Thursday, 29 November 2012 14:14

Written by Shelly Anderson

A survey of several of the Penguins who skated today at Southointe showed that, despite the ripples and alarms going off because center Sidney Crosby might be getting closer to signing in Europe, most aren't exploring that option at this point and probably won't unless the NHL season gets canceled.

(By the way, here's the roll call: defenseman Matt Niskanen and Ben Lovejoy; forwards Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Matt Cooke, Craig Adams and Joe Vitale, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.)

Niskanen noted that if things go sour even with a mediator at the CBA sessions Wednesday and today, "I think guys [around the league] will definitely consider it more. That's my approach – wait and see where we're at, then evaluate where we're at and see what I want to do."

However, Niskanen already has decided that "I'm going to wait a while. If they cancel the season, then I'll make a decision. But I think some guys will explore what's out there, see what options are out there."

If players get discouraged over a stalemate in the lockout and head overseas, "it wouldn't be a bad thing, even if we did start [the NHL season], say, a month from now," Niskanen said. "Guys could get two, three weeks in, almost like a preseason. I could see a lot of guys looking at it that way."

Dupuis, however, figures there won't necessarily be more than the trickle of players heading to Europe that we've seen all along.

"It's not more [likely] for guys who are in North America right now," he said. "They're still talking. They haven't canceled the season."

Besides, he noted somewhat sourly, why wait for the results of mediated sessions?

"The last time a mediator was around, in '04-05, the season got canceled four or five days afterward," Dupuis said. "It can go both ways. If both sides are willing to negotiate, then a mediator's going to be good. If not, it doesn't do anything.

"But it's still possible to play some hockey soon. I'm staying around."

Adams, the team union representative, said a failed attempt at mediation won't serve to open the floodgates.

"I think that's true of anything,: Adams said. "As time goes on, more players will leave. I don't think that we're necessarily putting a whole lot of stock into mediation. The mediator can't make you do anything."

Lovejoy said he decided some time ago that he won't explore signing in Europe unless or until the NHL season is canceled. Some players said having a family with kids in school factors into a decision. Vitale's wife is due to have their second child, a son, pretty much anytime, so he's not looking to leave.

"I've definitely thought about it," Adams said of Europe. "You've got to weigh what's best for you and your family. It's certainly tougher when you have a family, young kids."

Adams and Fleury pointed out something else -- while there might be high demand for Crosby overseas, it's not a given that all NHL players are being inundated with offers.

"It's not that easy to get a job over there -- at least for me," said Adams, a 35-year-old fourth-liner and penalty-killer. "It's not like you have a choice to go wherever you want."

Fleury reiterated what he has said for the past few weeks -- that he might explore signing in Europe if the lockout drags on, but it's not a sure thing.

"First of all, I hope everything gets settled and we play," Fleury said. "If not, it's a little tougher for goalies to find a spot to play. If you go, you're taking somebody else's spot.

"For now, as long as the season's not canceled [I'll stay]. We all love the game, love to play. This is long, tough. We need some real action at some point."