So close, yet NHL and players remain entrenched By CHRIS STEVENSON, QMI Agency

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby speaks to the media after labour negotiations with the NHL in New York, N.Y., Dec. 6, 2012. (LUCAS JACKSON/Reuters) NHLPA boss, Fehr, slipped up when offered ultimatum Lack of compromise in NHL lockout insulting to Canadians The NHL's 'Cattle' are unified NHL owners hurt after talks go sour NHLPA membership vote would be bad move, Alfredsson says

There has been the four-corners offence by Donald Fehr and the NHL Players’ Association over the winter, the owner’s opening low-ball CBA offer in late summer, to-and-fro and indignation on both sides in the fall.

On the cusp of winter, we’ve had the hardliners in the room.

We’ve had Fehr and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman out of the room.

The moderate owners, who everybody seems to think are the key to getting this resolved, had their shot this week and after throwing $100 million on the table, left New York City shaking their heads and spitting mad.