from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

What will referees Stephen Walkom and Paul Devorski and longtime NHL linesmen Jay Sharrers do during the lockout, now entering its fourth full day?

NHL officials won’t be assigned to the American Hockey League unless they are younger and have dual NHL-AHL responsibilities.

Officials aren’t like NHL wingers Jordan Eberle and Jeff Skinner, who are going to the minors because they don’t have to clear waivers. And can’t hike off to Europe, like San Jose Sharks star Joe Thornton, who’s heading to Davos, Switzerland, to play.

Veteran NHL referees can earn up to $340,000 a year and linesmen earn about two-thirds of that during a typical season.

But they don’t get paid when there’s a lockout, although they can take out $5,000 in interest-free loans against their wages every month.

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