air jordan shoes-Players place lockout thoughts on hold

Patrick Sharp has a good a reason to prepare for the upcoming season as he normally would, despite the possibility of a work stoppage hovering over the NHL.

"I don't want to be that guy who is preparing for a lockout and shows up out of shape at training camp," the Blackhawks forward said during the team's annual fan convention this weekend at the Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue. "I'm preparing to play right on time. I'm confident both sides can reach an agreement."

Even while the league and players' association are just beginning to dig in on the issues standing between them and a new collective bargaining agreement, the Hawks are going about their summer routines to get in shape mentally and physically for the grind of an 82-game regular season.

"I'm preparing to play hockey," defenseman Brent Seabrook said. "I'm not looking at anything else. I'm just getting ready as I would any other season."

The CBA expires Sept. 15 and there are varied amounts of optimism and pessimism around the league as to whether the two sides can reach an agreement before players report to training camp. The Hawks open camp Sept. 22, the first exhibition is scheduled for Sept. 25 in Philadelphia and the regular season is slated to get underway Oct. 13 when the Blue Jackets visit the United Center.

"You just take it like there is going to be a season," forward Patrick Kane said. "We all want to play hockey. We all want to be practicing in September and getting ready for the upcoming season."

Captain Jonathan Toews was among a group of players who attended the NHLPA's executive board meetings in Chicago last month and has been keeping close tabs on the negotiations in New York and Toronto.

"We're concerned about reaching a fair deal — that's our No. 1 goal," Toews said. "It's mostly up to the league as to when we're going to get there."

The players aren't the only ones conducting business amid the uncertainty. Hawks general manager Stan Bowman continues to look for ways to improve the roster through free agency or trades despite not knowing what the new CBA will contain, including the possibility of a reduced salary cap and limits on the length of new contracts among other changes.

"The reality is there is going to be hockey at some point," Bowman said. "If a new system comes along … we'll adjust to that. It's not hampering us from being able to do things."