George Malik via twitter: Malik responding to Walsh’s tweet: “Players heading to Europe doesn’t equal giving up. It means it’s not too hard for ‘em to find other places to play if they wish.”
Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: The lockout won’t be felt income wise long-term for teams like the Flyers or Maple Leafs, but it might for the Coyotes and Islanders. All 30 teams backed Bettman, but the “Maple Leafs, who were ardent dissenters in the last lockout, will be strongly against this lockout as well.”
Allan Walsh via twitter: Anonymous GM on players going to Europe during the lockout: “Let ‘em go. The players think they are threatening the owners by signing contracts in Europe. In fact, what they’re showing is they don’t have a lot of stomach to remain together in this fight. And that’s what we expected.”
Szymon Szemberg via twitter: The coach/GM/owner of Geneva-Servette of the Swiss league said he’s in negotiations with Anze Kopitar.
David Pagnotta via twitter: Jason Demers will be playing Oulu in SM-liiga in Finland.
David Pagnotta via twitter: Nikolai Kulemin will be finalizing a deal with Metallurg. Michal Handzus will play with Banska Bystrica in Slovakia.
Allan Walsh via twitter: Ondrej Pavelec will play with HC Trinec of the Czech League.
Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Andrei Markov is not going to the KHL. Evgeni Nabokov is entertaining offers.
David Pagnotta via twitter: Jussi Jokinen has a contract with Karpat in Finland for 1 month. He’ll be taking it 1 month at a time.
Juha Hittela via twitter: Scott Hartnell said he wants to play in KalPa. Kalpa’s GM said that Adam Hall is a possibility.
David Pagnotta via twitter: Pekka Rinne, Mikko and Saku Koivu, and Teemu Selanne are getting interest from Finnish clubs.
Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun: Alexei Ponikarovsky will play with Donbass Donetsk of the KHL. Ruslan Fedotenko also signed with Donbass.
Chip Alexander via twitter: Jiri Tlusty said last week he’s probably heading to Kladno.
Andy Strickland via twitter: The Blues would like Vladimir Tarasenko to stay until at least November.
Matias Strozyk via twitter: Weaker rumors of players going overseas: M. Koivu, Korpikoski to TPS;
Filppula, Selänne to Jokerit; Ekman-Larsson to Tingsryd; Grossmann to Södertälje.
Matias Strozyk via twitter: Confirmed NHLers going overseas: Jagr, Plekanec to Kladno; Fedotenko, Ponikarovsky to Donbass; Malkin, Gonchar to Magnitogorsk. Probable NHLers going to Europe: Kopitar to Modo; Thornton, Nash to Davos; Visnovsky, Chara, Hossa to Slovan; Streit, Josi to Bern; Klesla to Trinec. Rumored
NHLers going overseas: Hartnell to Vålerenga; Yakupov to Russia; Regin, Nielsen to Herning; Semin to Jaroslavl; Kovalchuk, Tyutin, Bobrovsky to SKA, Antropov – Barys; Voynov – Traktor; Voracek, Hudler – Lev; Jokinen – Kärpät; Joensuu – Ässät; Bödker-Malmö; Cervenka – Slavia.
Pavel Lysenkov via twitter: Nail Yakupov will play for Nizhnekamsk, arriving tomorrow.
Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Kris Letang could end up playing in the KHL.
Slava Malamud via twitter: Lokomotiv previously said they wouldn’t sign any NHLers, but team sources say they make an exception for Alexander Semin.
Slava Malamud via twitter: Vladimir Tarasenko agent is talking with SKA St. Peterburg.
Slava Malamud via twitter: Pavel Datsyuk signed with Ak Bars, his old team.