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Private meeting pre-empts formal NHL-NHLPA session today

By: Gary Lawless

Posted: 08/22/2012 12:31 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 08/22/2012 3:12 PM | Updates

NHLPA executive director Don Fehr (GENE J. PUSKAR / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

TORONTO, Ont. -- NHL commisioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Don Fehr called an audible today and held a two-hour meeting under the radar.

The league and the union were scheduled to talk at 1 p.m. EDT today, however a small group including Bettman, deputy commisioner Bill Daly, Fehr and his brother Steve Fehr held a two-on-two meeting. According to NHLPA sources, "real issues were discussed."

After the meeting the two sides elected to forego this afternoon’s scheduled session but will reconvene tomorrow at the NHLPA’s downtown Toronto offices.

"We met and discussed some substantiave issues plus procedurally what do we do next. What do the groups look like and how do we configure this and all the rest of it. We had a discussion designed to make sure we go forward," said Fehr. "After some thought the suggestion was that we reconvene here tomorrow. To talk about core ecomonics and player contracting issues."

Fehr characterized the process as "businesslike," and didn’t put any weight on the afternoon session being scrubbed.

"It’s an ordinary process in bargaining. This happens," said Fehr. "I will say, you could probably observe there is some level of frustration between the parties but that doesn’t surprise me."

Fehr was asked what specific topics were reviewed.

"We spent some time discussing the core economic issues but that’s all I want to say right now," he said.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless

History

Updated on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 3:12 PM CDT: updates, adds formal session cancelled

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