Wednesday night, the Detroit Red Wings were supposed to visit the Consol Energy Arena for preseason action, but due to the NHL lockout, that’s not going to happen.
The longer this lockout drags out, the more it effects players in different ways.
Guys like Evgeni Malkin can find a place to play and if an agreement isn’t reached soon, we could see the likes of Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury and others find a team to play for in the very near future.
However, that’s not an option for every player on the Penguins roster.
Veteran Pascal Dupuis has made Pittsburgh his home and doesn’t want to have to get up and move his family in order to look for a place to play for a couple of months.
“I’m not looking,” said Dupuis after a recent workout with the team at Southpointe. “We made Pittsburgh our home and I’m not going to look to play overseas. Right now the plan is to spend time with my wife and our kids and be an everyday dad, which is something I don’t get to do during the season.”
Dupuis, like many other Penguins players is busy staying in shape, working out with the team daily, but is itching to see some game action, even if it’s preseason games.
“They are more important then you would think,” added Dupuis. “Working out here is nice, but it’s mostly stick and puck. The preseason games help you get your timing down. In addition to helping you get in game shape, you get to play the body in the games. We aren’t going to do that here where everyone is wearing the same jersey.”
In the meantime, a veteran like Dupuis has to stay ready, in case an agreement is reached.
“Not having training camp hurts everyone,” said Dupuis. “The young guys are missing an oportunity to prove they can make a roster and for an older guy like me, I still have to prove I’m able to stay in game shape. So we will just keep on working hard and keep ourselves ready to go. But for now I guess it is what it is.”
Yet for now, while the players are locked out, Dupuis will be enjoying life at home. In other lockouts in the other sports, some athletes have taken on hobbies to pass the time, but Dupuis will be looking forward to the simple joys of being a dad.
“I’m going to coach my son’s hockey team,” said Dupuis. “I will spend some time with him on the ice which is something I don’t get to do during the season. I won’t be picking up any additional hobbies other than that. I will just keep working hard and when there is a season, I will be ready.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images
