NHL Labor Talks - NHL, NHLPA agree on 10-year CBA term

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NHL labor talks resume for 1st time in 8 days - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- For the first time in eight days, the NHL and the players' association met at the league office for a little under 2 hours before finishing for the night in an attempt to reach a deal to end the two-month old lockout.

Talks resumed on Monday, the 65th day of the lockout that has already wiped out 327 games and threatens the entire season if a settlement isn't reached soon.

After turning down a suggestion from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take a two-week break from negotiations, the union requested another meeting with the league that was scheduled Saturday.

It was the first bargaining session between the sides since Nov. 11, when a busy week of negotiating wrapped up with a session that lasted just over an hour and didn't produce any results.

All games through Nov. 30 and the New Year's Day Winter Classic have been called off. Another round of cancellations is expected this week if a new deal isn't reached.

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NHL lockout talks break off again with frustration - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- NHL labor talks broke off soon after they resumed Wednesday, with players maintaining their new proposal was a huge economic concession and Commissioner Gary Bettman pretty much saying the only deal he will agree to is the one management proposed last month.

On the 67th day of a lockout that already has wiped out more than a quarter of the regular season, the sides headed home for Thanksgiving with no end in sight to the sport's fourth work stoppage. The union's negotiating committee planned to brief players and get back in touch with management on Friday.

''We're dealing with a union that really isn't trying to negotiate, make any deal that we can live with for the long-term health of this game,'' Bettman said outside the league's Manhattan office when questioned by a fan, 41-year-old Jaymes Hall of Lancaster, Pa. ''We're hoping that with the passage of time, the players' association will come to realize that what we have proposed has been more than fair. And the fact that we're keeping this proposal on the table, when it was contingent on an 82-game season, should be evidence of our desire to get this done the right way.''

Players made what both sides called a comprehensive proposal. Union head Donald Fehr said the sides were $182 million apart in a five-year deal, which comes to $1.2 million annually for each of the 30 teams.

''On the big things there was as of today no reciprocity in any meaningful sense, no movement on the players' share, no movement on salary-arbitration eligibility, no movement on free agency eligibility, no agreement on a pension plan,'' Fehr said.

Management wants to increase eligibility for free agency to 28 years of age or eight seasons of NHL service, up from 27 or 7.

Management also proposed Wednesday adding a year of service for salary arbitration eligibility, hiking it from 1-4 to 2-5 years of service, depending on the age a player signs, a person familiar with the bargaining said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because that detail wasn't announced.

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NHL puts All-Star game out of its misery, cancels all games through December 14 | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports

We were beginning to wonder if the 2013 NHL All-Star game was set to become the Katniss Everdeen of this lockout, inexplicably surviving beyond anybody's wildest fantasies despite coming from Columbus, hockey's hapless version of District 12.

But sadly, no. Turns out, the ASG wasn't the Katniss of the NHL Hunger Games. It was Rue.

Not even the lockout can save Columbus from doleful news. All-Star Weekend, along with the schedule through December 14, has been cornered and canceled by the NHL. From their press release:

The National Hockey League announced today the cancellation of the 2012-13 regular-season schedule through December 14. The NHL also announced the cancellation of the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend scheduled for Jan. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio. The cancellations are necessary due to the absence of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL.

A total of 422 regular-season games -- 34.3 percent of the season -- were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Dec. 14.

"The reality of losing more regular-season games as well as the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus is extremely disappointing," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. "We feel badly for NHL fans and particularly those in Columbus, and we intend to work closely with the Blue Jackets organization to return the NHL All-Star events to Columbus and their fans as quickly as possible."

Compassion for Columbus -- who immediately announced refunds -- may be the one thing that unites us all at this point.

Aaron Portzline at the Columbus Dispatch, on another rough day in Columbus:

The All-Star Game, and the weeklong festivities surrounding it, would have brought an estimated $12 million into central Ohio. It would have been one of the most notable international sporting events staged in Columbus, along with golf's U.S. Open (1927) and Ryder Cup (1931 and 1987), the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and U.S.-Mexico World Cup soccer qualifying games.

"First and foremost, the Blue Jackets are very disappointed for our fans that All-Star festivities will not be coming to our great city in January," Blue Jackets president Mike Priest. "Our commitment to bringing this event to our fans is as strong as ever. The NHL believes Columbus will be a great host and will work with us to bring the All-Star Celebration here as soon as possible."

As we've previously mentioned, while returning the All-Star events to Ohio as quickly as possible is a top priority, it actually won't happen all that quickly. The 2013-14 NHL All-Star Game is likely to be skipped with the players heading to the Sochi Olympics, which means Blue Jackets fans will have to wait until 2014-15 at the earliest to host an All-Star Game.

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US federal mediators to join NHL labor talks - Yahoo! Sports

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal mediators are entering the stalled NHL labor talks, with the season's first 2½ months already lost because of the lockout.

George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said Monday the parties had agreed to use the agency. He assigned three mediators to assist negotiations - deputy director Scot Beckenbaugh, director of mediation services John Sweeney and Commissioner Guy Serota.

"While we have no particular level of expectation going into this process, we welcome a new approach in trying to reach a resolution of the ongoing labor dispute at the earliest possible date," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.

Cohen has worked with the players' associations for Major League Baseball, helping end the 1994-95 strike as an outside counsel, and the NBA. He was an adviser to the NHL players' union before joining FMCS three years ago.

"We look forward to their involvement as we continue working to reach an equitable agreement for both the players and the owners," said Donald Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players' Association.

Cohen mediated during the 2010 negotiations in Major League Soccer and 2011 talks in the NFL and NBA, along with this year's dispute between the NFL and its on-field officials.

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Bettman is worthless.

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Federal mediation over for NHL, NHLPA with no progress on ending lockout | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports

The NHL and NHLPA made little progress in their meetings with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service — an expected, though nonetheless frustrating, result, as the lockout reached its 75th day.

(If only Guy Serota had been there to break the ice with his randy humor and genial comportment ...)

From NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly:

"Today, we concluded two days of mediation with FMCS mediators and representatives of the NHL Players' Association. 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. We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful."

Via the NHLPA, Donald Fehr said:

"Today, players and NHLPA staff, along with representatives of the league, concluded a second day of mediation under the auspices of the FMCS. This afternoon, the mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today. The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the league and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right."

The two sides met with the FMCS for two days. It wasn't a binding arbitration, but rather a chance to find some common ground on the lockout's key issues through a third party, as negotiations had reached a stalemate.


This process was never expected to produce an end to the lockout, given the participants. As Gary R. Roberts, a professor of law at Indiana University, told the Washington Times:

"This isn't like a hysterical couple doing divorces or a commercial dispute where one side or the other is just being totally unrealistic. These are two very sophisticated and experienced groups. I just don't see how much a mediator can bring to the table other than to remind them of what's at stake periodically."

The best that could have been hoped for here was that both sides were candid with their wants in this negotiation — cards on the table, clearly established objectives and what it would take to achieve them.

But with the NHL Board of Governors meeting next week, and the NHLPA making a lot of noise about decertification, it's still a staring contest between two sides apparently oblivious to the concept of fan apathy and the smell of money burning all around them.

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NHL talks resume with owners, players meeting - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- The only early details that emerged from the latest round of negotiations aimed at ending the NHL lockout were the names of those in attendance and that the sides took a break for dinner nearly six hours after they started talking Tuesday.

A group of six owners and 18 NHL players - many more than were originally expected - gathered at a Manhattan hotel and tried to find some common ground as the search for a deal that would save the hockey season continued. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and union executive director Donald Fehr were at the hotel but stayed outside the meeting room.

Not much has worked up until Tuesday, the 80th day of the lockout, so the sides agreed to a different format to see if that would shake things up.

''I'm hoping we get to where we need to be,'' Bettman said before talks got under way Tuesday afternoon.

The dialogue continued, sometimes in smaller groups, throughout the day until the sides separated for a dinner break. The owners left while the players stayed to have a meal inside the hotel. The owners were expected to return to the hotel later Tuesday night, but it wasn't determined before they left whether they would reconvene with the union again.

Also, there was no assurance from either side that any of the participants would make any public statements Tuesday night.

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NHL rejects players' offer to break labor impasse - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL has rejected the players' latest offer for a labor deal, and negotiations have broken off at least until the weekend.

Donald Fehr made two separate appearances Thursday night in front of a large throng of reporters just moments apart after talks with the league ended. Initially, Fehr said he believed the sides had agreements on some key issues, but he returned soon after to say NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly left a voicemail saying that the players' offer wasn't good enough.

The voicemail, left for union special counsel Steve Fehr, stated that ''some things or everything'' the league has offered is now off the table, according to Donald Fehr, who added that this is not a positive development.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was expected to speak later Thursday, the 82nd day of the lockout. Bettman was not part of the one-hour meeting earlier in the day.

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NHL, union to return to bargaining, with mediators - Yahoo! Sports

TORONTO (AP) -- NHL labor negotiations will resume Wednesday, with mediators rejoining the talks at an undisclosed location in an effort to save the hockey season.

The Canadian Press on Tuesday reported the restart of bargaining between the league and union, citing unidentified people on both sides of the lockout.

U.S. federal mediators Scot Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney are to return to the process. They took part in sessions Nov. 27 and 28 before deciding they couldn't help.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, based in Washington, also was involved during the lockout that canceled the 2004-05 NHL season, with Beckenbaugh attending sessions.

As recently as last week, Commissioner Gary Bettman indicated he didn't think mediators would be able to help bridge the gap.

''We're not interested in mediation,'' he said Thursday. ''We went through it a week and a half ago. It was of no value because of the position of the parties.''

Tuesday marked the 87th day of the lockout. Wednesday's session will be the first meeting since the sides blamed each other after talks broke off last week.

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NHL labor talks wrap up with still no progress - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- Two days of talks between the NHL, the players' association, and federal mediators still haven't provided any answers how to end the lockout.

Representatives from the fighting sides made it into the same room with a federal mediator Thursday. They just didn't make any noticeable progress. After a failed day Wednesday when the parties on either end of the hockey labor dispute never met with each other, lawyers from each group spoke face to face Thursday.

They appear no closer to a deal to save the season.

President Barack Obama addressed the stalemate in an interview Thursday with WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

''My message to owners and to players is, 'You guys make a lot of money and you make a lot of money on the backs of fans, so do right by your fans. You can figure out how to spread out a bunch of revenue that you're bringing in, but do right by the people who support you,''' Obama said. ''And I shouldn't have to be involved in a dispute between really wealthy players and even wealthier owners. They should be able to settle this themselves. And remember who it is that's putting all that money in their pockets.''

Players' association special counsel Steve Fehr, who met with league lead counsel Bob Batterman on Thursday, said the sides intend to talk Friday either in person or by phone.

''I expect the mediators will continue to be involved,'' Fehr wrote in an email to The Associated Press. ''Do not want to characterize the discussion today.''

At no point on either day this week did union executive director Donald Fehr meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

Daly said he expected to talk to Steve Fehr on Friday.

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Union wants to restart talks with NHL
TORONTO -- The head of the NHL Players' Association says his side in hockey's labor dispute is set to resume talks anywhere, anytime, but is waiting for league negotiators to feel the same way.

Speaking to a large throng of media here before an NHLPA charity hockey game at the former Maple Leaf Gardens, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr was asked why bargaining has not resumed this week.

"Because the owners have not indicated a desire to resume," Fehr said. "We've indicated any number of times that we're willing to resume whenever they are without pre-conditions.''

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, reached by ESPN.com via email Wednesday evening, said the league is willing to resume talks under the right conditions.
NHL Players' Association ready to resume labor talks - ESPN

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NHL cancels all games through Jan. 14 - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL could be one step away from canceling another hockey season because of a labor fight with the players.

In the latest round of cancellations, the NHL on Thursday wiped out all games through Jan. 14. More than 50 percent of the schedule has been lost, and the rest is now in great danger, too.

''I don't want to characterize what today's cancellations mean or don't mean,'' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press in an email. ''I will stand on the announcement that was made.''

So far, 625 regular-season games have been called off, including nearly 100 in the announcement made Thursday - the 96th day of the NHL's lockout. The New Year's Day Winter Classic and the All-Star game also have been lost.

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AP source: NHL players closer to dissolving union - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- NHL players are a step closer to dissolving their union.

In a vote this week, union members overwhelmingly agreed to give the players' association's executive board the power to file a ''disclaimer of interest'' until Jan. 2.

A person familiar with the outcome of the vote told The Associated Press on Friday that the measure was approved by a vote of 706-22 (97 percent), easily reaching the two-thirds majority that was necessary. However, the executive board hasn't made plans yet to meet to discuss whether to file the disclaimer. If the Jan. 2 deadline passes, another authorization vote could be held to approve a later filing.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the results of the vote hadn't been announced.

If the executive board files the disclaimer, the union would dissolve and become a trade association. That would allow players to file antitrust lawsuits against the NHL.

Negotiations between the NHL and the union have been at a standstill since talks ended Dec. 6. No bargaining is scheduled, and time is running short to save the season. All games through Jan. 14 have been canceled, more than half the season. The New Year's Day Winter Classic and All-Star game already are victims of the lockout.

A new labor agreement would need to be in place by about that time to salvage a 48-game schedule, the minimum in Commissioner Gary Bettman's opinion for the season to proceed.

The NHL is already the only North American professional sports league to cancel a season because of a labor dispute, losing the 2004-05 campaign to a lockout.

The NHLPA now appears set to follow the lead set by NFL and NBA players. Both dissolved their unions during lockouts last year.

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NHL and union speak, but no new meetings scheduled - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and players' association special counsel Steve Fehr spoke on the telephone but still haven't made plans to meet face to face.

There has been very little contact this week between the sides. Daly and Fehr held a conversation Saturday, the 98th day of the lockout that is threatening to wipe out the entire hockey season.

All games through Jan. 14 have already been called off, and if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by then, the remainder of the schedule could be canceled, too. So far, 625 games - more than 50 percent of the schedule - have been wiped out, along with the Winter Classic and the All-Star game.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says he doesn't want a season shorter than 48 games per team, the amount played after a lockout ended in 1995. The full 2004-05 season was lost to a lockout.

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No talking between and players' union - Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- All is quiet between the NHL and the players' association, and there is no sign the sides will talk even by phone before Christmas.

''Nothing today,'' NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press in an email Sunday night. ''Don't know whether we will speak before the holiday.''

Daly and players' association special counsel Steve Fehr spoke to each other Saturday, but nothing of note came out of those discussions. The union declined to comment Sunday, the 99th day of the NHL lockout.

The sides haven't met face to face since Dec. 13.

All games through Jan. 14 have already been called off, and if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by then, the remainder of the schedule could be canceled, too. So far, 625 games - more than 50 percent of the schedule - have been wiped out, along with the Winter Classic and the All-Star game.