NHL players union may be putting together new offer
The NHL and the NHL Players Association have not traded contract proposals in more than three weeks, but NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league believes the players union is now in the process of putting together a new proposal, ESPNNewYork.com reported Wednesday.
The sides met for five hours on Wednesday, and Daly said afterward that a "variety of sources" indicated the union was formulating a new offer.
"We understand you're working on a proposal. Make it to us," Daly said of the league's message to the union during Wednesday's negotiations, according to the report. "Let's not stand on formalities. If you a have a proposal, make it."
The league has been asking the union to submit something new for weeks, and the union has been encouraging the league to make moves as well, ESPNNewYork.com reported.
Prior to Wednesday's group negotiating session, there was a small, private session involving Daly, commissioner Gary Bettman and the union's top two officers, Donald and Steve Fehr.
However, Daly said little progress was made.
Also Wednesday, the Alberta Labour Relations Board announced it has rejected the union's claim that a lockout was illegal under Canadian provincial law.
The league has canceled the entire preseason schedule and all games through Oct. 24.
