UPDATED
Today's meeting between the NHL and NHLPA with mediators has concluded in New Jersey after 6 1/2 hours.
The sides met separately with mediators and were never in the same room. No progress was made.
According to NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, there is no re-tabled offer on the table (although that's been contradicted and players say the league offered last week's take it or leave it deal again; league says mediatoractually is the one who said 'would you re-offer it'). There are no plans yet as to when the two sides will meet again.
The mediator will meet with the players tonight, and then the mediators will get in touch with the league as to what was discussed.
I'm told the league spent about 15 or 20 minutes with mediators today and hours with the players because the league made clear there's no communication issue, that their stance is clear: "tell us when you're ready to play." My guess is that could be under the last proposal, although the league has not actually said that.
That proposal was 50/50, 10-year CBA, $300 million Make Whole, 5-year max deals (7 to re-sign your own player) and 5% variances in salary per year.
In other words, the owners are done negotiating. Unless they're bluffing, the next move will have to come from the players deciding if they want to throw away 100 percent of their salaries because they want an 8-year CBA or a little longer term in a max deal. Transition rules also must be determined.
