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Source: Deal must be in place by weekend to save the hockey season

By IRA PODELL, AP Sports Writer
February 9, 2005

AP - Feb 9, 5:14 pm EST
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NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL told the players' association Wednesday that a deal must be made by this weekend to save the hockey season, a source close to the negotiations said.

The players' association rejected what was described as a compromise proposal during a secret meeting Wednesday in Toronto, the source told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The sides agreed to continue talking through Thursday, but if an agreement is not reached in principle by this weekend then the league doesn't believe games can be played this season.

A union spokesman did not immediately return phone calls Thursday.

The lockout reached its 147th day Wednesday and has forced the cancellation of 807 of the 1,230 regular-season games as well as this weekend's scheduled All-Star game.

It was believed that there was no contact between the sides since last Friday when talks broke off after three straight days of meetings.

The bulk of the negotiations since mid-December were conducted mostly by NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly and players' association senior director Ted Saskin.




Commissioner Gary Bettman and players' association executive director Bob Goodenow were invited by the union back to the table last week for two days of talks following the players' association rejection of the league's previous salary-cap proposal.

It is that issue that has put the NHL on the brink of losing the entire season.

Bettman scheduled a news briefing for later Wednesday night.

The NHL has been intent on making a deal that provides a link between league revenues and player costs. The players' association has steadfastly refused to accept a salary cap as a solution to the stalemate.


Updated on Wednesday, Feb 9, 2005 5:30 pm EST