Bruins starting to make alternate plans if there is a lockout

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LOWELLThe Bruins players are hopeful that there will be an NHL season, and that the season will start on time with Opening Night scheduled for Oct. 11 on the road against the Philadelphia Flyers.
But theres a wide chasm between the NHL and the NHLPA with the current CBA set to expire on Sept. 15, and theres every expectation that at least a portion of the season will be missed due to labor issues. So some Bruins players are already making their preparations in case there is no NHL hockey for at least a few months to start next year, and much of that is centered on Europe.
Theres a good chance that a player like 20-year-old Tyler Seguin and 21-year-old Jordan Caron will be playing for the Providence Bruins given that theyre on entry level deals with only a certain number of games played under their belts. Mike Mottau said he already has a few concrete offers from Europe if thats the direction he wants to head toward for next year, and those offers will look more attractive if the NHL cant get its act together.
It would make plenty of sense for 25-year-old Tuukka Rask to head back to his native Finland if labor issues continue into October and November, but the goalie said he hadnt made any of those plans as of yet.
I didnt go through a work stoppage the last time around, so Im not even sure what I would do, said Rask. Hopefully well be playing hockey and I wont have to make that decision.
Dennis Seidenberg said he was also hoping to start the year on time with the Bruins, but already envisioned playing in Germany with his younger brother, Yanick, if theres a lengthy work stoppage. Both Seidenberg brothers have played for the Mannheim Eagles in the past, and the Bs defensemans younger brother will be playing there this season.
The elder Seidenberg said he actually looked forward to the opportunity to play with his 5-foot-7, 160-pound younger brother if the situation was right.
My younger brother plays in Germany, so it would be nice to play with him if the situation got to that, said Seidenberg, who is 2years older than Yanick. For now I havent put enough thought into it to say what I would do. But he plays for Mannheim, the team I used to play for over there.
Id love to play with him, but Im hoping that it doesnt happen.
As things creep closer to the season odds are that youll hear much more about members of the Bruins roster scattering all over the world to earn some money while their main paychecks are being held up during a potential lockout.

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