ZURICH, Switzerland, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The International Ice Hockey Federation reports that 265 locked-out NHL players are now playing on teams in Europe.
The latest to join European teams were Dallas stars goaltender Marty Turco, Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle, Pittsburgh's Matt Bradley and Shean Donovan of Calgary. Turco and Boyle signed with a Swedish team, Bradley with an Austrian team and Donovan with a Swiss team, all during the weekend.
The NHL locked out players Sept. 15 when their old collective bargaining agreement expired.
Players have been signing contracts in Europe that will allow them to return to their NHL teams if the lockout ends.
The NHL is demanding a salary cap; the union has refused to accept one. Negotiators for the league and players union have not met for two months.
More than a month of the 2004-05 NHL schedule has already been lost.
