TORONTO – Without slapping any recently-waffling wrists, NHL Players Association head Bob Goodenow has received virtual votes of confidence from his constituents.

“Clearly, if there was any point of view that union leadership had lost any authority in this process, that was a grave misperception,” agent Jay Grossman said after the four-hour session here yesterday. “At times, there had been players and agents who acted out of self-interest, but the question right now is focusing on the resolution or the alternatives.”

A day after completing two days of meetings with 150 players here, Goodenow brought their powerful agents up to speed yesterday on the hectic weeks that saw the NHL cancel the season last month. As with the players, the agents discovered that Goodenow had gone as far as they feel he could have possibly gone toward making a deal, and perhaps further.

A few players and agents are believed to have made side overtures to the league to try to save the season, moves that are widely regarded to have encouraged the league to harden its stance. But no one was called on the carpet yesterday. Rather they were enlightened, some said.

“It’s different today than it was [last month],” agent Rich Winter said. “People who had gotten too excited found out that there wasn’t any basis.”

“It was treated like water under the bridge,” one agent said.

Instead, the agents and union officials went over the entire negotiation, offer by offer.

“The most obvious thing about the league rejecting our proposal is that there’s not good faith, and there was no interest in playing the game this year,” agent Kurt Overhart said.

Goodenow reiterated that talks will not resume until his side has digested the events of last month, and he is planning mass meetings with his constituents playing in Europe. He added that he has not received formal or informal requests from the league to resume talks in short order.

“There’s no point in getting together and calling for pizzas if there’s nothing to discuss,” agent Mark Gandler said.