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You know you wanted to hear Matt Cooke’s thoughts on a possible lockout

Matt Cooke

FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Cooke skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in Pittsburgh. Cooke was faced with a choice last summer, mend his ways or find something else to do with the rest of his life. A year later, the former Bad Boy has turned himself into one of the most disciplined role players on a Stanley Cup favorite. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

AP

We’ve heard from plenty of players with their thoughts on what’s going on with the labor struggle between the players and owners, so why not a little more from one of the league’s formerly more controversial players?

Pittsburgh’s Matt Cooke spoke with Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and says things are a bit different than they were the last time the two sides haggled things out.

“The players are united,” he said. “That’s something that’s completely different than it was last time.”

Meanwhile, Cooke says no matter when things get settled between the NHL and NHLPA, they’ve got to be ready to go and that means no sitting around gorging on Primanti’s sandwiches in Pittsburgh.

“It’s how we earn a living for our families,” Cooke said. “Whether it’s Sept. 15, Sept. 21, Oct. 10 -- whatever the date is -- we still have to be ready. And you can’t do that sitting around doing nothing.”

The two sides have nine days before the owners will lock out the players, but Cooke and many others will be waiting for whenever they decide to unbar the doors.