Lockout Log

The following is a daily log of the NHL lockout, which began Sept. 16:

Friday, Dec. 17

Total days: 93
Total days of season missed: 66
Games lost Friday: 8
Total games missed: 438

Negotiations

The NHL rejected a players' association proposal and had its own counteroffer turned down during a 3 1/2-hour session on Dec. 14. No new talks are scheduled.

Friday's best canceled game

Montreal at New Jersey. A matchup of Eastern Conference playoff teams from last season. The Devils were knocked out in the first round, and the Canadiens were ousted in the second. .

Ice chip

The father of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur, a Montreal native, is a longtime photographer of the Canadiens and baseball's Expos.

News of the day

While all was silent on the labor front in the wake of Tuesday's disappointing outcome, the rest of the hockey world provided plenty of news.

According to The Detroit News, Dominik Hasek is not just losing money because of the lockout.

The newspaper is reporting Hasek is being sued by the owners of Twelve Oaks mall in Novi, Michigan for $495,660 in back rent as well as lease payments that run through 2008. Hasek's Dominator Clothing company was a tenant in the mall but closed its doors and vacated in October after failing to pay rent for the previous three months.

"We felt it was in our best interests to move out," Hasek's attorney William Cohen said. "We'll play this out in court."

A six-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Hart Trophy recipient, Hasek helped guide the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup championship in 2002 before retiring. The Czech Republic native returned to Detroit after a one-year hiatus and signed with the Ottawa Senators this past summer.

The Senators are preparing their home arena for the masses of hockey fans once the NHL returns.

The Corel Centre received approval from the city of Ottawa to increase its capacity from 18,500 to 20,500. The feat is expected to be accomplished by selling additional tickets in suites, an arena restaurant and the standing room level.

The first beneficiaries of the increase will be the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67s, who will host the Kingston Frontenacs on December 30. The team hopes to surpass the Canadian Hockey League single-game attendance record of 19,875 set at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on February 5, 1995.

"We're grateful to mayor Bob Chiarelli and councillors of the city of Ottawa for allowing the Corel Centre to increase its capacity, and it's great that we'll be able to share the first benefits with our Ottawa hockey partner - the Ottawa 67s," Senators and Corel Centre COO Cyril Leeder said.

The American Hockey League's Philadelphia Phantoms announced former coach Bill Barber and tough guy Frank "The Animal" Bialowas will be the inaugural members of the team's Hall of Fame.

A ceremony will take place on January 9 to honor the two prior to the Phantoms' game against the Albany River Rats at the Wachovia Spectrum.

"Bill Barber brought credibility to the team, not only because of his great NHL career but because he established the standard of being a Phantom both on and off the ice," Phantoms COO Frank Miceli said. "Frank Bialowas is arguably the most popular player in our history for living up to his nickname on the ice and for building a strong presence in the community."

Barber, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990 after a stellar career with the Philadelphia Flyers, became the first coach in Phantoms history in 1996. He led the team to the AHL's best record that season and guided it to the Calder Cup championship the following campaign.

"This is a class organization, and my family and I are completely thrilled with this recognition," said Barber, who currently is the director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Lightning. "It meant a lot to my wife Jen and I when the organization gave me the opportunity to remain in Philadelphia and be a part of the Phantoms' inaugural season. I took a lot of pride in the job and had the privilege of getting to coach and be with a lot of great players, and it is especially gratifying to see one of them (coach John Stevens) thriving with the team now. This is an incredible honor."

Bialowas held the role of enforcer for the Phantoms from 1996-99, collecting 555 penalty minutes in 156 games with the club. The 5-11 forward was the first recipient of the team's Fans Choice Award, earning the respect and adulation of Philadelphia's faithful.

"I am very honored to be among the first two Phantoms Hall of Fame inductees," Bialowas said. "The three years I spent with the team was a great period in my life. Being a part of the inaugural team in 1996 and then winning the Calder Cup a year later was an awesome experience. I can't wait to see Billy again, as well as all my old friends down at the Spectrum."

The International Ice Hockey Federation also announced its 2005 Hall of Fame inductees, which include former NHL stars Mats Naslund and Viacheslav Fetisov.

Naslund was a three-time All-Star for the Montreal Canadiens after beginning his career in his native Sweden. The diminutive forward helped Montreal to the Stanley Cup championship in 1986 and captured the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play two years later.

After leaving the Canadiens for Switzerland, Naslund returned to Sweden before ending his playing career with the Boston Bruins in 1995. Naslund did capture a gold medal with Sweden at the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Fetisov already had made a name for himself before entering the NHL, winning 13 consecutive national titles with CSKA Moscow in Russia. He also captured 12 European Cup championships and a pair of Olympic gold medals in his native country before joining the New Jersey Devils at the age of 31 in 1989.

A 2001 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Fetisov went on to win consecutive Stanley Cups with Detroit before moving into the coaching ranks.

Also joining Naslund and Fetisov are Viktor Kuzkin of Russia, Alois Schloder of Germany, official Quido Adamec of the Czech Republic and Denmark's Jorgen Hviid, who was chosen for the builders category.

The ECHL named Pee Dee Pride goaltender Nick Boucher its Saver of the Week and Victoria Salmon Kings defenseman Brad Dexter the Player of the Week.

Boucher won the award for the second time this season after posting consecutive shutouts against Augusta and Louisiana. Dexter recorded two goals and three assists as the Salmon Kings went 3-0-1.

The Southern Professional Hockey League named Ryan Person the Player of the Week after the Asheville Aces goalie allowed just four goals on 101 shots in consecutive victories over the Knoxville Ice Bears.

Where are they now

Brian Willsie decided he preferred North America after all.

After playing for ZM Olimpija of Slovenia, Willsie returned to his roots Wednesday by signing with the Portland Pirates of the AHL. Last season, Willsie scored 10 goals and added five assists in 49 games with the Washington Capitals, Portland's parent club.

While the players currently are out of work, Rick Dudley is not.

Dudley was hired as a hockey operations consultant by the Chicago Blackhawks after being fired as general manager of the Florida Panthers in May. The former coach of the Buffalo Sabres also has served as general manager with Ottawa and the Tampa Bay Lightning since retiring as a player in 1982.

Reigning Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer of New Jersey will be the guest speaker at the 2005 Home Hardware CHL-NHL Top Prospects Celebrity Banquet on January 19 in Vancouver.

Niedermayer won the Memorial Cup while with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 1992 and captured both the WHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year awards in 1990 and 1991.

"We're delighted to have Scott speak at the banquet next month," chairman of the Top Prospect Game committee Dan Fraser said. "His accomplishments speak for themselves and there's no question we are excited to have a future Hockey Hall of Fame inductee speak at our event."

With the Devils, Niedermayer has won three Stanley Cup championships as well as last season's best defenseman award.

One year ago

Former Blackhawks captain Keith Magnuson was killed in an auto accident in Vaughan, a suburb of Toronto. He was 56.

Magnuson was the passenger of a car driven by Rob Ramage, a member of the Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup championship team in 1993. The two reportedly were returning from the funeral of former NHL player Keith McCreary in Bolton, Ontario.

Atlanta Thrashers star Dany Heatley had his skating session canceled due to soreness in his knee. It was scheduled to be Heatley's first appearance on ice since the auto accident that claimed the life of teammate Dan Snyder in September.

The Carolina Hurricanes made a coaching change, firing Paul Maurice and replacing him with Peter Laviolette. After guiding the Hurricanes to an improbable Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2002, Maurice failed to get his team into the postseason last season and led it to just an 8-12-8-2 mark before being replaced.

Also fired by Carolina were assistant coach Randy Ladouceur and goaltending consultant Don Edwards.

The Los Angeles Kings placed Aaron Miller on injured reserve with a cervical strain. The defenseman suffered the injury a week earlier in an overtime loss to Atlanta.

Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk was named Offensive Player of the Week after scoring six goals and setting up four others in four games. New Jersey netminder Martin Brodeur earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting a 2-0-1 record, two shutouts and a .967 save percentage.

The Minnesota Wild scored four unanswered goals en route to a 5-2 victory over Phoenix in the Coyotes' final home game at America West Arena. Following a four-game road trip, Phoenix will host the Nashville Predators on December 27 in the first contest at Glendale Arena.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.