Representatives met again this afternoon in ongoing negotiations between the NHL and NHLPA over the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Executive Director of the NHLPA, Donald Fehr, said in a press conference Wednesday following the last of these meetings that the NHLPA was in progress of drafting a new counterproposal for the NHL following the most recent of proposals from the owners on Tuesday, and expected to present a new proposal to by this afternoon.

In this very brief and stomach sinking post by nhl.com, it appears things are not looking good:

“After meeting for a little less than two hours Friday, representatives from the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association adjourned the meeting at the League office.

There are no further formal negotiations scheduled. However, both sides have said negotiations could be restarted at any time.

The sides, meeting for the third time in four days, are working toward a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The current CBA expires Sept. 15 and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the League will not play the 2012-13 season under the expiring CBA.”

The parts of this post that are upsetting:

– “There are no further formal negotiations scheduled.”  My thoughts, the NHLPA either did not have a response counterproposal ready for the NHL today and feels they need more time to draft a solid response, or they did in fact have a response, and the NHL did not like it so much that we’ve actually taken steps backwards into the two groups feeling the need to step back from the meeting room table and rally before another round.  Not promising in my eyes.

– “NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the League will not play the 2012-13 season under the expiring CBA.”  My thoughts, the word that no one wants to hear… lockout.  It’s a horrible thought, but I have to control the fan side of me that could weep at the idea of an October without hockey, and remember the NHLPA is doing it’s best to represent the union’s interests.

There are only fifteen days left between now, and the expiration date of the current CBA.  Two weeks, and the top guys from the NHL and NHLPA don’t find it productive to spend more than two hours in the same room with each other.  That’s not good news.

Hope to hear more soon.