Rogers Sportsnet reports the National Hockey League Players Association is ”quietly” putting together plans for a series of exhibition games including some of the world’s top skaters.

“Sources tell Sportsnet’s John Shannon that games between a team of Russian all-stars from the Kontinental Hockey League and ‘world’ all-stars from the NHL are tentatively set for Moscow, Halifax and Quebec City, as well as an undetermined site in Southern Ontario. Donald Fehr, the NHLPA’s executive director, spoke with representatives of the Russian league while overseas last week.”

When asked, the NHLPA wouldn’t confirm or deny the plans. The NHL appears to be out of the loop altogether.

Last week, Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed a sizeable gap remains between the league and players on revenue-sharing as far as Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations are concerned. And the owners will take the lockout route if a deal isn’t reached by September 15. Both sides are meeting again this week.


Subscribe to NHL Trade Report updates on Facebook, on Twitter, by Email, or RSS.