Despite speculation that the NHL and NHLPA could be back at the bargaining table as soon as Wednesday, deputy commissioner Bill Daly says there’s nothing planned yet.
“We haven’t talked about meetings later this week,” Daly wrote CSNPhilly.com in an e-mail today. “I guess we will see.”
The league has already canceled games through Jan. 14. Which is to say, if there’s going to be any sort of season, a deal will need to be reached in a matter of weeks.
From a tactical standpoint, the NHLPA still has one major card to play (should it so choose), that being the disclaimer of interest filing. The union’s board is authorized to do that until Jan. 2.
If the NHLPA does end up dissolving, it doesn’t necessarily mean the season is lost. However, it would certainly take the process into uncharted waters.