If there was an NHL season underway, Dion Phaneuf would have been playing in his old Calgary stomping grounds on Wednesday night rather than the re-vamped and downsized Maple Leaf Gardens.
Being locked out of the Saddledome and all other NHL arenas, the Maple Leafs captain has been feeling the frustration of a season slipping away because of the labour impasse.
“Right now, the most disappointing thing is they won’t come back to the table,” Phaneuf said following a charity game at the Mattamy Athletic Centre. “Until they come back to the table, it’s tough to get a deal done.”
When informed of NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly’s comments earlier in the day on Hockey Night In Canada Radio that he believes there will still be a season, Phaneuf said bring it on.
“Then I’d like to ask (Daly) why they aren’t back at the table,” Phaneuf said. “For him to say that, that’s great. I’m optimistic. Until (NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) comes out and says the season is cancelled, I’m optimistic we’re going to play.
“It’s an up-and-down, emotional roller coaster. Some days we seem to be betting closer and other days we get further apart.
“It has been tough. We love to play the game and it’s our job. Going through this, it’s not a fun time.”
Categories: General