January 2, 2013

Canada's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skates during team practice for the 2013 IIHF U20 World Junior Hockey Championship in Ufa, January 2, 2013. (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

UFA, RUSSIA - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could be playing for his third team of the season pretty soon if talks on a new CBA between NHL owners and players continue on a positive track.

Nugent-Hopkins started the season playing for the Edmonton Oilers’ American Hockey League farm team in Oklahoma City, is the captain of Team Canada here at the world junior championship and - if NHL owners and players aren’t stupid and get a deal done - could be suiting up for his second NHL season with the Oilers.

Nugent-Hopkins said he’s been trying to keep one eye on the CBA talks while Canada waited to find out who their opponent would be in Thursday’s semifinal.