Owners, Union Will Meet Again

The third meeting in eight days between the NHL and the players’ union produced little comment from those involved beyond a promise to meet again “this week.”

However, two signs indicated that talks have entered the final push if the NHL is to avoid becoming the first major North American sports league to cancel an entire season.

Sources familiar with the discussions said negotiators had zeroed in on a luxury tax on payrolls that exceed $40 million and a hard cap at $50 million. The union continues to oppose a cap and the NHL continues to oppose a tax, but compromising at or near those levels might slow spending and preserve a version of the “free market” system players favor. It’s far from certain either side will bend on this key issue.

Also noteworthy at Wednesday’s meeting in Toronto was the presence of Lou Lamoriello, chief executive and general manager of the New Jersey Devils and a powerful force within the league. Lamoriello, who was invited by the NHL, is a tough negotiator who has achieved long-term success without spending lavishly on free agents. He attended negotiations in September and December.

The NHL was also represented by Bill Daly, its chief legal officer; Harley Hotchkiss, chairman of the Board of Governors, and counsel Bob Batterman.

The NHL Players’ Assn. sent its senior director, Ted Saskin; union president Trevor Linden of the Vancouver Canucks, and counsel John McCambridge.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and his union counterpart, Bob Goodenow, did not attend.

The next round of talks, to be held today or Friday, is expected to take place in New York.

“After meeting today we have agreed to continue discussions and will not be making any further comment at this time,” Saskin said.

Daly’s statement was equally terse: “The meeting has concluded for the day and we will meet again this week. We have no further comment at this time.”

Cal Nichols, chairman of the Edmonton Oilers, was quoted in Wednesday’s edition of the National Post saying he’d recommend the NHL suspend his franchise or he would consider moving it if a new labor deal didn’t include a salary cap.

“This isn’t sabre-rattling. It’s the truth,” he told the newspaper.

Also Wednesday, Colin Campbell, the NHL’s director of hockey operations, met with six NHL coaches to discuss ways to open up the game when the league resumes play.

“We have to give something back to the fans,” Campbell said.