NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association remain involved a lengthy mediation session that has stretched into Sunday morning in an attempt to establish a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The main negotiators from the NHL and NHLPA met face-to-face Saturday afternoon for the first time since breakout sessions on pension and hockey-related revenue issues were conducted Thursday. As of 2:45 a.m., the sides had met for 14 hours.
"The parties have been meeting since approximately 12:45 pm today," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said late Saturday night. "Slow progress is being made. We hope to continue meeting to resolve as many open issues as we possibly can in pursuit of an agreement."
Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, who shuttled between the NHLPA's hotel and the League office Thursday and Friday, worked with the groups separately again Saturday morning before the face-to-face meeting was scheduled. Beckenbaugh is part of the ongoing meeting, which is being held at the players' hotel.
The mediation process Friday lasted approximately 13 hours.
It was the second straight day that the League and the Union did not hold a large-group negotiating session but met with the mediator in separate sessions. The last large-group negotiating session was Wednesday, which also involved the mediator.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman previously said that a 2013 regular season at least 48 games in length would have to begin Jan. 19.