NHL, Players Union Resume Labor Negotiations After Two Weeks

The National Hockey League and its players’ union will resume talks on a collective bargaining agreement after more than two weeks off.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and players’ union special counsel Steve Fehr will meet today, league spokesman John Dellapina said in an e-mail, without providing any further information. The two sides last met on Oct. 18.

The league locked out its players on Sept. 16, the day after the old collective bargaining agreement expired. A total of 327 regular-season games through Nov. 30 have been canceled so far, including the annual outdoor Winter Classic. That game, between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs and scheduled for Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, was called off yesterday.

The league’s most recent contract offer contained an even revenue split between owners and players. None of the union’s three counteroffers was accepted by owners.

The season was scheduled to begin Oct. 11. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last month it needed to start yesterday in order for each team to play all 82 games.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in London at bbensch@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net.