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NHL Owners, players meet late to try and salvage season


Talks, which included Gary Bettman, continued after seven hours.

NEW YORK (AP) -- One day after the NHL players' association rejected the league's latest salary-cap proposal, the sides met again in what might have been the last chance to save the hockey season.

The union invited commissioner Gary Bettman and players' association chief Bob Goodenow back to the table Thursday after the leaders sat out the previous five sessions during a two-week span.

The meeting began around 1:30 p.m. and was still going on more than seven hours later.

The NHL declined comment on what was being discussed, or if any progress was being made.

"A collective bargaining meeting between representatives of the National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association began Thursday afternoon and continued into Thursday night," the league said in a statement. "In deference to the process, there will be no comment, and no further update is expected tonight."

Players turned down the NHL's offer Wednesday, sticking to their vow that they will never accept a salary cap.

The fact that the sides remained together for so long a day later provided at least a glimmer of hope that perhaps a deal could be reached.

The 41/2-month lockout reached its 141st day Thursday and has wiped out 772 regular season games and the All-Star game.

The remainder of the 1,230-game schedule could be called off within days if significant progress isn't made quickly.

Bosses are needed

Neither side expressed optimism Wednesday that the philosophical differences could be bridged, but Bettman and Goodenow were needed in the room before any deal could possibly be reached.


The NHL proposed a six-year deal that contained a cap that would force teams to spend at least $32 million on player costs but no more than $42 million -- including benefits. The union needed only a few hours to turn it down.

There were other components to the offer, such as a profit-sharing plan, reduced age for unrestricted free agency, a raise of the minimum salary, and the continued conclusion of guaranteed contracts, but the issue has always been about a salary cap.


Last season's average salary was $1.8 million, and the NHL wants to push that back with a salary cap. The latest offer would give players between 53 and 55 percent of league revenues.







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