NEW YORK (AP) — Negotiations between the NHL and the locked out players’ association are resuming for the second time in four days, with tempered optimism that the sides can reach a deal to rescue the hockey season.
After NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and union special counsel Steve Fehr met alone for hours in a secret location Saturday, the sides got back together in larger groups Tuesday afternoon for more talks. Commissioner Gary Bettman and union executive director Donald Fehr joined the talks in New York along with some owners and 13 players — including star forward Sidney Crosby.
Neither side revealed much about Saturday’s talks or what would be discussed Tuesday. The exact location of Tuesday’s meeting was kept secret at the request of the NHL.
The lockout, which entered its 52nd day, has already forced the cancellation of 327 regular-season games — including the New Year’s Day outdoor Winter Classic.
