from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,

Before a charity game Monday night, Daniel Alfredsson warned: "I just feel that where we are at this stage [is] that there's still just a feeling-out process. There hasn't really been anything going on and until we get something substantial to work on I'm not too optimistic. I'm hoping this is going to happen now, but I'm not putting any hopes into it."

Alfredsson isn't the only player with this attitude. A lot of that stems from the most recent face-to-face, where the league rejected three NHLPA proposals in minutes. It wasn't the first time.

"We're prepared for serious negotiations," one said, "if the league is serious about negotiating."

The NHL shares some of that skepticism. It feels Donald Fehr has been a significant impediment to the process and gets too free a ride despite that. The league has also accused the players' association head of being tone-deaf to the players' true wishes to make a deal.

It is a serious accusation to make. And, after speaking to those actually willing to listen to me, here's what I believe: The players want to play. But the NHL hasn't given the majority of NHLPA membership anywhere near enough reason - yet - to tell Fehr to end this.

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