NHL, players report no headway made in meeting
Representatives of the NHL owners and the NHL Players' Association met for two hours Tuesday morning in New York to continue negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement but made no progress, according to reports.
The news was bleak after the brief meeting, ESPN.com reported, with no resolution in
sight. But it's possible the two sides will mete later in the week in Toronto.
"Today was not overly encouraging," Daly said after the meeting.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly hinted that federal mediation might be necessary down the road if the stalemate continues.
"A mediator can only be helpful if both sides are willing to embrace it and compromise," Daly was quoted as saying by ESPN.com. "We certainly haven't ruled out that possibility."
Daly added that the league estimates its losses at $100 million from cancelled preseason games because of the lockout. The regular season, which was set to begin Oct. 11, is closer to being postponed.
"We are focused on minimizing the damage," Daly said.
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said nothing was accomplished because the owners "didn't get what they want yet" and called for the league to "look in the mirror."
The sides met Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first time since the lockout began Sept. 16
over economic issues.
