Hockey hindsight may be 20-20 but agent Allan Walsh still thinks fans need to know---the NHL didn't need to lock out the players to get this deal.

Walsh is one of the most candid and staunch defenders of the players on twitter and in a wide-ranging discussion about the deal that went down, he makes clear the PA was willing to sign away it's right to strike to save a full season.

Walsh also reveals he's talked to Montreal, though not GM Marc Bergevin about veteran free agents like Sykora, Dvorak and Jurcina but will find takers elsewhere.