“We’re not submitting another proposal,’’ Billy Hunter said. “They have not deemed it necessary to respond, soft of a response without responding.’’

As recently as a few months ago, Hunter said he was 99 percent sure there would be a lockout. Hunter backed off that stance on Friday.

“That was my opinion up until today,’’ Hunter said. “In the room, that comment was made about, ‘this is our position and we intend to maintain.’ As time went on [in our meeting] it kind of softened, their stance, the manner in which [a lockout] was said earlier. You look for light or ray of hope wherever you can find it, so you kind of zone in on something significant that was said.’’