Hockey fans have little reason for optimism today as the NHL players and owners meet for the first time in a month. The fact that the two sides are meeting at all is perhaps the only reason for hope at all.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA leader Bob Goodenow will not be in attendance at today's meeting. It is hoped that by not being there, the personal animosity between these two men will not factor into attempts to negotiate a solution to the lockout which has continued since September 15th.

One team general manager who wished to remain anonymous recalled, 'That's exactly how the 1994 talks were kick-started. At least it offers an opening, something for hope.'

Unfortunately, neither side will be bringing a new proposal to the bargaining table today. The NHLPA's last proposal was a one time 24 percent across the board reduction in salary. The NHL rejected that offer and incorporated a salary cap into it while making the roll back weighted so that those players making the most money would have a higher reduction in salary. The union rejected the counteroffer immediately and the two sides haven't spoken since.

'I'm guardedly optimistic about what could happen,' Maple Leafs' general manager John Ferguson said. 'I think everyone understands that we're well into January now and if we want to play, something has to be done in the near term.'

If the season isn't salvaged, it will be the first time since 1919 the Stanley Cup was not awarded. Then, the Spanish Flu epidemic prevented Seattle and Montreal from completing their final series. Now, it would be a fight about money. While no 'drop dead' date has been formally announced, everybody realizes that its now or never in the quest to salvage at least part of the 2004-2005 season and maybe the future of the NHL as we know it.