You get the idea that the better NHL players have finally gotten the idea -- they aren't going to play NHL games anytime soon.
Two premier local holdouts, buddies Danny Briere and Claude Giroux, have finally accepted that and agreed to play in Europe. At least they'll be playing together.
Pat Brisson, agent for both Briere and Giroux, has announced they will both be playing for Eisbaren Berlin of the Deutche Eishiockey Liga.
Translated, that means they might have a brutal Berlin winter to look forward to.
This move is tougher on Briere, whose children are enrolled in school in South Jersey. He was working out with several teammates and other NHL players like Justin Williams and Bobby Ryan at the Skate Zone recently, but like an increasing number of upper-tier NHL players, decided keeping sharp with real action while getting paid was something he couldn't pass up.
That negotiations essentially broke down last weekend between the owners and players in this, the third NHL lockout in 18 years, might have convinced them the time to go was right.
Scott Hartnell, who has a piece of ownership with Kimmo Timonen with a team in Finland, could be the next to go.
Other Flyers playing in Europe include Ruslan Fedotenko, Wayne Simmonds, Ilya Bryzgalov, Matt Read and Jakub Voracek.