Lockout News & Notes (10/4)

Claude's Eisbaren Berlin jersey that I totally didn't spent the last half hour 'shopping

- Two more Flyers have gone abroad to avoid the NHL lockout. Both Claude Giroux and Danny Briere have signed a deal with Germany's Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). As of now that makes six of the Flyers starting forwards in Europe, spanning Berlin, Sweden (where Matt Read recently signed with Sodertalje Sportklubb in the SHL), Russia and the Czech Republic while four more defected to the AHL. Albeit projected, only two of Philly's top 12 on offense are still at home. Max Talbot went back to Quebec to work out somethin' crazy, and Scott Hartnell is doing... Well, god knows. If this goes on much longer (which let's be serious, it probably will) it's safe to say Bird Dog will eventually look for work, but for our sake let's hope both sides come to their senses.

- And as G and Danny flee the country, the NHL takes further action during the lockout by canceling all October games. Including next Thursday, the eleventh against Boston, the Flyers will miss a total of eight games which includes matchups against Pittsburgh, Montreal, Buffalo, Winnipeg, Toronto, Dallas and the NY Islanders. As frustrating as all of this is, we all have our vices at the moment. Be it video games, watching our Flyers in the DEL or KHL or actually playing the game in pick-up or organized leagues, we will get through this.

... But in the meantime while we wait for the money-hungry millionaires to settle their petty differences, I will provide an outlet to this craziness. Starting next Thursday, October 11th (when the season should've started) I'll simulate all the canceled games in NHL13 on the dates they were supposed to happen and post recaps here, on this very site. Will it be like a regular game? Probably not. But since there isn't real NHL hockey, it's better than nothing.