Ryan VandenBussche has 10 assists in 290 games in the National Hockey League.

Two games into his stint with the fledgling Original Stars Hockey League, VandenBussche said, he already has picked up five.

Along with a new job description.

"I'm a disher."

VandenBussche, an enforcer the Penguins signed as a free agent this summer, was kidding, of course, although you wouldn't know it from his OSHL statistics. Then again, it's hard to avoid putting up points in a league where the scores resemble NFL finals.

The OSHL is the brainchild of a Canadian entrepreneur, and a by-product of the lockout that has shut down the NHL. It features six teams, each bearing the name of an Original Six city, with each dressing 10 skaters and one goalie per game. After completing a series of games in mostly medium-sized markets in eastern Canada, the OSHL will shift to the western part of the country.

The league puts a heavy emphasis on offense. Teams play four-on-four, penalty shots are assessed for infractions that normally merit a two-minute minor and the only checks are the ones players receive for their share of the gate receipts.

"People who are anti-aggressive like this game," VandenBussche said. "It's not my style of game. I don't really care for it, to be honest."

No surprise there, considering that VandenBussche is a rugged winger who doesn't balk at dropping his gloves if he believes the situation warrants it.

That hasn't happened yet in the OSHL, and isn't likely to anytime soon. That's partly because it would be poor form to pummel a Players Association brother, even if he happens to be Matthew Barnaby, during a labor dispute, and partly because of practical concerns.

"There are insurance reasons," VandenBussche said.

Penguins winger Matt Bradley, another OSHL participant, is a role player who's most effective when playing the body, but believes he can benefit from competing in a skill-oriented league.

"I think it's good for me to work on my skills," said Bradley, who had Phoenix Coyotes center Mike Comrie as a linemate in one recent game. "It's a good opportunity to play with some good guys."

VandenBussche, whom the Penguins signed away from the Chicago Blackhawks, is playing for the Chicago entry in the OSHL. He dismisses that as a coincidence, and he probably is correct, because OSHL rosters, as well as the league's schedule, remain a work in progress.

"Guys are flying in on different days," VandenBussche said. "It's tough to get organized until everybody gets here."

Or until the schedule is firmed up a bit. Yesterday, the OSHL postponed a handful of exhibition games, although the regular season apparently will begin Oct. 7, as planned.

Novel rules and a lack of structure aren't the only things that distinguish the OSHL from the NHL. Working conditions are radically different, too.

VandenBussche said there are daily two-hour practices, but all are optional. Even when the Penguins' country club atmosphere was at its loosest during the mid-1990s, mandatory workouts were the norm.

Hotels are provided for players who live outside the area where games are played -- most to date have been in central Ontario -- and there is a bus to transport players to the arena, but many drive to the games.

Team meals are an alien concept, though, and so is getting money to cover expenses, although VandenBussche said that is supposed to change.

"We'll be getting a per diem and a list of restaurants," he said.

It's safe to assume, though, that no one is in this for the meal money, or the opportunity to spend time in towns where NHL players usually are seen only on television screens.

"It's a chance to play against your peers, stick around home and play competitive hockey," VandenBussche said. "The biggest thing is to be able to stay in shape."

Getting a chance to average 2.5 assists per game, it seems, is just a fringe benefit.