from Darren Dreger of TSN,

Both the National Hockey League and the players left Thursday's discussions feeling jilted.

The players were upset because the league took only minutes to consider their three alternative proposals, while the NHL was bent out of shape because the union didn't embrace the offer made by the owners on Tuesday.

And the temperature in these negotiations has risen.

But that's part of the process.

Both sides believe there is a deal to be made. Some on the union's side predict a resolution sometime in November, while the NHL remains firm that Oct. 25 is its breaking point in maintaining an 82-game regular season.

continued

added 6:40pm,

from Stu Hackel of the Red Light,

At a certain point in this process of the NHL arriving at a new collective bargaining agreement, a big chunk of fans have gotten to the point where they’ve just thrown up their hands and said, “I’ve had enough.” The claims and counterclaims, the blizzard of statistics and dollar figures, the same arguments over and over again, the threats and the responses, and the perceived lack of progress all becomes too much. And this week, just when it appeared that there might be some hope of a settlement, the floor dropped out beneath us again and now there is news of more games being axed. No one can be blamed for wanting to get off this roller coaster and let it ride on without them.

And yet…and yet…perhaps there is some light amidst the darkness.

more