothing of the sub-50% level the NHL owners are reportedly seeking in a new agreement. Indeed, it rivals the 75% of revenues the NHL owners dubiously claimed to be paying out in salaries prior to the last NHL lockout.

Hmm... now here's an interesting notion. I'm not very familiar with how the EPL operates, but I suspect a major difference between that and North American pro sports leagues is that of competition. Just across the English Channel are a number of other top-notch European leagues which can also attract top talent, whereas Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA and NHL have no significant competition short of crossing the Atlantic.

Ditching the union may be an extreme option, but these may well be extreme times. Considering the aggressive stance that the NHL has taken so far with their CBA offers, and the views espoused today by Detroit Red Wings senior vice president Jimmy Devellano, the stakes involved couldn't get much higher:

The owners can basically be viewed as the Ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle. The owners own the Ranch and allow the players to eat there. That's the way its always been and that the way it will be forever. And the owners simply aren't going to let a union push them around. It's not going to happen.

...

Let the players take 43% and let the owners take 57%. Just reverse it from where it is now and let the owners run the rest of their business and manage their expenses. Now keep in mind this time around it's not just revenue sharing that is the issue. There are many, many more components at play here, from entry level contracts, years of service, insurance, etc. I mean a whole bucket load of disputes that are just as important for the owners to need to get a fair deal done."

"Yes, they are billionaires. Good on them, they deserve it, but they also make their employees millionaires. Not a bad trade off for a guy like Lucic getting what, 6 million dollars a year? I mean good on him too, but he should be grateful.

This kind of thinking opens up a huge range of possibilities, and there would presumably be many, many obstacles to cross to make such a thing happen.

But what if the NHLPA disbanded and the players came to the league via an open market?

For more on the genesis of this idea, head over to Senator Blutarksy's blog.

Nashville Predators Announce Plan for Ticket Holders of Cancelled Games

Now that we have seen pre-season games cancelled due to the NHL Lockout, and are likely to see regular season games get the ax relatively soon, the Nashville Predators have communicated a policy to season ticket holders outlining how they can get refunds for cancelled games. In addition, the team has offered a number of incentives for people to leave their funds with the team, which they are calling "Loyal Legion Benefits".

Follow after the jump for a look at the email which has gone out to season ticket holders...

Follow @Forechecker

Yesterday, the National Hockey League announced the cancellation of the 2012 preseason schedule through September 30, including our home games scheduled for September 25 and 29 respectively. The cancellation of the schedule was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL.

We couldn't be more excited for the 2012-13 season to begin. Both on and off the ice, our organization has made moves this off-season, all designed to strengthen the team to benefit you, our partners and fans. Coming off our second straight trip to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the Predators also ranked 14th out of the 122 professional sports franchises in ESPN The Magazine's Ultimate Standings that was recently released.

This offseason, we re-signed several key veterans and young players and are prepared to continue our quest for the Stanley Cup. We have been working aggressively to continue to enhance your fan experience and are confident that you will enjoy the upgrades and new initiatives inside Bridgestone Arena.

Our hope is for a quick resolution. The NHL remains committed to negotiating around the clock to reach an agreement that is fair for all parties and will allow for the long-term success and growth of the game we all love.

As we previously communicated, we will not process any outstanding payments nor will you receive any future billings until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached.

Additionally, as we said in the previous communication, we have created the most attractive benefits plan for the best fans in all of professional sports. When you leave your season ticket investment on account during the work stoppage, you will receive credit up to the amount paid on your account equal to the dollar value of tickets for games cancelled and not rescheduled, plus 10.25% bonus credit (on an annualized basis) on those cancelled games. The bonus credits will appear on your account once a new CBA is in place and a revised schedule has been released. This credit and earned bonus credit on your account can be applied toward purchases of food and beverage, merchandise, select Bridgestone Arena events, single game tickets, 2013 Stanley Cup Playoff tickets or your 2013-14 season ticket renewal. Refunds for cancelled games are available as a second option, however if you elect to take the cancelled game refund, the bonus credit and corresponding benefits will not apply. During the course of the work stoppage the Predators will send Season Ticket Holders weekly updates on additional ways to use these credits in Season Ticket Holder Benefit alerts. You can view a current benefits summary here.

Furthermore, you will also receive 7,000 points in Smashville Rewards to use toward concert tickets, autographed items, meet and greets, once-in-a-lifetime experiences and special events at Bridgestone Arena. Smashville Rewards is the most dynamic benefits platform in professional sports and we use this program to reward you for your loyalty to the Predators organization. If you have not yet registered for Smashville Rewards, go to smashvillerewards.com to begin participating in the program today.

Here is the benefit summary mentioned in the email:

Clearly, the emphasis here is on encouraging people to leave their money with the team, but at least it sounds like the Predators are offering significant additional value if they do so. However, as I mentioned the other day (and this applies to folks in every NHL city, not just Nashville), if fans want to have any sort of input on getting NHL Lockout 2012 resolved sooner rather than later, they'd be well advised to put some action behind their words:

So if you're a Nashville Predators season ticket holder, what are your plans?

Poll

Season ticket holders - what will you do if/when games get cancelled?

• Leave my money with the team & take advantage of benefits
• Demand a refund

  180 votes | Results

Who Is the Greatest #32 in Nashville Predators History?

Our series on the greatest players to wear each number in Nashville Predators history lumbers on (hey, it looks like we'll have plenty of time for it) with #32, bringing us a revenge match from an earlier edition. And just when you thought the score was settled between Teemu Laakso and Cody Franson...

Jeff Daniels

During the mid- to late-90's Daniels had trouble cracking an NHL lineup, but in the early portion of the 1998-1999 season he suited up for 9 games as a Pred (scoring 1 goal and adding 3 assists). He had been claimed from Carolina in the Expansion Draft, and headed back to the Hurricanes in the summer as a free agent after spending the rest of the season in Milwaukee.

Cale Hulse

The very model of a tough, stay-at-home physical defenseman, Hulse spent three years with Nashville, playing 225 games from the 2000-2001 to 2002-2003 seasons (with three goals and 15 assists in total). He led the team in penalty minutes each season, and stands 8th on the franchise's all-time list with 370 PIMs as a Pred. He had been acquired in 2000 via trade from Calgary in exchange for Sergei Krivokrasov, and left as a free agent in 2003.

Mathieu Darche

Signed as a free agent for the 2003-2004 season, Darche played just two games for the Predators (going scoreless), instead spending most of that year with Milwaukee, where had a productive 59-point campaign.

Cody Franson

During his rookie season of 2009-2010, Franson broke into the NHL wearing the #32, and made a big splash in a protected role with 6 goals and 15 assists in 61 games. The mood heading into his sophomore season was optimistic, and his continued to progress (having switched to the #4 sweater that year), but was traded to Toronto in the summer of 2011 as part of the Matthew Lombardi salary dump.

Teemu Laakso

We've seen him before in this series representing #2 and #4, but the #32 was perhaps the least lucky for Teemu. He played just one game in the 2010-2011 season wearing that number for Nashville, seeing just 2:43 of ice time in a 1-0 victory at Dallas.

Poll

Who Is the Greatest #32 in Nashville Predators History?

• Jeff Daniels
• Mathieu Darche
• Cody Franson
• Cale Hulse
• Teemu Laakso

  215 votes | Results

Friday's Dump & Chase: Recreational Hockey Edition

Yes, of course we have loads of NHL Lockout updates for you this morning, but you know what? Those can wait until the end. Let's start of our around-the-world-of-hockey notes with a few items regarding adult recreational hockey, which can be a great way to fill the void left by the pros. ..

Nashville Predators News

Nashville Predators forced to wait out lockout's end | The Tennessean
Well, at least A-Game is making some money off the lockout, by renting that morning ice several times a week.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Braving the Beer League- Other Intricacies of Skating " Not Another Hockey Blog
If you've ever thought of taking up playing hockey as an adult, follow along with John as he gets started. It's never too late!

5 little hockey tricks that can make your day, even when you don’t see the stat sheet | Backhand Shelf
#3 is one of my absolute favorite plays in the game, but I'll add one of my own. If you're getting dumped to the ice, a well-placed extension of your leg or stick can make sure your opponent doesn't get away scot-free. Subtlety is key, however...

Product review: the Sock Trap | Backhand Shelf
Hmm... this is interesting. I'm not a big sock tape guy myself, but these do look pretty cool.

Potential NHL Seattle owner talks relocation vs. expansion | Puck Daddy
I'll take expansion, please! Gimme 32 teams.

Chris Pronger reportedly improving, while Keith Primeau struggles seven years later - Broad Street Hockey
I think we can forget about Pronger ever playing in the NHL again, but hope for his recovery.

NHL keeping eye on OHL's new fighting rule - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
What will the NHL do if junior hockey dries up its supply of goons?

One-on-One With Jim Devellano, Detroit Red Wings Senior VP - IslandSportsNews
Jimmy D doesn't waste any words shilling for the owners - "I'll make a suggestion Scott. Let the players take 43% and let the owners take 57%. Just reverse it from where it is now and let the owners run the rest of their business and manage their expenses... Yes, they are billionaires. Good on them, they deserve it, but they also make their employees millionaires. Not a bad trade off for a guy like Lucic getting what, 6 million dollars a year? I mean good on him too, but he should be grateful." (found via George Malik)

NHLPA memo: the lockout is indeed a ‘cash grab’ - KuklasKorner
George Malik parses an agent's tweets about an NHLPA memo outlining to the players just how severe the NHL's current offer is.

Recent Industry Trends Will Impact Players' Share of NHL Revenues - Forbes
An argument in favor of the idea that yes, the NFL and NBA CBA's do provide a model to work from for hockey.

Here's why we should care about back-diving - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
Solving the issue of cap-gimmick contracts could be quite difficult, even after the battle over Hockey Related Revenue is settled.

Winners and Losers under the current CBA (Part 3) | NHLNumbers.com
Mind-blowing play toys to be found here at the very end!

Ryan Miller: ‘It is hard to trust the owners’ - The Globe and Mail
The players feel they've made a good-faith offer by restricting future salary growth and don't want their losses to become gains for the teams which are currently making healthy profits, but the league wants more.

NHL losing the war on social media - The Globe and Mail
I would say that the NHL isn't even participating in this one, and why would they?

Once NHL season begins coaches will have to hit the ground running - The Globe and Mail
This is an area in which the Preds, who have had very little roster change over the summer, could enjoy an advantage over some other teams.

It’s time for Gary Bettman and the NHL to police its owners | Puck Daddy
I think Greg's tilting at windmills here, unfortunately. The owners will always have strong personal agendas which will get in the way of notions like fair play.

Report: Patric Hornqvist to Join Djurgarden in Sweden's 2nd Division

Following in Roman Josi's footsteps, the next Nashville Predator is heading overseas during NHL Lockout 2012, as Patric Hornqvist will reportedly play with Djurgarden, the team he played for before coming to North America. Djurgarden is currently in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan, having been relegated last spring from the Swedish Elite League after a 35-year run.

Djurgarden already boasts Preds prospects Pontus Aberg and Chet Pickard (thanks to @drakepreds on Twitter for reminding me), so there will be some familiar faces for Hornqvist to see.

HockeyExpressen.se brings the news:

Later on Thursday came the news that Douglas Murray and Patrick Hörnquist - and possibly Gabriel Country Forest - connects to Djurgården.

--- HockeyExpressen.se, as translated by Google

Swedish Radio projects that he (along with Douglas Murray) could suit up for Djurgarden as soon as next weekend, once they get player insurance issues straightened out:

They have said that they would like to come home and play, and if we resolve the insurance issue they play for free. So that as soon as we get all the paper they should be available, says coach and sports director Challe Berglund.

- At best they can be by next weekend.

It will cost the players' insurance, but since both are on the final season of his NHL contract, the cost is not sky high. The Corner Qvist cases it is more than 70 000 and the Murrays about 50 000 per month, according to TT.

--- Sverigesradio.se (as translated by Google)

A Swedish krona is worth about 15 US cents, so 70,000 kronor/month converts to roughly $10,000.

This follows a ruling this morning overturning an initial decision to ban Swedish clubs from bringing NHL players over on short-term contracts during the lockout. Sweden's Competition Authority declared that this amounted to a cartel-like form of anti-competitive behavior, and that individual teams must be allowed to make their own call on whether to hire NHL players (for more interpretation, check out the Twitter feed of Matias Strozyk of Elite Prospects).

---

Patric Hornqvist

#27 / Right Wing / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-0

Weight: 188

Born: Jan 01, 1987

---

---

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2011 - Patric Hornqvist	27	16	43	+9	28

---

Expect a rush of announcements regarding players heading to Sweden over the next few days..

Thursday's Dump & Chase: Impact of Pre-season Cancellations Starts to Be Felt

Now that the first slate of pre-season games have been cancelled by the NHL, the lockout is truly starting to impact both teams and individuals from a hockey perspective. The rush to Europe is on for many players, while younger ones who have been sent to the AHL can get to work in a more conventional fashion. In the event of a relatively short lockout, which will be better prepared for the NHL grind?

That question, and many more, await you in this morning's notes...

Nashville Predators News

If Preds GM David Poile's actions are any indication, NHL fans may be out of puck - Nashville Scene
J.R. sees those recent contract extensions as a possible backup plan should the entire season be lost. I wonder if they were done in anticipation of players becoming eligible for free agency earlier under the next CBA.

Younger Nashville Predators look forward to the minors | The Tennessean
In particular, Gabriel Bourque and Ryan Ellis could be set up well by starting out the season with the Admirals.

Missed preseason games could translate into missed opportunities - Nashville Predators Examiner
We've seen guys come out of nowhere to earn a roster spot in training camp before, so we'll have to see how the training camp/pre-season situation works out, whenever the season does get underway.

The View from 111: Predators Foundation and Brent Peterson Party for a Great Cause
Mark shares a host of pictures from this week's gala fundraiser down at Bridgestone Arena.

Penalty Box Radio " A Lockouts Suck, Drop The Puck Event
No hockey, no problem, as a gaggle of Preds bloggers are getting together for a night at the movies.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Quotes of the Week: Lockout Nastiness 2003-2005 : The Hockey Writers
This offers some terrific perspective on things. Take Cam Cole's comments from the last lockout: "The greatest fear any of us should have is that they will come back before the job is done, with a half-baked solution full of loopholes that will have been turned inside out before you can say Martin Lapointe by agents doing exactly what they are paid to do." Yeah, I think he called that one.

Making sense of hockey-related revenue - CBC Sports
Everything you wanted to know about the thorny issue of defining Hockey Related Revenue.

Mike Modano estimates he lost $7M in last lockout - ESPN
Of course, we have to keep in mind that Modano was an older vet. The younger guys have more of their careers at stake. Will the players' greater unity and resolve serve them well this time around?

NHL staffers will take 20-percent pay cuts, 4-day work weeks in lockout | Puck Daddy
Belts are tightening even at NHL headquarters.

Panthers Announce Season Ticket Holder "Protection Plan" - Litter Box Cats
Talk about the carrot & stick approach! Florida fans can leave their money with the team and get a 10% credit, or ask for refunds when games get cancelled, and risk having their account closed with the team.

Agent: Expect long lockout, maybe another lost season - CSSNE.com
"I see zero chance of a deal anytime soon," said the agent. "The idea of a 'roll back' and 'term limits' is all over the deals [signed right before the lockout] and Don Fehr knows it and is not going to roll over and agree to it."

Ovechkin: ‘If our contracts get slashed, I will have to think whether to return there or not’ - Capitals Insider - The Washington Post
Alex Ovechkin talks tough about the NHL lockout.

Dreger: OHL targetting fighters; NHL targetting embellishers - TSN
Diving seems to be this year's penalty that the league wants to crack down on. We'll see how long that lasts.

Bouillon happy to be back home - Montreal Gazette
The Cube, Michel Therrien, and Montreal - it's a natural fit.

Interview: Ken Hitchcock talks about his coaching philosophy | Backhand Shelf
Hitch is one of my absolute favorite coaches out there, and this interview is well worth your time.

Rec Hockey Thoughts: What’s appropriate etiquette during a rec hockey blowout? | Backhand Shelf
I've been on both ends of this dilemma. When getting your brains beat out, I've gone with the "let's just try to win this period" angle, and when leading, try to move the puck around and not run things up too much.

Frequent fighters in OHL will face suspensions — reports - Buzzing The Net
A controversial move here, although you wouldn't think it would have to be so.

A Sneak Peek at SB Nation United, the Next Generation of On The Forecheck

A couple weeks ago we teased the upcoming rollout of SB Nation United, a re-design of our network of sports blogs which is on the way. As the big day approaches (soon...), I'm glad to say I can share another glimpse into how OTF will look.

First, a few of the main benefits which the new platform will bring to you:

- SB Nation United is going to make our sites load faster and run better, meaning you can get to the content you want faster.
- SB Nation United is going to make sure that you're seeing the best and brightest content up front with our flexible layout, modern design and reduction of clutter.
- SB Nation United is going to make the experience on our sites run seamlessly from every platform, whether mobile, tablet or computer. No matter where you are, the experience will not change.
- SB Nation United will not take away or change any of the community elements you love like FanPosts and FanShots and GameThreads.

Follow after the jump with some screen shots featuring various aspects of the new design, taken from a sampling of different sites within the SB Nation network...

The front page layout will be flexible. In the example above, a section featuring power rankings is featured, alongside four major recent stories. The next three pictures below depict alternative layouts for the front page.

Within a given section, you may have one story highlighted, with the rest in traditional chronological order, as seen below:

Of course, FanShots are still a major part of the design, the ideal way for you to share something you find elsewhere with the OTF community.

The mobile look is intended to mirror what you see on a PC:

And lastly, here's a long view of the front page of a site - underneath the main layout, you have recent stories, and sidebars for FanShots, FanPosts, most commented stories, and more.

I'm really excited about what we're going to be able to do with this new platform, the power to group and feature related content is truly outstanding. For example, we can pin sections to the main layout such as our Jersey Number Series, or NHL Lockout 2012 coverage. It's going to be a lot of fun for me on the publishing side, and it should be much more useful to you, both as a reader and a participant, so stay tuned!

Report: Roman Josi the First Nashville Predator Heading to Europe During NHL Lockout

According to the Swiss team's website (spotted by Caroline), defenseman Roman Josi could be the first Nashville Predator to head overseas to find ice time during the NHL Lockout, as he returns to his old Swiss League team, SC Bern:

Both in 2011 and in this year Roman Josi spent much of the summer break in Bern and trained each with the SCB. Roman Josi on 26th September arrives in Bern. It is planned that at he 29th September will be used in the home game against HC Lugano first time.

--- SC Bern website, as translated by Google

---

Roman Josi

#59 / Defenseman / Nashville Predators

Height: 6-2

Weight: 198

Born: Jun 01, 1990

---

---

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2011 - Roman Josi	5	11	16	+1	14

---

It looks like he'll be joining New York Islanders captain Mark Streit to make a pretty nifty blueline for Bern, which Josi helped lead to the top of the Swiss A league standings in 2009-2010. Incidentally, J.P. Dumont played for Bern last season, putting up 8 goals and 23 assists in 31 games.

How many other Nashville Predators will make the journey over to Europe to keep their game skills sharp this fall as the lockout continues? Stay tuned...

NHL Lockout 2012: 5 Nashville Predators Pre-season Games Cancelled

Now that we're several days into NHL Lockout 2012, games are starting to get cancelled, pre-season ones anyway:

The NHL's release reads:

The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012 preseason schedule through Sept. 30. In addition, the 2012 Kraft Hockeyville preseason game, scheduled for Oct. 3 in Belleville, Ontario, has been postponed to 2013.

The cancellation of the schedule was necessary because of the absence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL.

While the Kraft Hockeyville game has been postponed, many of the scheduled celebrations in the winning community of Stirling-Rawdon, Ontario, will proceed as planned beginning on September 30.

For the Nashville Predators, this means that five games are cancelled, including two dates at Bridgestone Arena:

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (CT)
Mon, Sept 24	@ Florida Panthers	Sunrise, FL	1:30 pm
Mon, Sept 24	@ Florida Panthers	Sunrise, FL	6 pm
Tue, Sept 25	ST. LOUIS BLUES	Bridgestone Arena	7 pm
Fri, Sept 28	@ Carolina Hurricanes	Raleigh, NC	6 pm
Sat, Sept 29	CAROLINA HURRICANES	Bridgestone Arena	7 pm

Stay tuned, as I'm guessing it'll be about another week before we may be looking at regular season cancellations, too.

Wednesday's Dump & Chase: "Hockeyville" Game Cancelled Due to NHL Lockout

We can check off the milestones for NHL Lockout 2012 one by one. Yesterday we got the first word of staff layoffs for certain teams, and this morning's hockey notes include word of the first game cancellation, a special event which, ironically enough, is supposed to celebrate Canada's passion for hockey.

To paraphrase the poet, "there is no joy in Hockeyville. The mighty NHL has locked them out."

Follow @Forechecker

Nashville Predators News

Nashville is on hook for millions even if Predators don't play | The Tennessean
Even if the new lease has shifted towards less guaranteed money for the team, the city is still eyeing this situation warily.

No lockout layoffs for the Preds | nashvillepost.com
It sounds like Predators staff are safe for now. My guess is that they're hard at work rehearsing for a show that will keep Bridgestone Arena humming during the lockout, as in The Muppet Movie. I hereby nominate Pete Weber & Terry Crisp for the roles of Statler & Waldorf.

Lockout gives former Nashville Predators chance to catch up with team | The Tennessean
The German Ginger is back skating with his fellow defensemen...

Smashville 24/7 - Gill almost chose football over hockey
Whew, at least now we know there's a backup-backup plan in case Jake Locker and Matt Hasselback don't work out.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

The Dark Blue Jacket: Of course it had to happen to Columbus
The Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs get the honor of the first game cancellation of this lockout. It's a real shame for the community of Stirling-Rawdon, which had won the honor of being declared Hockeyville 2012 and was going to host the game.

A lost NHL season could happen again - The Globe and Mail
Eric Duhatschek examines the pessimistic angle.

CBA negotiations at 'crucial' period - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN
The "informal" talks are still ongoing, but will the parties actually get back into a negotiating room sometime soon?

Moderate and smaller-revenue owners the key figures in NHL lockout - The Globe and Mail
Could the Nashvilles and Floridas of the league band together and overrule the Bostons and Philadelphias? Don't bet on that happening any time soon.

Down Goes Brown: Take the quiz: How well do you really know the CBA negotiations?
As always, comedy gold here.

Florida Panthers announce employee layoffs - The Globe and Mail
Reportedly, even the mascot's a goner.

Anschutz puts AEG up for sale " LA Kings Insider
This is a big freaking deal. AEG runs arenas all over the world, and is the parent company of the L.A. Kings.

Locked-out NHL rivals look to team up to stay sharp - The Globe and Mail
I love this idea, tapping into the Montreal-Quebec rivalry to stage some exhibition games.

Assessing performance in all three zones: Zone entry data for the Wild and Flyers | NHLNumbers.com
More data decrying the dump & chase.

Nail Yakupov, other NHL players facing IIHF transfer card controversy in Europe | Puck Daddy
The only thing slowing down the exodus to Europe? Red tape.

Trouble in Grand Forks — North Dakota Suspends Four Captains | The United States of Hockey
Just change their name to "The Partying Sioux".

Watch Joakim Lindstrom drive Linus Klasen’s head into the ice in Swedish league (VIDEO) | Puck Daddy
Yikes, brutal stuff for the one-time Predator.

Steve Sabol Changed How We Watch Football | Playbook | Wired.com
Not hockey-related, but just about any sports fan is familiar with Steve Sabol, the face of NFL Films, who passed away yesterday at age 69.

Shop NHL Shuts Down Affiliate Marketing Program Immediately, Citing Lockout

Citing the current NHL Lockout as an "unusual situation", the league's online merchandise store, Shop.NHL.com, has shut down its affiliate marketing program effective immediately.

Is this a sign that the league doesn't expect a quick resolution to the current standoff with the NHLPA?

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What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate Marketing is a business model by which various entities (websites, email newsletters, social media accounts, whatever) drive shoppers to online vendors, and receive a fee based on sales generated. Consider it an online version of a referral business.

For example, that's what I do over at my side-project, Hockey Gear HQ. I review hockey products and point people to online sales and coupon codes, helping them find the equipment they need at a good price. In return, when readers click through those links and make purchases at those sites, I get a small commission from the sale.

With Shop.NHL.com, for example, a team-specific blog might have banner adds pointing to Shop.NHL.com's section for their team's apparel. Now that this affiliate channel is being shut down, however, I'd expect that you'll see many sites swapping out those ads for something else entirely.

An excerpt from Shop.NHL.com's email message follows:

Due to the current NHL Lockout, the Shop.NHL.com Affiliate Program is suspending operations effective immediately.

Please remove all ads including text links, banners, data feed links and coupon listings immediately.

PLEASE NOTE - although linking will be shut down tonight at 5:00 PM ET, and images associated with the program will disappear, we'll continue to honor tracking cookies set before the end of today.

We apologize for this unusual situation and look forward to working with you when the lockout is resolved and we receive clearance from the NHL legal team to resume operations.

NHL Lockout 2012 Explained With Taiwanese Animation, Featuring Former Predator Ryan Suter

Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are notoriously complex affairs, what with haggling over the definition of Hockey Related Revenue, salary cap mechanics, revenue sharing schemes, etc.

So how better to explain what's going on than with another installation of those surreal, but all-too-accurate Taiwanese animations, courtesy of Next Media Animation?

And what do you know, former Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter makes an appearance! There he is, gaining the attention of the free-spending Craig Leipold, alongside fellow free agent Zach Parise, the pair available for a mere $196 million (before rollback, of course). Only moments later, however, it all turns so horribly wrong...

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