It’s the same old story in the No Hockey League.

It’s just another day if you’re an avid hockey fan. With no end in sight to another NHL lockout, players continue to make plans overseas. Can you blame them? It’s apparent that the owners learned nothing from eight years ago. Neither has Mr. Bettman.

The notion that the NHLPA should give into demands of salary rollbacks is ridiculous. There’s really nothing else to say. If the league just worked on getting the players to split revenue, my guess is there would’ve been a resolution. Instead, it’s an ego trip. With the clueless commissioner using the threat of cancelling the Winter Classic, it is laughable. Are the owners willing to lose another season? We’ll see if our loyalty finally reaches the boiling point.

Alexander Ovechkin and Alex Semin could be reunited in the KHL.

Semin returns home for discount: In one of the coolest moves, Alexander Semin decided to return home to Krasnoyarsk to play for Sokol. Even better, he’s playing basically for free. Set to earn $1,600 per month which is the VHL minimum for his hometown Kontinental Hockey League farm club, Semin stayed true to his roots. A noble thing only repeated by Blues’ forward Patrik Berglund, who is back home in Sweden playing for Vasteras of the HockeyAllsvenskan league.

“My father taught me when I was young: ‘You won’t hide the money or put it under a pillow. You can put it in the bank where it will be for a few months, and then what?’  I agree with my father,” Semin echoed to Puck Daddy Russian reporter Dmitry Chesnokov.

“We are very happy that Alexander Semin agreed to play for our club, ” Sokol GM Denis Lugovik said. “We are used to the fact that stars of this magnitude come back to play only for big contracts, that’s why Alexander’s desire to help his hometown club generates ever greater respect.“

It’s still uncertain how long Semin will play for Sokol Krasnoyarsk. He even hinted that there could be a reunion with former Washington teammate Alexander Ovechkin depending on if the work stoppage goes into next year. Ovechkin is playing for Dynamo Moscow and already tallied a goal in a much hyped showdown versus Ilya Kovalchuk, who scored and led SKA St. Petersburg to a 3-1 win.

Datsyuk signs with CSKA Moscow: Pavel Datsyuk became the latest Russian star to return home, signing with CSKA Moscow. The Detroit Red Wings center made his KHL debut Monday, even scoring a goal off his head soccer style that got waved off. CSKA Moscow still prevailed on an Igor Radulov marker, who ironically was set up by older brother Alexander Radulov. You can see Datsyuk’s deliberate header below. Comical.

Yakupov suspended: Edmonton Oilers 2012 first overall pick Nail Yakupov has been suspended from the KHL until his transfer card is signed by Hockey Canada. He was expected to play for Sarnia which the Oilers agreed upon. However, he opted instead to play for hometown club Nizhnekamsk. Thus far, Yakupov’s played in two games without a point. He’ll now have to wait.

KHL Update: Three games have been completed on Wednesday’s schedule. In the first, Dinamo Mn defeated Amur 3-2. Toronto’s Tim Stapleton, former Devil draft pick Teemu Laine and Andre Stas scored in the win. Ex-Devil defenseman Cory Murphy assisted on two power play goals. In defeat, Dmitry Shitikov and Dmitry Lugin tallied for Amur.

Neftekhimik defeated Avtomobilist 4-2. The goalscorers for Neftekhimik were Renat Mameshev, Nikolai Belov, Oskar Osala and Pavel Vorobyov. If memory serves correctly, Vorobyov once was a highly touted first round pick of Chicago who never fulfilled expectations. His name used to be spelled Vorobiev. Similar to one-time Ranger Vladimir Vorobiev. Yes. I went there. Really. Former Islander blueliner Branislav Mezei tallied for Avtomobilist along with Josef Straka (no relation to Martin Straka). Former Star Sergei Gusev had an assist in a losing effort. Ex-Blueshirt Chris Holt replaced Avtomobilist starter Evgeny Lobanov. Maxim Sokolov picked up the win for Neftekhimik.

In a game that just went final, Dynamo MSK came back to beat AK Bars 3-2 in a shootout. All three Dynamo shooters scored in the skill competition including Ovechkin. Marek Kvapil put them ahead 2-0 before Janne Pesonen beat winning netminder Alexander Yeryomenko. With a chance to finish AK Bars off, Alexei Tsvetkov beat Konstantin Barulin for the victory. Dynamo MSK rallied from an early two-goal deficit. Goals from Konstantin Korneyev and Danis Zaripov 6:20 apart gave visitor AK Bars a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes. However, Dynamo responded with two power play goals including one from Maxim Solovyov 2:10 after Zaripov to cut it to one. They drew even when Ovechkin helped set up Konstantin Volkov’s PPG. Konstantin Gorovikov had the primary helper. AK Bars captain Alexei Morozov was held off the scoresheet with only one shot. Jarkko Immonen took 21 shifts (15:13). Ovechkin played 19 shifts (21:36) including 2:27 in overtime.

In other action that just started, Vitaly Sitnikov opened the scoring 1:22 in for Yugra, who leads Slovan 1-0. Igor Skorokhodov had the only assist on Sitnikov’s marker which beat Jaroslav Janus. Mikhail Biryukov is in net for Yugra. UPDATE: Yugra now leads Slovan 2-1 in the second. Ivan Khlyntsev scored the second from Alexei Medvedev and Stanislav Bocharov. Peter Olvecky got Slovan on the board with familiar name Lubomir Visnovsky drawing a helper along with Janus. A point for a goalie! Where’s Marty at? Here’s a link off the official KHL site to track it.

KHL LEADERBOARD

Player                      Team                         Points
Jori Lehtera           Sibir Novosibirsk       9-10-15
Patrick Thoresen   SKA St. Pete             4-7-11
Alexei Tereshenko AK Bars                   3-8-11
Evgeny Kuznetsov  Traktor Chelyabinsk  5-5-10
Nikolai Zherdev      Atlant Moscow          4-6-10
Alex Radulov          CSKA Moscow         4-6-10

Player                        Team                          Goals
Gleb Klimenko         SKA St. Pete               6
Alexander Korolyuk Vityaz Chekhov           6
Arturs Kulda             Sibir Novosibirsk         6
10 Tied with 5

Player                           Team             GP        GAA
Tomas Popperle          Lev Praha      9           1.22
Konstantin Barulin     AK Bars        8           1.46
Ratislav Stana            CSKA           7           1.68
Ari Ahonen                 Metallurg        5           1.75
Michael Garnett         Traktor          7           1.79
Jaroslav Janus            Slovan           7           1.82

Player                            Team              SHO
Tomas Popperle             Lev Praha         4
Michael Garnett              Traktor             2
9 tied with 1

Kitchener Improves to 2-0: In the OHL this past weekend, the Kitchener Rangers made it two for two. Forward Matt Puempel pumped home two goals in a 3-2 shootout triumph over Yakupov’s former junior club Sarnia. Reid Boucher had a goal and helper for the Sting and Daniel Nikandrov also tallied. Puempel also scored in the skill competition along with teammate Radek Faksa, whose goal in the third round held up. Alex Galchenyuk scored for the Sting in Round Two. Goalie John Gibson denied Charles Sarault. He finished with 27 saves in a road win over Western Conference rival Sarnia. The Rangers return to action tomorrow when they visit the Windsor Spitfires. It’s all part of seven straight games on the road including stops at London (9/28), Sault Ste. Marie (10/5), Saginaw (10/6), Kingston (10/12) and Ottawa (10/14). Kitchener doesn’t return home until 10/19 when they host the Oshawa Generals.

Most OHL clubs have played two games. Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele ranks among the early leaders with five points for the Barrie Colts. Seth Griffith paces everyone with five goals and an assist for the London Knights. The Ontario Hockey League is one of the best to follow for juniors and is worth keeping a close eye on.

The Western Hockey League (WHL) has also begun. Ranger prospect Michael St. Croix has come out of the gate fast for the Edmonton Oil Kings with three goals and a helper. Nicolas Petan leads in scoring with eight points (4-4-8) for the Portland Winterhawks with Colin Jacobs (3-3-6) and teammate Troy Rutowski (0-6-6) close behind. Jacobs plays for Prince George. There are three games tonight. Edmonton visits Lethbridge while Saskatoon is at Brandon and Swift Current hosts Regina. To follow the action, check out the official WHL site.

Buffalo No.1 pick Mikhail Grigorenko is off to a strong start for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The Russian playmaking forward has a goal and five assists in two wins thus far. He starred for Team Russia in the World Junior Championships last year. Grigorenko was expected to challenge for a roster spot for the Sabres. But that won’t be anytime soon. For now, he’s getting the chance to improve his skills for the Remparts. One of Quebec’s best. In related news, Halifax Moosehead forward Jonathan Drouin (2013 Draft Eligible) was named the CHL’s first player of the week. He registered two goals and five assists for seven points along with a plus-seven rating in both the Mooseheads wins. In 33 games last season, Drouin had 29 points. The 17-year old is in his second year and is projected to go in the first round. The OHL, QMJHL and WHL represent the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). You can stay updated on every league to track your favorite teams, prospects along with future draft picks such as Drouin.

USHL On Tap: While Canadian juniors has started up, on deck is the United States Hockey League. The USHL has emerged as the premier league for up and coming American players. In consecutive drafts, the Rangers have dipped into the waters selecting first rounders J.T. Miller (2011) and Brady Skjei this past summer. Hudson rival New Jersey also took the son of Stephane Matteau, Stefan Matteau out of the USHL with their 29th pick in Round One drawing an interesting reaction from both sides of the rivalry. Devil brass should also be encouraged with Reid Boucher, who originally is out of the USHL but has moved onto the Sarnia Sting of the OHL. He had a goal and assist in a home loss to Kitchener. Blake Pietila (’11 5th round) and D prospect Jon Merrill (’10 2nd round) are also from the league.

The Islanders’ big names have come out of the CHL in top prospect Ryan Strome (Niagara OHL) and ’12 first round pick Griffin Reinhart (Edmonton WHL). 2011 fourth rounder Robbie Russo was taken out of the USHL. Meanwhile, the Sabres have mostly focused on Canadian born players with Russian import Grigorenko starring for the Remparts of the QMJHL. However, they did select defenseman Jake McCabe out of the University Of Wisconsin. We still have to wait a month before college hockey begins but there are always good prospects making noise in the NCAA. Judd Peterson was the final Buffalo pick of 2012 taken in the seventh round 204th overall. He was drafted out of Duluth Marshall High School in Minnesota. Peterson is listed as a right wing. There have been some late picks who made it with Henrik Lundqvist the most notable and fan favorite Petr Prucha, who’s doing fine for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL.