The NHLPA now has until Jan. 2 to proceed, if they so choose.
"In my mind, I think that's what we're forced to do," Samuelsson told the Free Press. "If they don't want to talk, it's no way around it. We've got to do something, because we want to have a season."
Samuelsson feels the NHL has been "playing pretty dirty, I think, in my mind, the way they're negotiating."
"The thing is, too, I don't know how much the owners care about the game of hockey," Samuelsson added. "I don't know if I say too much here, now, but all the NHL owners who own a team, probably have other businesses, too. And the owners know we live and breathe hockey. So to us, it's devastating to not play, not only because of the money and this and that, but just to play the game, that's why we're here in the first place, because we like the game so much."
