Second day of mediation fails to produce progress in NHL, NHLPA talks

Two days of mediation was unable to push the NHL and NHL Players’ Association closer to a new collective bargaining agreement.

No progress was reported after a series of meetings with U.S. federal mediators Scot L. Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney in Woodbridge, N.J.

“After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday in a statement. “We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful.”

And so the stalemate continues.

The union thought it had moved quite close to the NHL last week when it offered a 50-50 split of revenues and $393 million in transition payments, but the league was unwilling to move off its latest proposal.

On Thursday night, Daly confirmed the NHL’s offer of $211 million and a 50-50 split remained on the table.

The sides must also find agreement on a number of rules governing player contracts.

With the standoff continuing and players set to miss their fourth paycheque on Friday, speculation should only grow that the union will look at decertifying or disclaiming interest. It’s a topic that has been discussed on internal player conference calls in recent weeks.

Disbanding the union would allow NHL players to challenge the lockout under antitrust laws and eliminate the need for a CBA. The strategy was used by NFL and NBA players in recent labour disputes.

The NHL lockout has forced the cancellation of 422 regular-season games through Dec. 14, plus the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium and Jan. 27 all-star game in Columbus.