The NHL preseason has been completely eliminated. The next step is either cancel regular-season games or come to an agreement with the NHL Players' Association on a collective barganing agreement.
The league announced this afternoon it is wiping out the rest of the exhibition schedule. The move comes eight days after the NHL canceled all preseason games through Sept. 30.
The Buffalo Sabres were scheduled to play seven preseason games. They have already missed two, with the next one originally slated for Friday night at home against Toronto.
The NHL regular season is supposed to start Oct. 11, with the Sabres getting started Oct. 13 against Pittsburgh in First Niagara Center. But unless the league and players union can make progress in their CBA talks, those games are in jeopardy.
The sides are scheduled to resume formal discussions Friday, their first meeting in more than two weeks. Several reports say they will talk throughout the weekend.
---John Vogl
