The chance of another work stoppage amid labour talks between the NHL and NHL Players' Association would not be a surprise from a celebrated player who saw it all first-hand from the bargaining table seven years ago.

Former NHLPA president Trevor Linden told TEAM 1040 in Vancouver on Wednesday that he wouldn't be surprised to see a lockout take up a couple of months, but couldn't see a labour stoppage extend into December.

"I would not be surprised to see a couple months go down," Linden told the Vancouver radio station. "When you talk about ownership, especially in the States, they look at October and November as just dead – really tough months for them. They're dealing with Major League Baseball, the World Series, the NFL, so their season starts in December and works through January, February, March. So if they're going to miss anything, they want to miss those months."