(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, October 07, 2012 ) San Francisco, CA- While the NHL lockout persists into its second week of standoff, more players continue to head overseas, however, the Chicago Blackhawks have stayed uniquely slow to sign off elsewhere.
Of the current roster, only Michael Frolik has signed a deal overseas, sending him to Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga League. Teammates have otherwise been balking at the opportunity to sign with European teams. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Viktor Stalberg, and Duncan Keith have listened to offers, but seem in no hurry to sign away the season.
“It’s something we’re entertaining but we don’t have a specific timeline yet,” Keith’s agent Ross Gurney said on Monday.
Pat Brisson, who represents Toews and Kane, said the same of his clients. Players had stated they would consider options over the next month and beyond if no improvements were found in the negotiations between the owners and players union. Frolik is scheduled to play his first game across the world within a week.
Stalberg’s agent, Wade Arnott, declined to make a definitive statement regarding his client. Many in the league are remarking that the severity and reality of the situation has begun to set in with the cancellation of the first two weeks of seasonal play. It is likely more Blackhawk players will follow in Frolik’s footsteps following the recent events.
The first four games of the Hawk’s season have already fallen as casualties to the lockout, and more are likely to come unless something changes soon. It is possible the entire season is postponed if the coming month sees no headway made on the current season.
