CBA mediation with League, Union unsuccessful

Representatives from the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association concluded two days of meetings with federal mediators Thursday without making any progress toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The second session of meetings finished late Thursday afternoon. No further meetings with the mediators are planned, according to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

"Today, we concluded two days of mediation with FMCS mediators and representatives of the NHL Players' Association," Daly said in a statement. "After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time. We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful."

Donald Fehr, Executive Director of the NHLPA, said, "Today, players and NHLPA staff, along with representatives of the League, concluded a second day of mediation under the auspices of the FMCS. This afternoon, the mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today. The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the League and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right."

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh and Director of Mediation Services John Sweeney served as the mediators during the meetings. They were appointed by FMCS Director George H. Cohen.

The NHL and NHLPA haven't held a formal negotiating session without mediators since Nov. 21. Additional meetings between the NHL and Union are not scheduled at this time, but the League offered on Thursday the possibility of a meeting between owners and players without the presence of League or Union negotiators. The Union has yet to respond to the offer.

Without an existing CBA, the NHL has cancelled games through Dec. 14 as well as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend.