In my latest chats with a few plugged-in players, they say...
That they are completely reinvigorated for a long fight against Bettman and his core of owners whom they view as his "puppet masters".
Players are more and more resigned to the prospect of not playing at all this year. They will not be making any new proposals to Bettman for a good long time. They certainly will not accept anything lower than 50% this year, and if Bettman lowers his last best offer because it was contingent on an 82-game schedule, then for sure we won't play hockey at all this season.
Bettman is truly a toxic figure right now.