The Minnesota Wild are gearing up for a possible NHL lockout by preparing to send players under entry-level contracts to their American Hockey League affiliate in Houston. Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, Brett Bulmer and Marco Scandella are all likely headed to Houston.

The Minnesota Wild are preparing for training camps, but the chance that the camps actually open across the NHL as scheduled is growing less likely by the day, the Star Tribune reports. Labor negotiations between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association ended abruptly Friday. No future talks have been scheduled, and with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire in 12 days, a second lockout in eight years appears inevitable.

The National Hockey League and its players have less than 10 days to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. The current contract expires on Sept. 15 and no new talks are scheduled. Businesses surrounding the Xcel Energy Center are concerned. Tom Reid, owner of Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub, tells WCCO Wild home games generate more than 30 percent of his annual business.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offers the players a new deal to end the lockout. He wants a 50-50 hockey-related revenue split to ensure a full 82-game season.

The NHL lockout has some St. Paul business owners concerned about their bottom lines. Former player and now restaurant owner Tom Reid says losing the hockey season would be a big blow to businesses near the Xcel. Less than 24 hours into the lockout, Wild defensemen Jared Spurgeon has signed on to play in a European league.

Star Tribune hockey writer Michael Russo reports the NHL and the players association are still speaking "different languages" when it comes to ending the lockout. Today, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said "We are nowhere close."

Former North Stars great Mike Modano told ESPN the Magazine that the NHL lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season wasn't worth it. He says the current lockout isn't worth it for the players because they're only in the game for so long.

The impact of the NHL lockout hit preseason hockey on Wednesday as the league canceled the first 60 exhibition games. The move wipes out the first official week of hockey, including four Minnesota Wild games.