The NHL and union have wrapped up Friday’s discussions and will meet again on Saturday to discuss the NHL’s economic framework, according to Renaud P Lavoie. Additionally, NHLPA boss Don Fehr and league commissioner Gary Bettman had a private conversation today.
So that’s good news right?
Unfortunately the post-meetings rhetoric left plenty to be desired in the optimism department.
“We’ve done a lot of abstract and philosophical speaking on economics, but ultimately there has to be a (PA) proposal,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said according to Lance Hornby.
That’s problematic because, as Michael Grangethe reported, NHLPA’s Steve Fehr said that the union doesn’t have any immediate plans to present the league with a new proposal.
Darren Dreger summed up Friday’s meetings by saying that “none of what has been discussed will lead to an end to the lockout.”
Still, at least they’re holding meetings. That’s more than we could have said at this point last week.