NHL cancels preseason through Sept. 30

The NHL announced Wednesday that preseason games through Sept. 30 have been cancelled because of its lockout of players.

The Blackhawks were scheduled to open their preseason next Tuesday against the Flyers in Philadelphia. They also had games scheduled on Sept. 28th and 29th against the Detroit Red Wings and Sept. 30 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There were no formal discussions between the NHL Players’ Association and the league on Wednesday. As of right now, the Hawks have two preseason games remaining: Oct. 5 at the Penguins and Oct. 6 against the Flyers.

The lack of talks is starting to discourage and frustrate some Hawks. But they all stand by the union and their proposal.

Do some players feel as if the whole season will be lost to this lockout like in 2004?

“I don’t think it will,” Hawks star forward Patrick Kane said Wednesday. “But at the same time you never really know. You never want to start any speculation of what’s going to happen. That’s the last thing you’re hoping for right now. Everyone is really excited about the team we have coming in here and season that was going to happen. Hopefully, it gets settled sooner than later. But … it’s just not what we want to do.

“You hear some different things like [Wednesday] they were going to meet or over the weekend they’re supposed to meet a couple of times. It would be one thing to say: get the door locked, get it done and come out with both sides being happy. But it’s just not realistic right now.

“It would be nice to see some more meetings. … [But] both sides are looking for something different.”