from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

It is time, Sidney Crosby. Time, Pavel Datsyuk. Time, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and John Tavares.

Time for the stars of the National Hockey League to speak to up, be heard, make a difference.

There are too many polar sides in the arguments for and against the John Scotts of the hockey world, the talentless thugs who bring nothing but disgrace to the game. From the department of safety and the NHL executive floor, too much is put on Brendan Shanahan. He is fighting one battle. Each and every general manager is defending his own situation, depending on the day, the time, the player involved.

And Donald Fehr — remember him? — he says he will listen to the players and act on their behalf, whatever their behalf happens to be.

Which is why Crosby and Toews and Tavares matter so much now.

continued plus a few more NHL notes...