Latest Talks Provide No Progress As Lockout Lingers On

The NHL and NHLPA were back at the bargaining tables on Sunday afternoon in an attempt to make progress towards reaching a new CBA and getting the NHL season underway as soon as possible.  After a few hours of discussions at a New York law firm, the two sides broke off talks with little to report other than that there has been no progress towards a new deal.  In other words, they failed in their latest attempt to save the greatest game on earth and further alienate the loyal fan base that has been dedicated to the NHL over the past years.

Don Fehr, the NHLPA executive director told the media that Sunday’s discussions centered around player contracting issues, something the players refuse to move on.  The “make whole” provision that the owners have made revisions to was not discussed, but rather free agency, salary arbitration, maximum term and entry level contracts were the issues that were (courtesy of TSN.ca). 

Sunday’s talks were seen as positive after discussions on Friday turned heated and both sides walked away from the table irritated and frustrated with the other.  But alas we have no progress meaning we have no end in sight to this third lockout over the past twenty years.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly will both be in Toronto on Monday for the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Fehr believes that talks could shift north of the border because of it.  Although no talks have been planned as of yet.

To date the league has cancelled 327 regular season games, including the 2013 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs that was to be staged at the Big House in Michigan.

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