Source: Calgary Sun

No matter what happens with the collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the NHLPA and the owners, one avenue the players can't win is with the general public.

The perception will always remain the players get more than enough dollars for playing a game.

Calgary Flames players' union representative Matt Stajan knows it, but is optimistic the vitriol won't exist to the degree we saw back in 2004 when the league and players reached such a stalemate over a salary cap — which was eventually implemented — they shut down for a season.

"Anybody who knows us, knows we're not selfish people. We are good guys, and we know what's fair and what our rights are," said Stajan, whose NHLPA brethren and the league will begin negotiations on a new pact Friday. "As a union, we have a right to stand up for ourselves and get a deal done that's fair to us.

Continue Reading...