[NHL contraction would be fine if] mediocre European players ... typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not backing anything up.

When they saw that 12 per cent out of the paycheck, the guys on our team were [griping] and moaning and complaining about it, ... This is after we already had given back 24 per cent and taken a ($39-million) salary cap.

They've got guys who can score. According to the coaches in the league, they've got a better big guy (Moss) than what we've got. I don't believe that, but he's an awful good basketball player regardless of where he was ranked. Nolan can really score with the ball, and he's as good a scorer as anybody in our league.

The scouting community always looked at those guys as European players, until now. That may change.

We have good enough players, but there are very few guys in this league who can draw a second defender to them. Those are the guys who make your offense good, whether it's a post-up guy, a dribble penetration guy or a pick-and-roll guy.

I think our team put forth a hell of an effort. I thought we dominated the hockey game.