How tough were Chelios, Larmer, Klat & Roloson, to carry the fight against all odds?  Probably 700 players were against them, along with the press, and of course, the NHL.  They have my great respect.

Posted by w2j2 on 10/13/07 at 06:42 AM ET

Indeed they do. Initially I was skeptical of their intentions feeling it was more sour grapes than anything else but as more and more was revealed it became apparent to me that these guys were in the right.

Some pundits (hello there, Stan Fischler)will undoubtedly keep beating the drum that this bunch will control whoever is hired as the next PA honcho but I don’t see that happening. What I do see is the PA hiring a guy who’ll look out for their best interests like Goodenow but unlike Goodenow will have to work more directly with the membership as per the new constitution.

Fischler and friends will keep raising the boogeyman of the PA cashiering this CBA in two years time but I don’t see that occurring either because it’s too soon after the last lockout and the players simply won’t have the stomach for the fight, especially with the cap continually rising and the players benefiting as a result.

That being said, when negotiations do occur in either 2011 or 2012 (if the players vote to extend this deal by another season as is their right under this CBA), the league will have another tough negotiator facing them again, one I suspect won’t be a saber-rattler like Goodenow but will still be unbending.

Posted by Spector from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 10/13/07 at 07:23 AM ET