Devin Setoguchi scimmages with fellow players during NHL lockout

When Devin Setoguchi was asked Monday about the solidarity among the NHL’s locked-out players, he cast a glance behind him. “You can tell even from the skates out here,” the Wild winger said, as about 40 players scrimmaged on a rink at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. “We’ve got guys from 10 or 12 different teams. It’s the same thing with the union. Everyone’s in it together.”

That’s due largely to the leadership of Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players’ Association. And it’s the biggest reason why Setoguchi and his brethren could be skating at rec centers through Thanksgiving, Christmas and Groundhog Day. The NHLPA finally has an experienced, brilliant and fearless negotiator at its helm, one who understands both his constituents and his adversary. That’s good news for the players and potentially very bad news for those who just want the puck to drop.

On Day 3 of the lockout, several Wild players practiced with fellow NHLers who make their offseason homes in Minnesota. From Setoguchi to Paul Martin to Mikko Koivu, they expressed the same sentiment, often in the same words.

They want to play. They also want a fair contract, and they feel confident in Fehr’s ability to secure one. That unity, cultivated by Fehr’s openness and clarity of purpose, gives the players a far stronger hand than they’ve had in past labor negotiations. They believe patience will pay off, which means the rest of us should be prepared to be patient, too.

via Blount: Fehr gives union edge, so lockout could be lengthy | StarTribune.com.