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After an informal luncheon yesterday between the two sides, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says he expects talks to resume today with the NHLPA representatives.
Four consecutive days of talks last week hit a temporary speed bump Saturday. NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr held a conference call with the players after the last meeting to update core economic discrepancies that seem to be holding up an agreement with the league.
Following the casual lunch meeting, the two sides have yet again agreed to go back to the bargaining table to negotiate an end to the 57 day lockout.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman cautioned fan excitement by saying, “I don’t want to either raise or lower expectations. I won’t be happy until we get to the end result and that means we’re playing again.”
The lockout, which began on Septemeber 15th, has wiped out 327 regular season games including the 2013 winter classic.
NHLPA executive director Don Fehr said he planned to hold a conference call to update the players and that the union "had things to consider."
Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, reports the NHL's "Make Whole" offer pays $211 million in guaranteed payments to players - $149 million in Year 1 and $62 million in Year 2 (both one year deferred). The NHL's belief is that by Year 3 at 50 percent of HRR players won't need to be made whole further. The NHLPA doesn't like the model nor the total amount of money offered.
While there is hope that a new agreement can be struck so a shortened schedule can begin December 1, negotiations have reached a critical stage for that to happen.. Ten days will be needed from the time an agreement is struck for games to begin by Dec. 1.