In early December 2004, the National Hockey League Players' Association tabled what it believed was a "powerful" proposal. That was the word used by Bob Goodenow, then the union's executive director, as he discussed a radical offer that included a 24% rollback on existing player salaries as a means of reaching a collective agreement with the NHL. The players had blinked. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman scrubbed the season two months later, and the rollback remained on the table, joined by a salary cap, the two words Goodenow had staked his name on avoiding. The rollback remained in place when the agreement was finally signed the following summer, with the NHL turning a best offer into a mere starting point. Some experts believe that issue -- call it a trust issue -- could explain the lull in talks that has followed a hopeful burst of negotiating this month. Related "Both sides are reluctant to put their best offer on the table because of the history of negotiations," said one source with knowledge of the business, who requested anonymity given the sensitive period in negotiations. "We've already made our best offer[s]," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email Tuesday. "Maybe its too late to trust them." As of Tuesday afternoon, neither the NHL nor the NHLPA had announced when the two sides planned to meet again. Their last meeting, on Sunday, was only 90 minutes long. "I think there's an even greater sense of distrust here than in the other