The players might also find time to toast Chris Chelios, a player who not long ago was considered a pariah by most of his fellow players for his insistence that Saskin's hiring had a very bad smell to it.

Chelios and Lindros, who were pivotal in the "dissident group" that ultimately brought Saskin down and affected change in the NHLPA, will certainly get a number of handshakes in coming days from rather sheepish players.

Lindros stressed the process is not about pointing fingers or basking glory, but making sure the PA doesn't repeat the blunders it has made since the lockout, but undoubtedly the two will take some satisfaction that their efforts were rewarded.

"Not only were (Chelios and the others) right, all the rest of us are lucky to have Chris do what he did," said Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco. "He was stubborn, but more importantly he believed in the things he thought and the things he knew and he was right on the whole time and we all owe him a big debt of gratitude."

FRISCO, Tex. – Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the club has hired former Stars right wing Rob DiMaio to the scouting staff. DiMaio will have both amateur and professional scouting responsibilities for the club and will begin his role immediately.

“We are very pleased to have Rob, a former member of the Stars organization, back in the fold as a scout,” said Armstrong. “Rob brings a great deal of experience from his playing days and he’ll be a valuable addition to our scouting staff.”

DiMaio, 39, was a member of the Dallas Stars for three seasons from 2001 through 2004, and in 199 games with the club, collected 55 points (25 goals, 30 assists) and 153 penalty minutes. He also skated in 17 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Stars, recording one goal and five assists for six points with 12 PIM.

The native of Calgary, Alberta, retired after the 2005-06 NHL season, which he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 17-year NHL veteran appeared in 894 career NHL games, recording 106 goals and 171 assists for 277 points with 840 penalty minutes. He also played in 62 playoff outings, notching seven goals and nine assists for 16 points with 40 penalty minutes.

DiMaio skated for seven NHL teams in his career – New York Islanders, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Boston, New York Rangers, Carolina and Dallas. His most prolific offensive season came in 1996-97 with Boston, when he recorded 28 points (13 goals, 15 assists).

“I’m very excited for this opportunity with the Stars,” said DiMaio. “Hockey is my passion and it will be great to contribute to a successful organization like the Dallas Stars. I want to thank Doug Armstrong and the entire Dallas organization for this opportunity.”

”I do not think the decision comes out just like with a snap of a finger,” he said. “It is taking shape, though. I somewhat know what I will do. I just want to make sure it is the right decision.

“August is usually the month when I get back on the ice. That has not tempted me, yet. It is a sign of some sort.

“On the other hand, there still is a month until the start of the training camp and I may get the spark.”

Q: Are you confident that Mike will be OK with this, given that negotiations were fairly difficult and that the award may not have been what he expected?

Lombardi: Yeah, I certainly hope so. You know, athletes are competitive people, or they don't get this far. That's unfortunately what can happen, and that's why I say that this process itself is dangerous, because you're looking for a resolution rather than turning it into a battle for a loose puck, where there's a winner and a loser. This was kind of new ground too, don't forget. The concept of young players getting so much now, so early, is fairly new. I don't think there (previously) would have been an issue like this, where the spread was based upon the formation of this new market for players with one or two years under their belt. Usually you're able to see a player for six years or seven years.

So I think part of this was a theoretical discussion about how the market is evolving under this new system, with free agency at such a young age, and its impact on young players getting a lot more money than they did in the past. So I think in a lot of respects, for the union and the league there was a bigger issue here than just Michael. Michael and the Kings couldn't get caught up in that. But to answer your question, if there's one thing we know about him, he's a competitor and he's driven. I do believe, as I've said before, I certainly prefer parts of the old system, where players had to pay more dues before they maybe got into this rent district.

But this is what we have to deal with, so the challenge for him, as well as the team, is to go to another level and take responsibility for winning. He had a good year last year, but it's one year. The team still has not had success. He has to take responsibility, especially when you start getting in this (salary) neighborhood. Obviously I'm not saying that not making the playoffs in the last two years in Mike Cammalleri's fault. Of course not. But there still is an element of, `As the team goes, the young player goes.' When he takes responsibility for winning, with that comes more dollars too. Steve Yzerman learned to win, and Joe Sakic. What those guys went through to become the great players that they were, part of their greatness was learning to win. That takes time and I think Michael, given the driven kid that he is, I don't think he's going to let this hinder him from anything. If anything, knowing him, he might use it for incentive. With other players, yes (it might be a problem), but I don't think that's the case with him. I really don't.

“We’re not dumb. We’re not cheap and we’ve not fallen asleep,” Dallas Stars President Jim Lites told the media while responding to questions about the team’s ability to attract top talent.
(Classic bimbo. Another example of a bad quote crowding out good ones. He did say, “Are we prepared to do something? Absolutely.”)
Dallas Morning News, “Lites to Stars faithful: Patience, please,” July 11, 2007