Many things will change now that the lockout is underway. For the fans it is obvious; no NHL hockey to watch. This is hard for us because we now have to find something to fill the void. For players and team personnel, things may be a little more challenging.
As many have noticed, the league and team websites now have a lot of alumni and minor league material up. This is because the players cannot be used for promotional purposes during the lockout. Also, team employees are prohibited from communicating with players.
Some teams will be making salary cuts and may lay off employees. The Ottawa Senators have already begun to do this. Senators president Cyril Leeder met with media Monday to make the announcement, saying layoffs have taken place and full-time staff have been placed on a reduced work week.
“Every full-time, every part-time employee is affected by a work stoppage,” Leeder said. “On the full-time employees they’ve either been laid off temporarily or gone to a four-day work week.” Leeder would not say how many employees had been laid off, but that “it was a significant number” and “more than ten.”
Other teams such as the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, and Minnesota Wild have said they do not plan to lay off any personnel.
As for the players, they will not be paid their salaries for the 2012-2013 season. They will however receive escrow checks containing 8% of their salaries in mid-October. Players on long term injured reserve will be paid in full.
Players are not allowed to use the team’s private facilities. But they can pay for ice time and use the public locker rooms. If the players decide to do so, they will need to bring their own gear, pucks, and water bottles. That is what the Washington Capitals did on Monday.
“It’s not that big of an adjustment,” said Brooks Laich, the Capitals’ NHLPA player representative. “We’re still on the same plan that we would be before training camp. Ordinarily rookie camp would be going on, and we’d still be skating and working out after. The amenities and facilities change a little bit but our attitude and preparation doesn’t.”
Some players have decided to stay in North America to work out in hope that the season will start on time. Others however have decided to sign with KHL and European teams. As hard as the lockout is for the fans, it is harder on the players and team personnel. Hockey is not only their jobs, but their lives.
By David Phillips Follow @dphillips17
Hockey City 
Reblogged this on That's Caps Hockey and commented:
A lockout article I wrote for HPL