NHL, players union continue marathon talks
Some headway in trying to reach agreement
NEW YORK – Marathon talks between the NHL and the players’ association stretched deep into Saturday night after the sides stayed apart for most of the previous two days.
Once federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh convinced the fighting factions to resume face-to-face negotiations Saturday afternoon, they were able to make progress. While no one would comment publicly on what was accomplished, it was reported that headway was being made on key issues such as the pension plan and salary cap limits.
The sides began meeting around 1 p.m. EST and were still talking at 11:30 p.m.
Beckenbaugh held separate meetings with the union and league Saturday before bringing them together.
He also spent more than 12 hours Friday walking back and forth between the Manhattan headquarters of each side – beginning at 10 a.m. and wrapping things up shortly before 11 p.m.
While Beckenbaugh never got the league and the union in the same room then, enough was accomplished to convince the sides to keep going.
“I’m looking forward to continuing the process,” Daly wrote to The Associated Press in an email late Friday night.
Beckenbaugh began Saturday by holding a meeting with the union and then walked over to talk to NHL officials. He then made the trek back to the players’ association for the group meeting.
The sides have less than a week to reach a new collective bargaining agreement to save what would likely be a 48-game hockey season.
Beckenbaugh also took part in talks during the 2004-05 lockout, which forced the cancellation of the whole season.