Fehr says NHL players waiting on league
Deputy commissioner says there’s no point in meeting
TORONTO – Donald Fehr and the players’ association are ready to get back to the bargaining table at any moment. They are now just waiting for the NHL to feel the same way.
“(We aren’t talking) because the owners have not indicated a desire to resume,” the NHLPA’s executive director said Wednesday night before a charity hockey game. “We’ve indicated any number of times that we’re willing to resume when they are (and) we’re willing to resume without preconditions.
“So we’re waiting to hear back from them.”
The sides haven’t negotiated with one another since Dec. 6 in New York, when talks broke down. They also met with a U.S. federal mediator for two days in New Jersey last week and reported no progress. Since then, there has been only limited contact between the sides, including a brief email exchange on Wednesday.
The NHL believes that negotiations should resume only when there is something new to say.
“I don’t think either party is refusing a meeting,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email. “But unless there is an indication one side or the other is prepared to move or has a new idea to move the process forward – and so far neither side has indicated – I am not sure what we would do at the meeting.”
Daly created a stir earlier Wednesday when he made an appearance on CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada Radio and was asked to give a yes or no answer on whether there would be an agreement in time to save the season. Daly said, “Yes.”
“That’s good news,” Fehr said in response. “I’m glad to hear that. I certainly hope he’s right. That’s the players’ goal, that’s what we want to try and do.”