Finally, The NHL Returns (No Thanks To This Clown)

Our long national nightmare is over: the most recent installment of the NHL lockout ended in the wee hours of this morning in NYC. The details including a new 48-game schedule will be released at some point this week with every team in the league reportedly opening the regular season on Saturday, January 19.

The lockout made us all sick but like true drug addicts, I know I will be back for my fix as soon as possible. There are no winners in situations like this but hey, at least we have the NHL back in our lives and no labor negotiation talk at least until next winter.

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When Daniel Paille Has Given Up On The NHL Lockout, You Know It's Real Bad

I don't know how to break this awful news to you but Bruins forward Daniel Paille has left us for the natural beauty of Finland. After waiting out the NHL lockout for months in the Hub with his Boston teammates, he's headed to Ilves Tempere (of the SM-Liga) where he'll be the 12th Bruin overseas-by far the biggest total of any NHL team.

That fact gets even more depressing when you realize that Shawn Thornton, Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand are the only real Bruins left in town, working out and skating from time to time. Paille might be a fourth liner for Claude Julien but he was also Boston's NHLPA player representative that was deeply entrenched in the CBA negotiations. So yeah, it can't be a good sign that he had enough and finally bolted for Europe.

Like all the other Bruins in Europe, Paille has an out clause to return if and when the 2012-13 NHL season ever actually begins. Rich Peverley is in the same Finnish league while Philadelphia Flyer Max Talbot is on Ilves Tempere. The only sliver of good news that I can give you about the B's is that Tuukka Rask is returning to Boston after two very successful months in the Czech League.

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Do They Have Johnny Rockets In Austria?

It is way too late and furthermore, the NHL lockout makes me simultaneously want to bang my head on the wall and burst into tears but I felt the need to pass along this news item: Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk left for Austria today. He will play for the Salzburg Red Bulls in the Austrian First Division Hockey League.

If you're scoring at home, that makes 11 Bruins-most in the NHL-that are currently plying their trade in Europe. Four of the projected top six defensemen for Boston are over there and that's not including Dougie Hamilton, who is still playing OHL junior hockey with the Niagara Ice Dogs. Like with Chris Kelly-the last Bruin to leave-it is not a good feeling when a guy that had seemingly stuck it out here, gives up and leaves. That can't be a good sign for the NHL's going-nowhere labor negotiations.

The NHL has already lost the first two months of its 2012-13 regular season and I feel like pretty soon, we'll be hearing that the entire campaign is cancelled. If that is true, save a spot for me on the Tobin Bridge. I'm sure it'll be a busy day if and when that happens.

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I Hear Halloween In Switzerland Is Wild, Right Chris Kelly?

I hate to bring this up since Halloween is truly my favorite holiday of the year so I'll keep it brief: Bruins center Chris Kelly is going to Switzerland to play for HC Red Ice. He joins teammates Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron who are also playing their trade in the land of chocolate, Swiss watches and Roger Federer.

If you're keeping score at home, he is the 10th Bruin to take their talents overseas-an NHL high (loads gun). Even better, when the Winter Classic is officially cancelled any day now, expect more B's to hop on the next flight. Kelly's deal is monthly with an out clause if the NHL lockout ends.

After having already missed all the October games with no November games set to occur, the NHL lockout is in full effect and shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Much like the NBA lockout last year or the NFL lockout (why can't we have an MLB lockout too?), I have become immune to the few brief daily news to come out of this debacle. Every day that goes by with no positive movement, I become more convinced that we won't have a 2012-13 NHL season.

The fact that the NBA regular season started last night-hello Celtics-only further hurts the NHL since casual fans will forget about hockey soon enough. If you need a hockey fix, I would recommend paying closer attention to NCAA hockey. We are lucky to have the best conference in our backyard-Hockey East-with plenty of nationally ranked teams in New England: Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, UNH, Northeastern, etc.

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Patrice Bergeron & Zdeno Chara Are The Latest Bruins to Head Overseas

Because there is literally no NHL news to report right now, no practices, no positional battles and no talk of puck moving defensemen, it would be a dereliction of duty to not document the only Bruins related topic of note.

Of course, I'm talking about more Bruins headed overseas thanks to the inexplicable and increasingly frustrating NHL lockout. Bruins captain and defenseman Zdeno Chara along with reigning Selke Award winner, assistant captain and center Patrice Bergeron will take their talents to the Czech Republic and Switzerland respectively.

Chara will join HC Lev Praha, a Prague-based team in the KHL. He grew up not far from his new team's home (in Slovakia) and is expected to play games this weekend, according to his agent.

Bergeron reportedly turned down an offer from a Finnish team in order to skate with HC Lugano in Switzerland, joining linemate Tyler Seguin in the land of expensive watches and army knifes.

Both players can rejoin the Bruins if and when the NHL owners decide to stop being total douches.

Go Providence Bruins! Their home opener is a week from Friday, against the Manchester Monarchs (7 p.m. at the Dunkin' Donuts Center).

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Tuukka Rask, Rich Peverley & Dennis Seidenberg Next Wave Of Bruins En Route To Europe

With this NFL referee nonsense being the biggest story in sports, the mere mention of the word hockey gets me excited.  So anything that remotely involves the Bruins is going to get covered here on Boston Bias until the NHL and their owners decide to come to a fair agreement with the players.

Last week, Tyler Seguin, David Krejci, Anton Khudobin and Andrew Ference signed contracts with various European teams. Today goaltender Tuukka Rask, winger Rich Peverley and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg have all followed suit, taking their talents overseas to Europe.

Rask, who was slated to be Boston's starting goalie by default, will join HC Pizen of the Czech Extraliga. According to reports, he will most likely miss their first two games but be available for their September 30th matchup against HC Sparta Praha. HC Pizen won the coveted tipsport Hockey Cup in 2011 but is currently sitting in eighth place.

Peverley has signed on to play in Rask's home country of Finland, agreeing to terms with JYP Jyvasklya. JYP has a talent exchange program so to speak with the Bruins since 2010, meaning that certain players are able to train with each clubs' farm system. JYP also won their league's championship last season.

Finally, it was rumored last week that Seidenberg would play in Germany (his home country) and he has done so formally, signing with Adler Mannheim. He will be joining his younger brother on the roster and has played previously for the squad from 1998-2001.

Who's next? Patrice Bergeron and Shawn Thornton have also been in the latest batch of rumors to be thinking about joining their Black and Gold teammates in Europe.

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Bruins Start To Leave The Hub: Seguin, Krejci & Ference Set To Play In Europe

One day after the NHL announced that they are canceling preseason hockey in September, three prominent members of your Boston Bruins have reportedly signed contracts overseas.  Can Kathryn Tappen join the KHL Network?

Tyler Seguin, who just signed a monster extension that keeps him in Boston for six more years, has signed with EHC Biel, a club in the Swiss League.  Seguin would have been entering his third professional season, and a year overseas should help his production (depending on the party scene out there).

Joining Seguin in European action is defenseman and environmentalist Andrew Ference.  Ference, a Bruin since 2007, will report to HC Ceske Budejovice on October 7th, a team that I will hopefully never have to type again on this blog. It's in the Czech Republic.

David Krejci is also close to an agreement with HC Pardubice, a team in his native Czech Republic.  Goalie Anton Khudobin has joined HC Atlant Moscow Oblast (awesome name) of the KHL.  Dennis Seidenberg also told Joe Haggerty that he is planning on playing in Germany as well on a team with his younger brother.

Many players are flocking to Europe to play (and get paid) with leagues like the KHL who cover up to 65% of players salaries.  I for one am glad that players are staying active, however lets hope there are no injuries or any other nonsense.  Actually scratch that, I hope the NHL comes back before these guys get a chance to fall in love with Europe.

UPDATE 9/24: The mass exodus continues as Tuukka Rask will sign with HC Plzen of the Czech Republic and forward Rich Peverley will head to Finland to play for JYPin.

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Bruins Assign Many Of Their Top Young Players To Providence In Wake Of The NHL Lockout

Last night, while most of America was out getting hammered, Gary Bettman and the NHL owners officially locked the players out, who were probably out getting hammered themselves since their summer vacation has been unexpectedly (well kind of) extended.

Before the official announcement, many teams including the Bruins assigned some of their best young talent to their AHL affiliates, assuring that those prospects wont take a step back in development no matter how long the NHL is shut down.

Headed down Route 95 to Providence will be Matt Bartkowski, Carter Camper, Jordan Caron, Ryan Button, Colby Cohen, Tommy Cross, Craig Cunningham, Justin Florek, Michael Hutchinson, Jared Knight, Torey Krug, Kevan Miller, Adam Morrison (not the basketball player), Tyler Randell, Max Sauve, Ryan Spooner, Niklas Svedberg, Zach Trotman and David Warovsky.

Although there were rumors of Tyler Seguin making the trip down to Providence, the recently extended winger will most likely find something else to occupy his time.  It would have been a blast to see him absolutely tear it up in the AHL, a step that he completely skipped in his brief professional career.

Bruins fans looking to see the defenseman of the future Dougie Hamilton will have to either wait until the lockout is over or travel and watch him play for the Niagara Ice Dogs.  Malcolm Subban will also remain in the OHL, playing for the Belleville Bulls, although it was unlikely he would have made the big club anyway.

So this is what we have to deal with for the time being.  Luckily, we happen to live in New England where there are no shortage of hockey alternatives.  I for one plan on spending a lot of time at the Dunkin Donuts Center (yes the name is corny/awful/borderline offensive) watching the P Bruins as well as at Schnieder Arena checking out my Providence College Friars.

Providence Bruins games are always a good time, and if you have never been, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.  the Dunk is newly renovated and very accommodating for fans.  ticket prices are relatively low as well, which is always a good thing.

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