from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,

"There has to be compromise by them," texted Shawn Horcoff, who has been an active participant in these negotiations, but was not in New Jersey Wednesday. "If they aren't willing to move, we won't either.

"Players feel like they've done all the moving. They continually want us to come to them while giving us little in return."

To think that this attempt at mediation would have greater impact than in 2004-05 -- when the season was officially cancelled three days after the mediator walked -- was naïve.

So we're done now, with multiple different owners, with legions of players coming to the meetings, and twice now, with mediation.

It is up to the NHL now, to decide when it wants to play.

How important are games on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day? Move off your "hill to die on" and the players will move too.

Horcoff is right. The players have moved more.

It is Bettman's turn now.

Your move, Gary.

more... (if you have an issue with the link, try later, Sportsnet has been having an issue with it tonight)