It's kind of ironic when I broke in at 17, I was told I was too small, too slow and I wouldn't make the NHL
Listen, everything I have in my life is because of the NHL and because of hockey, and I love the game and I loved every minute of being a player, I loved coaching, I loved being involved in the NHL.
I'm very proud of our NHL players. I think they all handle themselves extremely well and they all work really hard.
It's an honour and a thrill and a privilege just to play in the NHL.
If I had to pick three players to start a franchise, I'd choose Hasek, Peter Forsberg and Eric Lindros.
At the end of the day everybody lost. We almost crippled our industry. It was very disappointing what happened.
When emotions are high, things are said, things are done. Ultimately, these players want to play. I know too many of them love the game too much.
Eight days ago, we were the toast of the town. Eight days later we're Thanksgiving turkeys.
When I broke into professional hockey at 17 I was told that I was too small and too slow and I wouldn't make the NHL. Now it's kind of flip-flopped and the sense is I can't be a good coach because I was a great athlete.
I have absolutely no complaints about my life. But people think I got handed everything, all this kind of fell in my lap, that I was just God-gifted with all this talent. I wanted people to realize it's a lot tougher than just waking up one day and you're in the NHL.