{coyotes} NHL, players meet with mediators, plan to talk again

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

{coyotes} NHL, players meet with mediators, plan to talk again

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NHL owners and players met with federal mediators Wednesday with the hope of finding a path to end the 74-day-old lockout that has delayed the start of the 2012-13 season.

After a lengthy session, they expect to meet again on Thursday.

Scot L. Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service were attempting to help the two parties bridge the gap in their stalemated negotiations.

The FMCS asked for a news blackout on the proceedings, the location of which was kept quiet. The NHL had no statement and NHL Players' Association executive director Donald Fehr issued a statement that said,"A small group of NHLPA staff and players met today with two experienced FMCS mediators. We expect that these discussions will resume on Thursday."

Heading into Wednesday, the two sides had not agreed on how to divide hockey-related revenue. Players have agreed to a 50-50 split but are asking for $393 million to compensate for previously signed individual contracts. Owners have offered $211 million, and that number could be reduced soon because of revenue that is being lost daily.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has estimated that owners are losing $18 million to $20 million per day, and players are losing $8 million to $10 million per day.

They also were far apart on the issue of individual contracting rights. Owners are trying to alter arbitration rules and make a one-year change on unrestricted free agency qualification. Also, owners want a five-year cap on individual contracts, plus a 5% year-to-year variation restriction on multiyear deals.

The two sides had not had formal negotiations since Nov. 20 in New York. The league has already canceled all games through Dec. 14, plus the Winter Classic and All-Star weekend The expectation is that it would take about 10 days to start the season from the time an agreement is reached. At this point, the two sides would be looking at a season of around 60 to 62 games if an agreement could be reached relatively soon.

The NHL board of governors meeting is scheduled for Dec. 5 in New York.