It all depends if they try and get an impasse declared this summer, if they do, and they win, then obviously there will be a season.
I think specific teams rosters will cross the lines to work.
If Mario crosses in Pittsburg then I think many of his teammates will follow.
I get the feeling players will cross in Phoenix if Gretzky convinces them. Dayrl Sutter aparantly said the majority of Calgary Flames players would cross and I'm sure there are many other teams where a portion of the team would cross.
They just have to get the snow ball rolling down the hill, cause at some point it'll become too big and fall apart.
If they loose the impasse to the players and are ordered to pay them back wages, then the league will probably have to fold. Then either the players or owners will have to start a new league.
To me, it all depends on when and if they win the Impasse..
If they win in the summer, 100% there will be a season and by the end of it only the most stubborn players wil not have joined.
If they loose in the summer, then the NHL will probably cease to exist when they ordered to pay back wages to the players.
If they don't try and get an impasse in the summer, then it will probably drag on to either the start of the next season.. which will probably then pass, then at the half way point I think they would come to an agreement as they realise fans will probably murder them if they don't.