NHL cancels remainder of 2012 preseason

NEW YORK (AP) - The NHL says it has canceled the rest of the 2012 preseason.

The league announced the move Thursday in a two-sentence statement. NHL owners locked out players on Sept. 16 when the collective bargaining agreement expired.

The NHL had already called off all the preseason games scheduled in September. The regular season is supposed to begin on Oct. 11.

The two sides have scheduled talks on Friday in New York, although they are on secondary economic issues as opposed to the core of the dispute, which is how to split more than $3 billion in annual revenue.

Here's more from the Buffalo Sabres:

The Sabres will continue to maintain contact with all season ticket holders and mini pack holders regarding the work stoppage and ticket refunds due to missed games. As previously communicated, the Sabres will offer the following options to our season ticket holders and mini pack holders who have purchased tickets for the 2012-13 season:

Option 1: At the end of each month, the Sabres will refund any games that are cancelled by the NHL. For example, on Oct. 1, the Sabres will refund all preseason games that were cancelled by the NHL in the month of September. The refund process will be communicated to our season-ticket holders and mini pack ticket-holders (via email and/or mail) if and when games have been cancelled by the NHL.

Option 2: The Sabres will offer season-ticket holders and mini pack ticket-holders 4% simple interest per annum on the value of the games that are cancelled by the NHL.

Ticket holders will be able to choose which option they would prefer.

A comprehensive information guide regarding the NHL work stoppage and the Sabres’ ticket refund policy is available at Sabres.com and will be communicated to all ticket-holders through email and mail.