THE CANADIAN PRESS
Talks between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association resume today with the help of an impartial third party.
The two sides are expected to meet separately with U.S. federal mediators in an effort to end the labour dispute that’s now in its 11th week.
The mediation will be non-binding, meaning the sides will not be forced to go along with suggestions or recommendations made by mediators Scot L. Beckenbaugh and John Sweeney.
Allowing U.S. federal mediators into the process was something the NHL tried without success on a couple of occasions prior to the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
In fact, Beckenbaugh sat in on sessions at that time, including one just three days before commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the entire season in February 2005.
The NHL lockout has so far forced the league to cancel 422 regular-season games, plus the January 1st Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium and the January 27th all-star game in Columbus.
Bettman has said the league is losing as much as 20 million dollars per day during the lockout.