NEW YORK — The NHL, the players’ association and now even federal mediators agree on one thing: The bickering sides are nowhere near a deal that would put hockey back on the ice.
The league and the union wrapped up two days of talks Thursday in New Jersey, with help from mediators, but moved no closer to a solution to save the season that has already been delayed and shortened.
Two members from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service joined the discussions on Wednesday and Thursday but couldn’t bring the sides any closer.
“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,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful.”
Players’ association executive director Donald Fehr echoed Daly’s remarks Thursday night without offering insight where the process might head next.
“This afternoon, the mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today,” Fehr said in a statement. “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 bottom line is that, 75 days into the owners’ lockout of players, there is no end in sight. The lockout has already forced the cancellation of games through Dec. 14, the New Year’s Day Winter Classic, and the All-Star weekend in January.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered the union a meeting that would consist of only owners and players — without the presence of leaders on both sides of the dispute — Daly told The Associated Press in an email. He added that the union was considering the proposal and would get back to the league.
“We will be discussing all matters regarding the last two days of mediation as well as potential next steps with the Executive Board and Negotiating Committee,” NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said.
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