from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association are entering a key phase in their CBA impasse.

Judging from conversations I’ve had over the past 24 hours, the next seven-to-10 days are see as "crucial" by some to finding out whether there’s a meaningful negotiation between the sides and finally a bit of traction in talks, or whether there's a freezing out period similar to eight years ago when three months went by without any negotiations occurring.

Despite not officially bargaining with each other since last Wednesday when both sides delivered updated proposals, the league and NHLPA have kept nearly daily contact via their respective No. 2 men: Steve Fehr of the NHLPA and Bill Daly of the NHL.

In fact, the two were expected to touch base with each other Tuesday night to figure out what’s next in the process.

You have to believe bargaining will resume over the next week, and hopefully both sides return to the table willing to move off their positions in an attempt to find some middle ground.

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