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Article updated: 11/22/2012 4:22 PM

NHL shouldn’t underestimate the Fehr Factor

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NHL Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr isn't a puppeteer for the players, and he always means what he says.

Associated Press

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In his 32 years as general counsel, then head of the baseball union, I didn't really interview Don Fehr 1,000 times. But it sure felt like it. My head still hurts. Now, hockey has the migraine. Two years ago, Fehr became the head of the NHL union that got drubbed nearly eight years ago when a season was canceled but owners won a 24 percent rollback in player salaries. This time, owners want more concessions. Result: a lockout with 327 canceled games. So far.