NHL's on again/off again talks were on again - but now off again

The NHL's Billy Daly spoke with Steve Fehr of the NHLPA on Saturday, two days after the disaster that was the player's triple response to the league's 50/50 offer. Neither side gave any details of what was discussed.

On what was the lockout's 35th day the sides did say that nothing was achieved in the Saturday talks in New York. It was unclear if the talks were over the phone or face-to-face, but the NHL and the NHLPA noted that there are no further full bargaining sessions, nor informal sessions, scheduled. On Friday the league made a second round of cuts to games; games through November 1 are now cancelled, making for a total of 135 games that have now been scratched. However, despite the cancellations there is still a slim chance the NHL could conduct a full 82 game schedule for the 2012-13 season. NHL could still play 82 games If the two sides agree on a new CBA by Thursday, the league said it will draw up a revised schedule with a full compliment of 82 games to begin November 2. The regular season ending date is normally in early April but that date will be extended and, with playoffs, the season would end toward the end of June, rather than the beginning. This plan would include a brief training camp to begin as soon as teams can assemble following the signing of a CBA. There are well over 100 NHL players now on teams in Europe. Pittsburgh Penguin superstar Sidney Crosby is among those who have not signed to play over there but who have suggested they, too, may try Europe if the lockout drags on much longer.