Updated 11am EDT:
Former Sabres
Jay McKee and Andrew Peters ran the first lockout practice for the Sabres today.
McKee and Peters know a thing or two about playing, coaching, and the NHL labour issues. He played in the NHL for over 10 years,. he coaches at Niagara University and most recently at AHL Rochester last season. He was teh Sabres' NHLPA player rep after the last lockout in 2004-05. Peters, a recent retiree, also served as Sabres NHLPA rep during his career in Buffalo.
McKee and Peters were on the ice, running the players though brisk, uptempo drills. They later broke up into groups to play cross-ice 3-v-3 games.
This is the modus operandi until such time that the NHLPA and NHL owners come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Most players were present and accounted for. Those missing:
Myers, Ehrhoff, Leino, Regehr, Kaleta, Ennis, and Hodgson.
Ehrhoff has signed to play in Germany and is on his way there now. Leino is rumoured to be headed home to Finland to play there.
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Sabres D, Christian Ehrhoff, is the first Sabres player to officially sign to play overseas during the lockout. He won't be the only Sabre heading to a foreign locale to play during the lockout. Expect Tyler Myers to finalize a deal in Russia early this week. Ville Leino is rumoured to be heading back home to play in the Finnish elite league.
Ehrhoff will play for his hometown Krefeld Penguins. The team's website says that Ehrhoff practiced with his Krefeld squad this Summer.
The team will be able to insure Ehrhoff's contract, thus, he will be able to join the team this week.
I saw Ehrhoff after he skated with his Sabres mates in Amherst on Friday. He said that he would be entertaining offers from German elite league teams.
Thomas Vanek wrote on his blog last week (thomasvanek.at), that he too will be looking to play in Austria should the lockout drag on into the month of October.
Google-translated passage:
If the lockout drags on, but surely many players are going to Europe. Then there is of course with a proper training here more difficult. When has done nothing to end of September, I have to also consider whether to get to Europe. Austria is certainly an issue there for me. The biggest problem would be not sure about the content, but the insurance. This is something that is not what is often talked about but when ups - also for the national team - always the most worried. At what club? No idea, we can surprise us.
The Canadian Press confirmed the Ehrhoff signing.
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