TORONTO – Amid all the anger and frustration flaring out in all directions, one theme seems common among the locked-out NHL players: Keep talking.

“I just hope that we don’t shut down negotiations until September,” said Turner Stevenson, his Flyers debut already delayed a season by Gary Bettman’s lockout. “I know we’re supposed to have the advantage because we don’t miss another paycheck until October, but we can’t wait to start it up again then.”

Stevenson was among some 150 NHLers expected here for dinner last night, the start of what is sure to be two days of griping. A more formal NHL Players Association meeting follows today, with a session between the union brass and agents slated for tomorrow.

The players expected to hear the union’s view of the final weeks of futile negotiations, including the Feb. 19 session that failed to resurrect the season three days after Bettman had cancelled it.

“There’ll be a few guys coming in ticked off with guns blazing, guys who think we were close and didn’t get a deal done, and then some guys who thought we gave up too much,” Stevenson said.

It seemed doubtful, though, that there would be any movement to overthrow union head Bob Goodenow.

“If there’s anybody I want leading us, it’s someone who’s been through negotiations and been successful,” said John Madden, who lost his first $4.5 million year of his big free agent deal.

While some upset players end-ran the union in the final weeks of talks, Goodenow was vindicated by the league’s failure to respond to a pair of major union concessions – a 24 percent salary giveback offer, and a $49 million salary cap.

“They put it in their pocket like it was some kind of tip,” McKenzie said.

There did seem to be a touch of Lou Lamoriello press-control in the PA camp yesterday. Hotel personnel, claiming to be acting on PA instructions, said that even consenting conversations between reporters and players were verboten.