Lockout forces NHL to cancel first week of preseason Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:24pm EDT (Reuters) - The National Hockey League's (NHL) lockout claimed its first casualties as the league said on Wednesday it canceled the first week of preseason games given the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. The NHL, in the midst of its fourth work stoppage in 20 years, said in a statement that the preseason set to open on September 23 is canceled through September 30, chopping 60 games off the schedule. A league-wide lockout was imposed by the NHL on the weekend when the previous labor agreement expired with the owners and players at odds over how to divide a $3.3 billion revenue pie. There have been no formal talks between NHL owners and the union representing its players since last Wednesday, leaving the scheduled October 11 start of the 2012-13 season in jeopardy. The news came four days into a lockout that has already seen a number of big-name players, including NHL Most Valuable Player Evgeni Malkin, sign deals to play in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League. The work stoppage is the first in the NHL since a lockout wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.