from Michael Traikos of the National Post,

When the meeting between the two sides ended, the players came down and spat insults, if not blood.

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby said it was clear the NHL does not want to negotiate in fairness. Chicago’s Jonathan Toews implied commissioner Gary Bettman could not be trusted. And Phoenix’s Shane Doan added it feels like the owners do not just want to rob the players with a new collective bargaining agreement, they also want to leave them with black eyes.

Add it up and this has the makings of a real rivalry. Responding to the NHL’s proposal on Tuesday that sought to split revenues down the middle and preserve the 82-game season, the NHLPA presented three counter-proposals on Thursday.

Each one was rejected almost immediately. And so the 18 players that attended the meetings left with the impression that the owners are no longer operating in good faith.

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