PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Penguins said Monday they are canceling their preseason home games and their home opener against the New York Rangers.

The team had preseason games scheduled against Washington, Columbus, Boston and Ottawa. The home opener for the regular season was scheduled for Oct. 16.

"Games will continue to be canceled on a similar basis until the league's labor dispute with the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players' Association) has been resolved, at which time the lLeague will address the potential rescheduling of games," Penguins president Ken Sawyer said.

The contract standoff between league management and union leaders threatens to keep the sport off the ice for the season and possibly beyond. It stems from management efforts to make extensive changes in the sport's economic structure.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has told all NHL teams that they can release building dates for games scheduled up to 30 days after Sept. 15, the day the lockout began. That 30-day cancellation period will be a rolling buffer, meaning more games can be canceled each day the lockout continues, the league announced Monday.

The Penguins assigned 14 players to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Monday.The players are forwards Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Steve Crampton, Ben Eaves, Matt Hussey, Matt Murley, Michel Ouellet, Cam Paddock and Maxime Talbot; defensemen Drew Fata, Alexandre Rouleau and Ryan Whitney; and goaltenders Andy Chiodo and Marc-Andre Fleury.The AHL Penguins open their training camp on Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.