It seems that there is much to be discouraged about if you are a hockey fan. Developments have been anything but positive. Or so it seems.After the NHLPA's recent proposal (well, three proposals), Gary Bettman said the sides weren't on the same page. Donald Fehr has Yangervis Solarte Jersey expre sed disappointment not being able to broker a "fair and equitable deal."After yet another breakdown, the NHL canceled games through Nov. 1. In all, that takes us to 135 NHL games lost this season -- or 11 percent of the season. NHLPA special a sistant Mathieu Schneider has expre sed frustration over the NHL not accepting the NHLPAs offer of a 50/50 split."The players made another major move in the negotiations (last) week in an effort to end the lockout, by presenting the owners with a proposal that gets to a 50-50 split of revenues. In return, we expect that owners will honor the current contracts they have already signed, which everyone knows is fair," Schneider said.In response, Bettman declared he was "thoroughly disappointed" by the NHLPAs proposal and added that the NHLPA inaccurately characterized the deal Roy Halladay Jersey as an even split. "None of the three variations of player share that they gave us even began to approach 50/50, either at all or for some long period of time," Bettman said. "It's clear we're not speaking the same language."You might remember that the NHLs last proposal called for an even 50/50 split over a six-year CBA. According to the NHLPA, the way the offer was structured would result in a $230-million transfer of wealth from the players to the owners in Year 1 and upwards of $1.8 billion over a six-year CBA. So for Fehr its a 50/50 split with a bunch of trap doors.The NHLPA countered with three proposals. The bottom line on the first two proposals is that the union offered a graduated scale that sees the players get 55 percent of revenue in Year 1 all the way down to 50percent in the final year of the CBA. Thats an average share of about 52percent. So the NHL is Aledmys Diaz Jersey accurate in saying that this is not a 50/50 share acro s the board. Rather, its a proposal that calls for a gradual reduction in the player share of revenue.The NHLPAs third proposal called for an even 50/50 split acro s all years of the CBA, with the catch that existing contracts would need to honored to the last penny. The problem with that proposal for the NHL was that the league would not be able to make a 50/50 split work if it had to pay out contracts in full.So given all that we have heard, are we in for a long wait for the sides figure this out? That doesnt seem likely.While the sides to date have never been this unequivocal in declaring their differences, there seems to be cause for optimism. No, I am not insane.Legal negotiations are a proce s. They are complete with ebbs and flows. Bud Norris Jersey Emotions run high and mi sives are launched. That same proce s, however, includes the sides becoming more comfortable with po sible areas of compromise and looking to continue to resolve differences with a view to settling on terms that are ultimately equitable for both sides. This is the organic nature of negotiations.We have seen significant Ken Giles Jersey movement by both sides. The NHL has modified its revenue share proposals for the players from 43percent to 46percent to 49percent and now 50percent. The NHLPA initially offered a 54-percent share for the players with that share never dropping below 52percent. Now, Fehr is open to dropping the player share to 50percent in the last year of a six-year CBA. So even though things seem a bit precarious at the moment, progre s is being made. While there remains a divide between the sides, that gap continues to close. It's closing because the proce s is like a tide subtly pushing the sides closer together even in the face of resistance and hyperbole.Indeed, there is cause for optimism.