Roenick is right, the NHLPA got it wrong

June 26, 2005

Me, March 29th:

"I feel the NHLPA membership has disgraced our game and has lost our admiration, encouragement and hope."

It took nearly 3 months more for someone in the NHLPA to admit that. Not too bad really, but it was more than six months into the lockout before I said it.

Jeremy Roenick (star player with probably the biggest mouth in the NHL), today:

"It's unfortunate we had to go through a whole year to realize the (expletive) that was going on," said Roenick. "We've hurt our league, we've hurt the reputation of our league and the integrity of our league by sticking up for something that might not have been the right thing to do."

Source: TSN.ca: Roenick goes on tirade over NHL lockout

It's about (expletive) time someone in the NHLPA said that in public. Hooray! So at least he'll understand why most fans will be pissed off at them for the next 5 years or more.

I expect the players who tried hard to get a deal done in February by going behind the NHLPA's back (Roenick, Esche, Iginla, and Pronger, and don't forget Tie Domi) will be spared much of the criticism and I expect fans will make their appreciation known.