Salvo: National Hockey League (NHL) and players’ union officials will meet again today in New York in a bid to resolve the bitter two-month-old labor dispute, the league said.
Weekend discussions between NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) special counsel Steve Fehr led to the decision, Daly said.
Both Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr are set to join the session, the first between the two groups in a week.
“I expect (a) relatively small (meeting), but Don and Gary and players and owners will both be present,” Daly said.
He did not, however, raise hopes for a solution to a new collective bargaining agreement that would end the work stoppage, which has left players locked out by the owners since September 15.
“I have no expectations with respect to the meeting at this point,” Daly said, “including with respect to whether any progress toward an agreement can be made.”
The meeting comes as speculation rises that the league could cancel more games next week if progress is not made.
Already the NHL has called off all games through November 30 as well as its showcase New Year’s Day Winter Classic, costing the league millions of dollars in revenue.
The NHLPA did not respond immediately to questions about today’s meeting. REUTERS
