How do you know what the owners are doing? You talking to them? All I know is that they've had Gary Bettman representing them for 20 years - doesn't seem like they're too upset with what he's done.
As soon as I heard federal mediators, my heart sank - this is not good news. They used mediators in 2004 and it went nowhere. In fact, mediators have never worked for any of the previous labour negotiations in any major sport.
The NHL can kiss my ass - I'm totally over this whole thing now. Yeah, if hockey starts I'll come back and watch, but really I'm fine with a lost season at this point. Owners, players, agents, they all just piss me off now.