Donald Fehr defended after league's implied criticism

The Twitter-sphere jumped to NHL Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr's defense after a Minneapolis Star-Tribune comment that owners think the union leadership isn't sharing details of their offer with the membership.

This tweet by reporter Michael Russo was part of a blog spelling out the league's most recent proposals.

Sources: #NHL perplexed #NHLPA did not inform players they are willing to go 50/50 and "Make Whole" every cent + interest by Year 3

Thursday night, Fehr had sent a memo to players, obtained by NBC Sports and TSN.ca, in which he said there was a "significant gap" between the sides.

"The league feels the memo isn't a fair portrayal of what the owners offered," Russo wrote.

Fehr, meeting later with reporters, pointed that he was constantly updating membership and that players were free to attend talks, at union expense, while only a limited number of owners attend talks.

"If you write a memo and it's a quick one, you necessarily have to summarize, but that doesn't have anything to do with all the calls that are made to the player reps and all the rest of it," he said.

Russo's original tweet had already prompted a slew of responses from players, news media and agents on Twitter: A sample:

Globe and Mail columnist David Shoalts: "No one should be surprised NHL is attacking Fehr. They've always seen him as the bogeyman. Accusations he hid part of owners' offer iffy."

Pittsburgh Penguins player rep Craig Adams to the Tribune-Review: "If anybody is suggesting that Don's holding information back, that's totally untrue."

Agent Allan Walsh: "At very moment NHL sources accusing Fehr of not relaying NHL offer to players, Fehr on PA conference call w/ 100+ players providing updates."

Boston Globe's Kevin Paul Dupont: "Would believe Oakland Golden Seals are back before I believed Fehr not disclosing, or improperly portraying, NHL offer to players."

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Derek Dorsett to the Columbus Dispatch: "He has been straightforward and honest and open."

Los Angeles Times columnist Helene Elliott: "NHL trying to put out message that Fehr didn't pass along its last offer to players. I find that hard to believe. When he was in baseball and again since he took spot with NHLPA, he has been very adamant about communicating w/players. NHL putting its spin on again?"

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture: "Breaking news! NHL sources claim Donald Fehr is the reason Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez break up!"