Hull's remarks pack a wallop: he says many players are overpaid.(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

Byline: Sarah Talalay and Michael Russo

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. _ On a day when the focus should have been their upcoming All-Star Game, the NHL's biggest stars were talking anything but hockey.

Instead, what dominated player conversations Saturday were a few choice words from a colleague, Detroit Red Wings star Brett Hull, who last week said perhaps as much as "75 percent of the league is overpaid" and that a new labor agreement needs to be forged.

A few All-Stars agreed. And on a glorious South Florida winter day, when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was trying to keep the focus on the game, rather than its thorny business, which includes two franchises in bankruptcy and a labor agreement that expires in 18 months, the talk was, well, different from what he might have anticipated.

"I do think we're going to have to give a little," New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens said.

"Let's put it this way, I never thought I'd be making the money I am today," said Dallas Stars right wing Bill Guerin, who last summer signed a five-year, $45 million free-agent contract.

Even Hull's former coach in Dallas, Ken Hitchcock, now coach of the Flyers, was complimentary. Hull is known as one of the NHL's most outspoken players.