NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Special Counsel Steve Fehr were among those in attendance, and will jump back in the room today. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr have not been present in the meetings.
"I thought it was a constructive day, we had a good dialogue," Steve Fehr said Tuesday night, standing alongside Daly. "In some ways I'd say it might be the best day we've had, which isn't to paint too overly optimistic of a picture. There's still a lot of work to do and a lot to be done."
Several players indicated there was "some progress" made yesterday, but both sides remain tremendously cautious when categorizing talks.
"I appreciate the efforts of the players," Daly said yesterday. "I think everybody is working hard. I think everybody wants to get a deal done, so I think that's encouraging."
If progress continues later today, there are some who believe a new proposal could be pieced together by either side and presented.
With regular-season games wiped out through Dec. 14, if a deal is reached this week -- though, that appears unlikely -- the league could work towards a late-December or Jan. 1 start, with a season that could span 48-60 games.
Conversely, if talks break down, the NHL could cancel their next round of games through Dec. 31 as early as Friday.
Today's meeting includes the same owners from yesterday: Boston's Jeremy Jacobs, Pittsburgh's Ron Burkle, Calgary's Murray Edwards, Toronto's Larry Tanenbaum, Winnipeg's Mark Chipman, and Tampa's Jeffrey Vinik. At least 20 players are scheduled to attend.
Once all new elements that stem from these discussions are outlined, both sides will cycle back with Bettman and Donald Fehr, upon which formal offers will be pitched.
The NHLPA has been piecing together a new proposal, which could be presented this evening.
It's believed both the owners and players are willing to give and take further, though it remains to be seen how significant their gives will be.
The Players are reportedly not interested in putting a cap on the length of players contracts, but seem open to the idea of restricting the annual percentage increase of salaries, though the five per cent restriction the NHL pitched is not a figure they're comfortable with.
Several other issues need to be addressed, including the make-whole provision, salary arbitration rights, free agent status, the Players' annual escrow figures, league-wide changes to such items as scheduling and realignment, player participation in the Winter Olympics, and more.
