NHLPA to restore players insurance cancelled during lockout

The NHLPA plans to pay for players insurance during lockout. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The NHL Players' Association alerted players Tuesday that the union will pay for the costs of restoring players ans family insurance coverage eliminated by the NHL this weekend as part of the lockout.

According to the NHLPA memo:

"NHL has instructed the insurers to cancel all insurance coverage, effective September 16, 2012. This includes Medical and Dental coverage for Players and their families, Disability insurance, Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance, and Spousal Life insurance."

The memo cited players who have not signed as a free agent in another league or have not retired will be eligible by meeting one more of this criteria:

• 70 or more NHL regular-season days on the active roster in the 2011-12 season
• 160 or more NHL regular season games played (including games dressed as backup for goalies)
• Have an NHL standard players contract (SPC) for the 2012-13 season, are locked out by his NHL team and not playing in another professional league in the 2012-13 season.

The memo cautions NHL players playing in Europe during the lockout that the NHLPA disability coverage does not cover their NHL contract. Players also found themselves facing an IIHF transfer card snag today.