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Players react to Wednesday’s CBA impasse

Michael Del Zotto

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: Michael Del Zotto #4 of the New York Rangers warms-up prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images)

While Roman Hamrlik presented a surprising bit of brutal honesty to NHLPA head Donald Fehr, most players reacted to Wednesday’s talks with the usual angst and bitterness.

Veteran winger Martin St. Louis seemed a bit beaten down when discussing today’s developments with the St. Petersburg Times’ Damian Cristodero.

“Well, it’s disappointing,” St. Louis said. “I feel they’re trying to bully us and trying to draw a line in the sand pretty much. It’s tough. We want to be negotiating. We came their way again and nothing. They just keep telling us keep coming. They’re staying where they are, so you end up negotiating with yourself, and that’s definitely something we don’t want to do.”

While St. Louis channeled Eeyore, other players went on the offensive. Here’s a quick collection of the Twitter chatter:

Tough guy Brandon Prust’s bit:

Sheldon Souray wallowed in the AHL for a season because of CBA loopholes, so perhaps his bitterness makes sense.

Mike Rupp references Wayne Gretzky’s critique of the New Jersey Devils:

Meanwhile, Michael Del Zotto’s comments recycle old rhetoric:

Some toxic stuff is floating around, although it seems tame compared to Kris Versteeg calling Gary Bettman and Bill Daly “cancers” and Ian White referring to Bettman as an “idiot.”

Even more player outrage

David Krejci thinks players are treated like animals

Shawn Horcoff piles on

Zach Parise slams Bettman

Daniel Briere does the same