The NHL and the players’ union will be back at the bargaining table on Friday.
Both sides have not met formally in over a week.
“I think everyone was optimistic and hoping for something,” Wings forward Drew Miller said Monday. “Right now you’re hoping something gets done and that we don’t lose a whole season if they’re going to battle that hard. Realistically it would be nice to get it done tomorrow, but I know that’s not going to happen so we just have to be patient and count on our leadership to take care of it.”
Sources tell ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun that talks will begin with discussions of non-economic issues.
The league locked the players are at midnight on Sept. 16
This is the third lockout under NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The first, in 1994-95, ended after 103 days. The last time the league locked the players out it resulted in the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
Players are concerned owners haven’t addressed the league’s financial problems. And after making huge concessions to reach a deal in 2005, the players don’t feel like it should be on their shoulders again to give in to reach another CBA.
In 2005, players took an immediate 24 percent rollback on existing contracts. In return they got 57 percent of hockey-related revenues.
The owners want to reduce the player’s percentage of hockey-related revenues to less than 50 percent.
The union offered a deal based on actual dollars, seeking a guarantee of the $1.8 billion players received last season.
The league has already cancelled preseason games through the end of September.
Also in jeopardy would be the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at the University of Michigan and the All-Star game in Columbus.
