Canucks players play the waiting game
Posted September 17, 2012 3:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – While many NHL players have already committed to joining European clubs during the current hockey lockout, it seems most of the Canucks will stay in town and wait out the work stoppage.
“I talked to Markus Naslund in Modo back in our hometown and I told him that if we find out if this is going to be the full year, we’re going to consider to come back, but before that we’re going to stay here,” says Daniel Sedin after a workout today at UBC.
Naslund, the former Canucks captain, is in charge of Modo in the Swedish Elite League where Daniel and Henrik played during the last lockout that cancelled the 2004-05 season.
“My oldest boy’s in school now so that changes the dynamics for us,” says Canucks forward Manny Malhotra, who says that he remains optimistic that something can get done.
Malhotra also points out that he is part of the NHL’s negotiating committee and wants to be around the situation as much as possible, so he hasn’t put much thought into playing overseas.
There were unconfirmed reports today that Canucks forward Jannik Hansen was seriously considering returning to his native Denmark to play while the lockout continues. Several Canucks, including defenceman Kevin Bieksa and goaltender Cory Schneider, suggested today that Europe was not an option at the moment.
A number of NHL players including Washington superstar Alex Ovechkin (Russia) and San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton (Switzerland) have said that they are planning to play in Europe.
The next casualty of the lockout could be the NHL preseason. The first game is scheduled for this Sunday.
