Nineteen players attended today's meeting, though some have left due to personal commitments. The NHL's six owners, accompanied by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, all of whom met the players yesterday, returned today.
While both sides admit progress has been made, it's unclear at what stage negotiations currently lay.
The NHL is hoping to sign a longer CBA than the originally proposed six-to-seven year agreement, which could affect each side's position.
Multiple sources have indicated that the two sides are inching closer towards an agreement on the make-whole provision, though player contracting issues remain a concern.
The NHL originally wanted to restrict the length of a player's contract to five-years, with a maximum five per cent annual salary increase. It's unclear if the NHL has changed its stance, but the NHLPA is not interested in putting a cap on contract term. However, a restriction on annual salary increase, for the purpose of eliminating back-loaded contracts, seems to be something the players are open to exploring.
Once the NHL and NHLPA can agree on such issues, they will focus on other elements such as 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.
With regular-season games wiped out through Dec. 14, if a deal is reached this week, the league could work towards a late-December or Jan. 1 start, with a season that could span 48-60 games.
TFP Editor-in-Chief David Pagnotta contributed to this report.
