It doesn't seem likely that the NHL season will start next week. 135 games have already been scrapped and the danger of more games being wiped out is hovering over the current season.
Bill Daly, the NHL deputy commissioner, declined the union's proposal when they appealed for a restart of the stalled negotiations on Tuesday and a full-regular season seems to be in jeopardy as there are no more meetings scheduled.
Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner, indicated if no agreement was reached by Thursday, a complete regular season would not be possible.
In an email to The Associated Press, Daly said: "I don't anticipate any taking place for the balance of the week. The union has rejected the proposal we made last Tuesday and is not offering another one. We see nothing to be gained at this point by meeting just to meet."
The players' association had said in a statement: "It is willing to meet on Wednesday or any other date, without preconditions, to try to reach an agreement. However, the NHL turned down the request this time."
The NHL has already rejected three counter proposals from the union. It had proposed a 50-50 split of the hockey related revenue.
Steve Fehr, the NHLPA special counsel said in a statement: "The league is apparently unwilling to meet. That is unfortunate as it is hard to make progress without talking.
"Most owners are not allowed to attend bargaining meetings. No owners are allowed to speak to the media about the bargaining. It is interesting that they are secretly unleashed to talk to the players about the meetings the players can attend, but the owners cannot."
On Tuesday, the NHL said the teams' officials could communicate with their players but there were certain restrictions regarding what could be discussed.
"From our perspective, this is a nonissue and a nonstory," he said in an email. "There is nothing - legally or otherwise -- that precludes club personnel from communicating with their players."
A major concern the sides have is with regards to dealing with existing player contracts. The players' association has requested that those be paid in full without affecting future contracts.
In an internal league memo obtained by The Canadian Press, the NHL stated:"You may not ask (a player) what he or others have in mind. If he volunteers what he has in mind you should not respond positively or negatively or ask any questions but instead refer him to the NHLPA.
"Likewise, you may not suggest hypothetical proposals that the league might make in the future or that the league might entertain from the union."
This is the first time the NHL has allowed club officials to talk to the players since the lockout began on Sep. 16.
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