I always go back to something a veteran hockey insider told me long ago:

When the wall of silence goes up, things are actually happening.

That being said, I would still be surprised if much is accomplished through the mediator today. I will be more surprised if the "Make Whole" is put back by the owners this week. Oddly, though, I am hearing more optimism from some players who are tied in to the inner circle today than I have in quite some time.

Some players are saying that there is a general feeling they are a week to 10 days away from reporting for an abbreviated NHL training camp. When I delve deeper into why they're feeling that, I get only a lot of vagueness.

The optimism meter remains high because it's hard to find anyone who believes the season will be canceled. So no matter how dark the day-to-day reports may sound, the big-picture reality is that we continue to get closer to a resolution.

Stay tuned. The NHL and NHLPA meeting today is not a very big deal, in terms of immediate progress. However, if the sides are also meeting again tomorrow, then it becomes a much bigger deal.

Join the Discussion: » 360 Comments » Post New Comment

» Previewing the BEST UFA Left Wingers....My Favorite May Surprise You.

» Panarin Suspension? Quinn Fired In San Jose; Buzzcast at 3pm

» UFA Season Starts Now. Top Five Centers.

» Four Games on Monday: Who Are Your Picks? Mon's Buzzcast

» Home Teams Ruling the Day. Will It Continue? [email protected]. UFA's Tomorrow.