NEW YORK -- The NHL and NHL Players' Association wrapped up their latest meeting after a two-hour session late Friday afternoon.
NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr left the meeting without answering questions, but said the union "had things to consider."
Fehr also said he planned to hold a conference call with players to update them about the latest negotiations.
The league told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that it is perplexed that the NHLPA did not inform its players that they are willing to go 50-50 and "Make Whole" every cent plus interest by Year 3 of a potential collective agreement.
According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com, the NHL's "Make Whole" offer pays $211 million in guaranteed payments to players - $149 million in Year 1 and $62 million in Year 2 (both one year deferred). The NHL's belief is that by Year 3 at 50 percent of HRR players won't need to be made whole further. The NHLPA doesn't like the model nor the total amount of money offered.
Bettman said that the league will remain available through the weekend to continue negotiations. The commissioner is due to attend the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Monday in Toronto but said he will stay back to continue labour talks if it is warranted.
The sides gathered for a fourth straight day of collective bargaining talks on Friday -- the longest run of meetings they've had during these negotiations. There were three separate meetings held, where all of the main issues were discussed.
The two sides discussed the core issues in a large group session.
They are attempting to strike a deal that would end the 55-day lockout, which has already forced the cancellation of 327 regular-season games.
Fehr communicated with his membership earlier on Friday as to the state of the negotiations.
Read Fehr's MEMO HERE.
With all regular-season games cancelled through Nov. 30, negotiations have reached a critical and delicate stage. Ten days will be needed from the time an agreement is struck until the season starts and there is still hope among the parties that a shortened schedule could begin by Dec. 1.
For that to happen, signs of progress need to emerge soon, something neither side is entirely sure will happen.
Despite not seeing eye-to-eye on the important issues, the key negotiators seem intent on trying to hammer out a deal.
They have met for a total of nearly 30 hours over the last week, starting with an informal eight-hour session between deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr in Chicago on Saturday. Larger groups that included owners and players spent more than 21 hours at the bargaining table over the last four days.
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