Advertisement

Roman Hamrlik calls out Donald Fehr, calls for NHLPA vote on deal

Washington Capitals defenseman Roman Hamrlik is 38 years old, and is watching his $3.5 million salary disappear for the 2012-13 season, in the second year of a two-year contract.

If you're wondering if he's frustrated … well, how many other players have taken a run at the head of the National Hockey League Players Association lately?

Roman Jedlicka, a play-by-play voice for TV Nova, offered a translation of this interview with Hamrlik in which he addressed Donald Fehr:

"I am disgusted. We have to push Fehr to the wall to get the deal. Time is against us. We lost 1/4 season, it is $425 million. Who will give it back to us? Mr. Fehr?

"There should be voting between players. Four questions - YES or NO - then count it. If half of players say let's play, then they should sign new CBA. If there is no season he should leave and we will find someone new. Time is our enemy."

Well, time is a 38-year-old defenseman's enemy, but there you go …

Hamrlik said that the players should have learned a "lesson from 2004", when they didn't take an early offer from the owners and "came to an even worse deal." He also mentioned the NHLPA began negotiations later than he'd have liked under Fehr.

The Capitals defenseman said he could be headed to Zlín to play with his brother Martin if the lockout continues.

As Marek said on today's Marek Vs. Wyshynski podcast, there's some thought that a group of NHLPA members have pressured Fehr to get a deal done. Perhaps not coincidentally, the NHLPA shifted to the owners' position on core econimics this week.

One Roman Hamrlik does not a mutiny make, but how many players — especially veterans — might find sympathy with his comments?