NHL scraps first week of preseason

The NHL lockout claimed its first casualties as the league said on Wednesday it had canceled the first week of preseason games given the absence of a collective bargaining agreement.

The NHL, in the midst of its fourth work stoppage in 20 years, said in a statement the preseason set to open on Sept 23 is canceled through Sept 30, chopping 60 games off the schedule.

A league-wide lockout was imposed by the NHL last weekend when the previous labor agreement expired, with the owners and players at odds over how to divide a $3.3 billion revenue pie.