NHL cancels regular season games through Nov. 1

With the owners and the NHLPA unable to agree to a new collective bargaining agreement, the league was forced to cancel more games.

NHL Lockout 2012: No progress at Tuesday meeting

Representatives of the NHL and NHLPA met on Tuesday, but little progress was made. The two sides met to discuss secondary issues and did not even touch on the basic revenue-splitting issue that caused the owners to lock out the players in September. There are currently no further meetings scheduled between the two sides, and the fear of a long and protracted lockout is looking more and more likely to come to fruition.

Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly was not particularly upbeat when speaking to the media after the meeting:

"Today," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "was not overly encouraging."

The regular season is scheduled to start on Oct. 11th, but unless a miracle deal is worked out in the immediate future, the first games of the season will be postponed or canceled soon. The entire preseason has already been canceled, and Daly estimated that the NHL lost around $100 million by losing those games.

NHL labor talks to resume Tuesday

The NHL and NHLPA will resume meeting on Tuesday morning in New York City, according to a report from the Associated Press. The two sides met for three straight days over the weekend, but the talks were concerning smaller issues, such as what defines "hockey related revenue" and player safety. The biggest issue between the two sides, how to split revenue between the roughly $3 billion in revenue between the league and players, remains unsolved. Tuesday is the only day that meetings are scheduled this week.

The NHL locked out the players on Sep. 15th, when the previous collective bargaining agreement expired. The entire preseason has been cancelled, and it's expected that the start of the regular season will be delayed by the league sometime this week. The season is currently scheduled to start on Oct. 11th.

Two United States senators, both from New Jersey, have sent NHL commissioner Gary Bettman a letter, urging him to resolve the lockout as soon as possible to avoid Congressional intervention. Congress as jurisdiction over professional sports leagues, as they fall into the category of "interstate commerce."

NHL lockout could send Zach Parise to Switzerland

Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise says he has an opportunity to play for a team in Switzerland, and that he will decide soon if progress is not made in lockout negotiations.

Locked out NHL players kicked off ice skating rink

About 40 NHL players were scrimmaging at a rink at the St. Louis Park Rec Center outside Minnesota on Tuesday -- at least they were until they were booted off the ice by a figure skating coach. According to Michael Russo of the Minnesota Star Tribune, players like Matt Cullen, Zach Parise, Niklas Backstrom and Mikko Koivu were scrimmaging on a fresh sheet of ice when a woman named Coach Marla strolled out to center ice and told the players that she had reserved the ice for a private figure skating lesson.

The players believed that Marla had reserved a different sheet of ice but relented and moved back to the chewed-up rink they had been skating on earlier in the morning. The locked-out players rent ice at the Rec Center four times a week as they stay in shape for an NHL season that could theoretically kick into gear at any time.

The NHL and NHLPA haven't negotiated seriously since Sept. 12 but will meet on Friday to discuss non-core issues.

NHL Lockout Sends Wild Defenseman Jared Spurgeon To Switzerland

The NHL lockout already nearly sent Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom to Europe, though an injury will keep him in America for the foreseeable future. That means that Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon will be the first Minnesota player to officially sign overseas as he's reportedly headed to Switzerland.

Spurgeon is expected to play on the same line as Ryan Suter this year, leading to high expectations, so his being in shape and ready to play as soon as the lockout is over will be key. Ben Goessling of the Pioneer Press reports that should be the case, too, as he'll play for the SCL Tigers alongside friend Tyler Ennis -- a center for the Buffalo Sabres.

Jared Spurgeon became the second Minnesota player to make arrangements to play in Europe during the NHL lockout - the WIld defenseman confirmed via text message this morning he has agreed to a deal with the SCL Tigers in Switzerland.

It'll be interesting to see how many Wild players end up playing in Europe before the lockout is over.

Stay with this StoryStream for more lockout coverage involving the Wild, and be sure to visit Hockey Wilderness for more Minnesota Wild news. Also check out SB Nation's NHL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

Xcel Energy Center To Host Wild's Minor League Training Camp During Lockout

The NHL lockout will keep most Minnesota Wild players from doing anything at the Xcel Energy Center for the foreseeable future, but that won't stop the team's top prospects from showing their stuff. In fact, the Houston Aeros are holding training camp in St. Paul, bringing a slew of the top Wild prospects to the city.

Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin and quite a few others will also be in attendance for a pair of scrimmages open to the public next weekend, according to the Wild blog on the Pioneer Press website:

Just because the Wild aren't opening camp on time - and don't appear to be headed to the ice any time soon - doesn't mean there won't be hockey soon coming to the Xcel Energy Center. The team announced on Thursday morning that the Houston Aeros will begin training camp in St. Paul, giving fans a chance to watch the team's top prospects in a pair of free scrimmages.

So fret not, hockey fans! Hockey players are still going to be showing their stuff in the cities!

Stay with this StoryStream for more lockout coverage involving the Wild, and be sure to visitHockey Wilderness for more Minnesota Wild news. Also check out SB Nation's NHL hubfor more news and analysis from around the league.

Inside The NHL Lockout Negotiations (What We Think Might Be Happening, Anyway)

The NHL and NHLPA don't seem to be talking about any lockout negotiations. Consequently, we're forced to imagine what league commissioner Gary Bettman and player's association head Don Fehr are doing.

NHL Lockout: League Cancels 4 Minnesota Wild Preseason Games

The NHL lockout continues to spill over into the preseason and spoil fall hockey, and on Wednesday the league officially cancelled preseason games through Sept. 30 to make matters worse.

Four Minnesota Wild games were removed due to the cancellation, including two that were set to be played at home at the Xcel Energy Center against the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues. In addition, the Wild are also now forced to miss the first-ever preseason game in the state of Idaho that was scheduled against the Stars on Tuesday, Sept. 25 in Boise.

Three preseason games still remain on the Wild's schedule despite the move, including an Oct. 2 date with Winnipeg that seems likely to be dropped in the coming days if things remain slow. With the both sides of the lockout seemingly comfortable with their decisions at the moment, it might not be long before regular season dates are soon wiped clean from Minnesota's schedule.

Stay with this StoryStream for more lockout coverage involving the Wild, and be sure to visit Hockey Wilderness for more Minnesota Wild news. Also check out SB Nation's NHL hub for more news and analysis from around the league.

NHL Lockout Sends Wild Goalie Niklas Backstrom To Belarus

Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom will be playing hockey in Belarus until the NHL lockout is resolved.

NHL Lockout: No Updates Seem Imminent

The NHL lockout has officially begun and it doesn't appear that the two sides are anywhere closer to resolving their differences. Neither the NHL nor the NHL Players' Association has committed to face-to-face negotiations with the other side.

"I'm sure we will remain in contact," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. "But there are no negotiations planned or scheduled at this point."

Both sides have issued statements to fans, but neither appears ready to budge on the issues that are keeping a new collective bargaining agreement from being reached. The main issue remains the division of hockey-related revenue, roughly a $3.3 billion figure.

The league could begin cancelling preseason games as early as this week and the regular season start date of Oct. 11 is already in danger. Season ticket holders for Wild games have already been told that they will be reimbursed with interest for any games that are missed.

For news on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. For news from around the NHL and more on the lockout, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Lockout Still Allows Minnesota Wild Players To Work Out Together

The NHL lockout is in full swing, but that's not going to stop the Minnesota Wild players from working out together. Over 40 NHL players, about half of them from the Wild, met together to skate and hone their skills on Monday as the lockout continues.

Wild players including Mikko Koivu, Niklas Backstrom, Devin Setoguchi, and Zach Parise, shared the ice with other NHLers such as Dustin Byfuglien, Keith Ballard, and Alex Goligoski on Monday and will continue to do so until movement is made between the NHL and NHLPA regarding a new collective bargaining agreement.

Wild center Kyle Brodziak said it felt weird to be locked out, but indicated there was nothing to do at the moment other than continue to train.

"Right now, you just keep training and skating every day. You keep doing that until you get bored of it, I guess, and then find somewhere new to go do the same thing."

Training camp for the Wild was scheduled to begin on Sept. 22 prior to the lockout.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. For more news from around the NHL and on the lockout, check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Lockout Will Severely Hamper St. Paul Economy

For St. Paul, as in many other cities, the NHL lockout will have profound economic effects for the entire area.

These effects will go well beyond players simply not getting paid, as Rochelle Olson points out. For starters, there are local businesses in the vicinity of the Xcel Energy Center -- bars, restaurants, parking -- that will have fewer customers now that the Minnesota Wild's 41 home games are in jeopardy.

As a result, the city of St. Paul can expect less revenue from sales tax. Not to mention, the stadium employs over 500 locals who are currently not getting paid.

Training camp is scheduled to start next week, with the first Wild home game coming on Oct. 13. But no one knows how long the lockout could last.

City officials have estimated that in 2004-2005, the NHL lockout -- which lasted all season -- cost St. Paul $60 million.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. For hockey news from around the league, be sure to visit SB Nation's NHL hub.

Minnesota Wild Will Pay Interest On Season Tickets During Lockout

With the NHL lockout officially underway, the Minnesota Wild are taking measures to ensure that they don't lose their fans. The Wild announced Monday that they will not only credit season ticket holders for the ticket value of missed games, they will also pay 10 percent interest on the value of the tickets. The Wild have extended the same offer to their fans who have purchased parking passes, reports Ben Goessling of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The Wild had a disappointing 2011-12 season, finishing with 81 points, fourth-worst in the Western Conference, and fan support had dwindled to 12,000 season ticket holders. However, ticket sales for the Wild picked up following the offseason acquisitions of free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Approximately 4,000 new season tickets had already been sold this summer in anticipation of seeing the new stars on the ice. The Wild were scheduled to begin selling single-game tickets on Sept. 22 before the lockout became official.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. For hockey news from around the league, be sure to visit SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Minnesota Wild Publish Letter To Fans

With the NHL owners officially locking out the players for the second time in less than 10 years, the Minnesota Wild have published a letter to fans, asking for continued support. Here is the letter, via K-Fan 100.3 in Minnesota:

After a very exciting summer, we have been overwhelmed by the tremendous support the State of Hockey has shown our organization. We are as anxious as our fans to see our new team take the ice!

We appreciate the continued support of our fans, business partners, community partners and employees as we work through the challenges caused by the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and potential delay in the start of this most promising season.

At the same time, we support the League's position and trust our NHL negotiating team is looking out for the long-term interests of the game. Even as NHL games may be missed, the Wild will continue to support the great sport of hockey at all levels through our grass roots partnerships with amateur hockey associations.

To our Season ticket holders: you will receive further information from us tomorrow morning regarding your account.

Our fans are the best in the NHL, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild had one of the busiest offseasons in the league and had fans excited for the upcoming season because of those moves.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Lockout Imminent

No formal labor talks between the NHL and the Players' Association were scheduled Saturday, so the league's second lockout in less than 10 years and the third NHL lockout since 1995.

The two sides met today, but talks were not formal, according to the L.A. Times:

Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, met Saturday with Steve Fehr, special counsel for the NHL Players’ Assn., but Daly said afterward they had made no progress toward resolving their dispute.

"We had a nice lunch," Daly said. "At this point, we are obviously far apart on so many important issues, it’s not possible to bridge any gap before a lockout. It’s a shame."

Their conversation, he said, was "nothing new that couldn’t have been talked about last winter." Fehr, brother of NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, said in a statement that the NHL rebuffed the union’s suggestion that they negotiate on Saturday.

The Minnesota Wild reported earlier this week that they were finished with all of their pre-lockout transactions.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Quebec Labour Board To Call Hearing On Lockout Legality

The NHLPA is challenging the legality of a potential lockout in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Alberta, and on Friday the Quebec Labour Board announced that a full hearing must be held to determine whether the NHL will be allowed to lock its players out in Canada.

The NHLPA's argument is that the union isn't certified in those two provinces, making it impossible for the players to strike and thus impossible for them to be locked out. If the board sides with the NHLPA, the Montreal Canadiens will be forced to pay their players through the lockout. Of course, the NHLPA is hoping that such a ruling would prevent a league-wide lockout altogether.

The NHLPA is still pursuing a potentially similar ruling in Alberta, though there has been no word if they will also try the same tactic in provinces such as Ontario or Manitoba.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Minnesota Wild Done With Pre-Lockout Transactions

Most NHL fans are preparing for a lockout scenario once the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHLPA expires on Sept. 15, and the Minnesota Wild have made their preparations to fill out the minor league roster in case a lockout suspends all transactions in the near future. The Wild reportedly placed five players on waivers -- forwards Jarod Palmer and Carson McMillan and defensemen Brian Connolly, Drew Bagnall and Chay Genoway -- with the hopes that each one clears waivers and can then be assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Houston.

The signs from all parties involved in the current CBA negotiations have been uninspiring, and the recent set of moves from the Wild certainly signals that preparations are being made for the worst-case scenario where the NHL is forced to suspend play for some amount of time during the upcoming season.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Players Willing To Sit Out Season If No Deal By Thanksgiving, According To Report

An NHL lockout is likely going to be put in place this weekend and unfortunately, it doesn't seem as though any end is in sight. Even worse? If the CBA negotiations aren't settled by Thanksgiving, it sounds as though there won't be a 2012-13 season in the NHL.

The NHL lockout will begin in earnest on Saturday night if the owners and players are unable to reach an agreement -- and the chances of an agreement before then seem to be slim to none. What's worse, however, is that Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press is reporting that the players would likely sit out the entire season if there isn't an agreement by Thanksgiving:

While it's a foregone conclusion that the NHL's labor agreement will expire Saturday without a new deal, people in the know say the players association wants a new deal before Thanksgiving. If not, it's willing to sit out the entire season.

Also, if there isn't a new labor contract by Thanksgiving, don't be surprised if players refuse to participate in the NHL's Winter Classic popular outdoor game scheduled for Jan. 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The game is to be televised on NBC.

Hopefully this is settled sooner rather than later, but it doesn't sound like that'll be the case.

Stick with this StoryStream for more updates on the CBA negotiations. For complete NHL coverage, visit SB Nation's hockey hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Taking Your Ball and Going Home

The NHL and NHLPA are done talking. The lockout goes into place tomorrow. Find a new hobby, hockey fans. This is going to get ugly.

NHL CBA Negotiations Moving Forward Slowly

The NHL and the NHL Players Association are making progress in working towards a new collective bargaining agreement, but that progress is slow and still hasn't addressed key questions, reports the Pioneer Press. The two sides have come to an agreement on what constitutes hockey-related revenue, but as of Wednesday they had not yet settled how to split that revenue.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear their offer to the players was of a limited nature, and if the NHLPA did not agree to it before the Sept. 15 lockout deadline it would be off the table. Though no meetings were officially scheduled on Wednesday, the two sides did expect to meet sometime Thursday to continue discussions.

The owners and the NHLPA have traded a new round of offers related to the revenue split, but sources on both sides weren't impressed with the other. Bettman said the players' offer wasn't much different from ones they made earlier, and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr made it clear he felt the owners' proposal was unfair to the players:

"If you look at what happened in all the cap sports ... it doesn't matter what the sport is, and it doesn't matter what the claimed economics are, the proposal is always the same: it is always players will take a lot less money, and if not we will lock you out. It's regrettable, but that is the world we seem to live in."

In the expiring CBA, players were entitled to 57 percent of hockey related revenues. New proposals from the NHL have ranged from 43 to 46 percent.

Stick with this StoryStream for more updates on the CBA negotiations. For complete NHL coverage, visit SB Nation's hockey hub.

Minnesota Wild Expected To Be Busy Leading To NHL Lockout

The Minnesota Wild are expected to make a number of moves in anticipation of the NHL lockout, according to Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune. The lockout is expected to begin at 11:00 p.m. CT Saturday, barring a late agreement between the NHL and NHLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Most of the moves are designed to get young players onto the roster of the Houston Aeros, a Minnesota minor-league affiliate. As Russo states, all players signed to introductory contracts but two are set for Houston, and a number of other players may be put on waivers so that they can be sent to the minor-league club. This would allow players to get valuable playing time while keeping them eligible to return to the NHL club when the sesaon is over.

Further, winger Nick Palmieri has not signed a contract with the club, and remains a free agent. The team still retains his rights.

Negotiations continue between the players' association and league this week, with Wednesday's negotiations breaking with the NHLPA reviewing a new offer from the commissioner.

For further information on the Wild, visit Hockey Wilderness. For all the news on the NHL lockout, go to SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations To Continue Wednesday

With time running out before the implementation of a lockout, NHL owners and the NHL Players Association will meet in New York on Wednesday in hopes of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement, as Ben Goessling of the Pioneer Press reports.

The collective bargaining agreement currently in place expires on Saturday, so the two sides have until then to try to reach an agreement. Otherwise, owners have already stated that they will officially lock out players by 11 p.m. on Saturday.

At the moment, the NHLPA is trying to argue in Canadian courts that an implemented lockout by the NHL would violate labor laws in the provinces of Quebec and Alberta, where the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers play.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Lockout Looming, But Wild Players Already In Town

The NHL still does not have a new CBA in place, but that hasn't stopped several Minnesota Wild players from arriving in town in advance of the scheduled opening of training camp. The early arrivals include Zach Parise, Matt Cullen, Cal Clutterbuck, Josh Harding, Stephane Veilleux, Jake Dowell, Jonas Brodin, Johan Larsson and Jason Zucker. The group has been skating at the St. Louis Park Rec Center for the last several days.

The NHL and NHLPA are going to spend Wednesday and Thursday meeting in New York, and many players will also be gathering there for an NHLPA meeting in which they plan for a potential lockout.

Mat Cullen had the following to say via the Pioneer Press:

I just don’t really feel like the optimism has died. We’re still over a week out from camp starting. I think once you get close to camp, then the real stuff starts, the real negotiations start. Everybody right now is posturing. As we get closer to some real deadlines, hopefully things will start to get done. As soon as there’s a deadline in there anywhere, that’s when people start coming to the table to talk. I think that this deal will get done. I don’t feel there’s a reason for things to be so far apart. I think we’re really close to being in the same ballpark. I feel like it’ll happen fast.

The NHLPA has began its legal fight with the league, having challenged the NHL's potential lockout in several Canadian provinces where they are not a recognized union.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Lockout Could Possibly Be Prevented In Some Canadian Provinces

The NHL is poised to lock out its players starting on Sept. 15, but those signed to some Canadian clubs may not feel the brunt of the league's wrath. The NHLPA is planning to challenge the lockout in front of labor boards in both Quebec and Alberta, and if successful, the NHL teams based in those provinces will be forced to pay players throughout the lockout. The affected franchises would be the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens.

Labor law in Canada in provincial, and there's been no word if challenges will be made in Ontario (where the Toronto Maple Leafs are based) or Manitoba (Winnipeg Jets). The challenges in Quebec and Alberta will argue that the players union isn't certified in those provinces, making it impossible for the players to strike and in turn making it impossible for them to be locked out.

A meeting in front of the Alberta board was cancelled on Monday night when the NHL withdrew. If the lockout commences, it will be the league's fourth work stoppage since 1992.

For more on the lockout, stick with SB Nation Minnesota or head over to SB Nation's NHL news hub.

NHL Lockout Hard To Avoid, Wild Player Says

Minnesota Wild center Matt Cullen expressed some cautious optimism Tuesday that the NHL and the NHLPA will come to an agreement without a lockout that lasts another whole season. Though the lockout would officially begin midnight Saturday, Cullen said that with camps and the season beginning - the "real" deadlines - might bring more serious proposals to the table:

"As soon as there’s a deadline in there anywhere, that's when people start coming to the table to talk. I think that this deal will get done. I don’t feel there’s a reason for things to be so far apart. I think we’re really close to being in the same ballpark. I feel like it’ll happen fast."

Cullen's comments come as over 280 players travel to New York City for two days of NHLPA meetings with union head Donald Fehr. Four players from the Wild are attending the meetings.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Minnesota Wild Owner, Players Make Trip For CBA Negotiations

The NHL and the Players' Association are in dangerous territory right now. With a Sept. 15 deadline approaching, the NHL could lock its players out if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached. As such, the two sides will be meeting throughout the week to try and get closer on some of the issues that have them so far apart.

Darren Wolfson reports via Twitter that the Minnesota Wild will have four players at Wednesday's labor meeting in New York.

Put on my #NHL reporting hat just now. Had a chat w/ #MNWild coach Mike Yeo. The Wild will have 4 players at tomorrow's labor meeting in NY.

— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) September 11, 2012

He also reports that majority owner Craig Leipold will be in attendance. It's unclear at this point whether either side expects something to get done prior to the deadline, let alone on Wednesday, but it's good that they're meeting up.And it's good that the Wild appear to have solid representation. Teams vary in their representation around the league, but four seems like a good number of players to be around for the Wild.

For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Lockout Would Put End To Wild Promotions

If the NHL and the Players' Association can't come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, it's likely that the league will lock out its players. This will mean an awful lot of bad things, but the worst of which is that an NHL season would be unlikely in 2012. But there's also some other consequences that are a bit overlooked.

According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, it would also mean that teams have to stop running any promotions that feature players or the likenesses of players. This includes the Minnesota Wild's "Becoming Wild," which airs on Fox Sports North. If you're unfamiliar with that show, it's an HBO 24/7-like look at various personalities on the Wild's team.

That means "Becoming Wild," which the Wild is using to show off the personalities of its players in part because of its desire to be awarded a Winter Classic, will have to cease being televised on Fox Sports North. The remaining shows are supposed to be behind-the-scenes with Tom Gilbert, Niklas Backstrom, Dany Heatley and Mikko Koivu.

The first episode of the show aired on Thursday, and featured Cal Clutterbuck. It would be counted as a way for the team to market the franchise using the players' likenesses, which is why it has to come off the air. This also includes things like Twitter promotions and photo galleries. On Thursday, there will be an episode on Kyle Brodziak, so if you are interested, best to catch it then as it could go off the air on Saturday.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Zenon Konopka Present At Friday's Informal Meetings

Representatives for the NHL and NHLPA met informally on Friday night to discuss the league's CBA, which expires on Sept. 15. Minnesota Wild center Zenon Konopka attended the meetings, which he said were for "educational purposes."

"We're getting down to the nitty gritty here, and we're trying to understand the league's proposal to the best of our ability and we're trying to explain ours to them. We're trying to find some common ground and something to build off.

"It's a good sign that we're sitting down in the same room. That can be taken as a positive, I guess. We, as players, are trying to do everything we can to get a deal done."

(via TwinCities.com)

If the two sides don't reach an agreement by Sept. 15, the league will lock the players out for the second time in a decade. No progress was reported to have been made at Friday night's meeting.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

NHL Lockout Would Still Allow Wild Players To Play In AHL

The NHL and the NHLPA have been struggling to agree to terms on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement to avoid a lockout scenario -- the current CBA is set to expire on Sept. 15 -- but the Minnesota Wild are planning to place young prospects into the minor league system with Houston Aeros (the team's AHL-affiliate) regardless of what happens. Which players will likely be headed to Houston? Ben Goessling of the Pioneer Press lays out the timeline for decisions:

Teams have to send players to the AHL by Sept. 15, so the Wild could make a handful of moves late next week. One player who wouldn't be heading to Houston is 2012 first-round draft pick Matt Dumba; the defenseman is still eligible to play in the Canadian Hockey League, so he would return to his junior team, the Red Deer Rebels, rather than starting his pro career.

Former first-round picks like Finnish forward Mikael Granlund and Swedish defenseman Jonas Brodin could return to play overseas during a lockout, so those are some other options that the Wild can explore.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations Likely To Resume Soon

The NHL and the NHLPA may enter into another round of negotiations soon.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Wild Coach Worried, Disappointed By Labor Issues

With a NHL lockout looming Sept. 15 if no new collective bargaining agreement is reached between the owners and players by then, Minnesota Wild coach Mike Yeo recently discussed his frustrations with the impasse with Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

"I'm doing my best to just put all that stuff aside," Yeo said. "If they get things worked out and we have training camp, I don't want to be caught saying, 'Oh boy, I thought there was going to be a lockout.'

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit worried. With the expectations that we have, with the excitement that we have coming out of this summer [in which the Wild signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter] ... it would definitely be disappointing."

Parise noted in the article that although he hasn't explored opportunities to play in foreign professional leagues if the NHL season is threatened, he could soon start exploring those options.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

NHL Lockout Would Mean Wild Prospect Mikael Granlund Plays In AHL, Not Finland

Minnesota Wild prospect Mikael Granlund to play in AHL rather than return to Europe in case of NHL lockout.

NHL Labor Negotiations: Zach Parise Thought First Proposal Was A Joke

Minnesota Wild winger Zach Parise displayed some major displeasure with the NHL's recent collective bargaining negotiations with the players union on Wednesday, as Michael Russo of the Star Tribune writes. Players are being asked to return a significant amount of guaranteed money to owners, otherwise a lockout will be put into effect.

While Parise insisted that he's optimistic about a deal getting done, he was adamant that the league's recent proposal is unacceptable:

I thought the first proposal was embarrassing. Embarrassing. If you look at it in the long run, in my opinion, it was a quick fix for [the owners], but I feel seven years down the road, it’s not addressing the problem and we’re going to be in the exact same spot where we are now. I could go on for a long time, but I thought it was a joke.

Parise became one of the league's highest-paid players when he signed with Minnesota in July for $98 million over 13 years, but the league appears to be pushing for ways that will allow for owners to recoup money that's already been contractually committed to players.

Considering that the players likely don't want to give back a significant portion of money that was already guaranteed to them in the past by owners, this will be an interesting situation to follow going forward.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Minnesota Wild Willing To Wait

The 13-year, $98 million contracts signed this offseason by newly minted Minnesota Wild teammates Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are being pointed to by the league's owners as the exact type of contracts that need to be eradicated from the spot as a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated. But for his part, Parise, like most players in the NHL, is in no rush to give into the owners.

"I think the '04-'05 season is still pretty fresh in everyone's minds, and now we find ourselves in the same position," Parise said after a workout in St. Louis Park on Tuesday, Aug. 26. "It's not good for the game. It's not good for anyone. We're ready to play. We want to play. But (NHL commissioner) Gary (Bettman)'s pretty adamant about his third lockout of his tenure."

(via TwinCities.com)

The owners will lock the players out beginning on Sept. 15 if the two sides can't hammer out an agreement.

For more on the Wild, check out Hockey Wilderness or stick with SB Nation Minnesota. For more news, notes and analysis from around the NHL, head over to SB nation's hockey news hub.

Inside The NHL Owners' CBA Strategy Meetings

Like anyone else, we don't know what goes on in the NHL owners' strategy meetings for the CBA negotiations. But that doesn't mean we can't make it up.

Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise Says Players 'Want To Play'

New Minnesota Wild star Zach Parise spoke to the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Tuesday about the possibility of a NHL lockout beginning when the current collective bargaining agreement ends on Sept. 15, 2012. Parise sounds rather unhappy with the looming work stoppage:

"I think the '04-'05 season is still pretty fresh in everyone's minds, and now we find ourselves in the same position," Parise said after a workout in St. Louis Park on Tuesday, Aug. 26. "It's not good for the game. It's not good for anyone. We're ready to play. We want to play. But (NHL commissioner) Gary (Bettman)'s pretty adamant about his third lockout of his tenure."

Parise, a former star with the New Jersey Devils, signed a 13-year, $98 million deal on July 4, the same day that the Wild also signed ex-Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter to an identical contract. The Wild have sold more than 4,000 season tickets since signing the duo to long-term deals.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota and Hockey Wilderness, or stop bySB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Lockout Looking Likely After Week Of Failed Meetings

The NHL appears to be headed for another lockout, as a session between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association reportedly ended quickly Thursday morning with no progress made. The Associated Press reports that the main issue between the two sides is simply a belief by the league owners that they are paying too much money for player salaries, while the players' union is arguing that without the players, the league cannot exist:

"We believe we're paying out more than we should be," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's as simple as that."

...

"From the players' standpoint, they want a fair agreement, they want one that is equitable, they want one that recognizes their contribution," Fehr said.

Neither side has been able to get past those initial demands in negotiations, despite reports that during Wednesday's meetings, the room was cleared of everyone except for NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Players' Union heads Donald and Steve Fehr. The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire Sept. 15. The NHL lost the entire 2004-05 season to a lockout.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota, Hockey Wilderness, or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL Labor Talks Canceled Wednesday, According To Report

After a morning meeting to discuss the status of negotiations, representatives of the NHL and players' union canceled Wednesday's scheduled negotiations, according to an Associated Press report. Talks will resume again Thursday. No explanation was given as to why the scheduled negotiations were called off.

"This is one of the normal things that happen," [NHL players' union representative] Donald Fehr said. "Sometimes you schedule things and they don't come off. Sometimes you don't schedule things and you end up with much longer or more involved meetings. Sometimes you change the format. This is an ordinary part of the process."

The parties now have less than a month to come to an agreement before the current collective bargaining agreement expires on September 15. Reports indicate the parties remain far from a compromise. The NHL continues to push for an across-the-board reduction in player salaries and a cap on the terms of player contracts, proposals the NHLPA has rejected as too detrimental to players.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota, Hockey Wilderness, or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL Labor Negotiations Continue On Wednesday

Labor talks between the NHL and the players union are set to begin again this week with time running out before a potential lockout is put into place, as the AP reports via the Pioneer Press.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman are scheduled to meet for negotiations at the union's headquarters in Toronto on Wednesday. It's the first time that the two sides will convene after negotiations seemingly hit a major snag last week.

Both sides are still talking like a deal can be reached early enough for the regular season to begin on time, but there's general pessimism in other circles that such a situation will occur. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 15, and the NHL has already told players that a lockout will be put in place if a new CBA isn't agreed to by then.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota, Hockey Wilderness, or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL CBA Negotiations: 'We Want To Play Hockey,' Says Minnesota Wild Rep

Even with the NHL collective bargaining agreement less than a month away from expiring and a lockout seeming eminent, Minnesota Wild player representative Darroll Powe isn't lacking for optimism. He says he's trying to remain optimistic about a deal getting done.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that a large gap remains between the players and owners. That's after the players presented a counter-proposal on Tuesday that included an owner-friendly salary cap. Powe just seems to be glad that discussions haven't shut down at this point.

"Obviously, there are differences in what both sides believe," he said, according to the Pioneer Press, "but there is still time. We're trying to listen to what the other side is saying."

Well, for the second time in eight years, players are being asked to take a pay cut, just like in the other major lockouts we've witnessed in the past year or so.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota, Hockey Wilderness, or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

An NHL CBA Open Letter: Gary Bettman, Fix This Or I Won't Come Back Until Five Minutes After The Season Starts

We'll make threats, Mr. Bettman. And we should be able to follow through on those threats for maybe, total, a half-hour.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Response from NHL Makes a Deal Sound Unlikely

The NHLPA has presented their response to the NHL's proposal given in mid-July. The CBA situation was detailed earlier here at SB Nation Minnesota, and with the PA's response, it seemed the negotiation process was set to begin and a deal was inevitable. That is until every hockey fans favorite villain, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman exchanged barbs in the media with PA Director Donald Fehr. The exchange played out on Twitter accounts for media covering the respective press conferences, as was written over at Hockey Wilderness. Keep in mind, these quotes come from completely separate press conferences with neither having heard the quotes from the other. The key quotes to keep at the top of your mind going forward are: From Fehr:

Don Fehr's closing point to the media was players gave up a lot last time and aren't prepared to do so again.

From Bettman:

'the sides are far apart and have different views of the world'

Bettman also went on to draw parallels to the labor strife in the NFL and NBA. Interesting to note that both organizations lost or nearly lost playing time because of the labor conflict. This should not be a welcome sound to those hoping to see something done quickly in the NHL. The owners want huge concessions from the players, and the players sound like they are willing to go to the mat to prevent that from happening. We have gone from a labor negotiation to a game of chicken, with the fans caught in the middle once again. For what it's worth, the PA has a strong lead in the PR department, which likely leaves them with a handful of defective magic beans at the negotiating table. For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota, Hockey Wilderness, or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL Players Proposal Could Lead To Smoother CBA Negotiations

The NHL Players' Association has a proposal on the table that could push collective bargaining agreement negotiations in the right direction, with the players facing a lockout on Sept. 15.

With revenue sharing the sticking point in negotiations, the players union is willing to take less revenue over a three-year period in exchange for other concessions, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, yes, that Donald Fehr from the baseball strike days, joined players in a meeting with owners and league representatives Tuesday. While this new proposal provides hope for a solution before the imposed deadline, everyone hopes to avoid another players strike like the one that occurred eight years ago severely damaged the NHL's credibility and impacted its ticket sales for games.

The players are willing to take more than a 10 percent reduction in revenue sharing from last season to this season and the two afterward. The Star Tribune report said that while all NHL players are invited to take part in the process, no Minnesota Wild player has joined in.

For more on the progress of the talks, continue to visit SB Nation Minnesota or stop by SB Nation's dedicated NHL hub.

NHL CBA: Players Expected To Make New Proposal Tuesday

The NHL and the NHL Players' Association are trying to avoid a lockout. On Tuesday, the players are expected to respond to the owners' collective bargaining agreement proposal with one of their own.

NHL CBA Negotiations: Just Over A Month Until Labor Agreement Armageddon

The NHL is pushing a deadline to get a CBA in place to keep games being played. Right now, those negotiations do not appear to be going well. Where are we, and what is going on?