Nash Close to Playing Overseas, Kreider to Open Camp with Whale

Nothing new has surfaced on the NHL vs. NHLPA front in regard to the current lockout, but some of the Rangers are making moves to play elsewhere during this work stoppage. 

The first of those is newly acquired winger Rick Nash. According to the Daily News, Nash is close to signing a deal with Swiss A-League hockey club Davos, where he spent his time during the lockout of 2005. His contract would allow him to immediately join the Rangers upon the start of the 2012-13 NHL season, if one will exist, but you are left to wonder if this move by Nash will spark the beginning of a group of Blueshirts who will head out to play elsewhere. 

Among other big names around the League to do so, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar and Joe Thornton top the list. 

Meanwhile, in New York, the NHL has allowed team players to rent out their usual practice facilities to continue workout plans, although they are restricted from using locker rooms and/or weight rooms. A large group of the Rangers have been meeting at the club's practice facility to run organized skates led by alternate captain Brad Richards. 

Rookie Chris Kreider is not included in that group, however, as he's been assigned to the Connecticut Whale of the AHL since the prior CBA did not require him to pass through waivers. He will open camp with the Whale on September 29 unless, of course, the NHL and P.A. strike a deal up before then, which is highly unlikely.