Talks stall as deadline approaches

NEW YORK -- NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says the owners and players are to blame for their failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the Saturday deadline for a work stoppage.

Daly wrote in an email to The Associated Press that he hoped both sides would meet before Saturday.

"But to this point, we have received no indication that the union has anything new to say to us. And right now, we have nothing new to say to them," he wrote Tuesday.

The NHL's labor contract expires at midnight Saturday night, and a lockout appears certain. It would be the league's fourth work stoppage since 1992.

"Ultimately, we just want to negotiate a fair deal that will give all our clubs an ability to be stable and healthy," he wrote. "We hoped [and still hope] we can do that without causing any interruption to the upcoming season. The fact that we haven't yet is extremely disappointing, and is a failure for which we both must share blame."

More than 250 players are set to attend the NHLPA meetings today and Thursday here to discuss the state of CBA negotiations.

The board of governors will meet Thursday at NHL offices here and could authorize Commissioner Gary Bettman to proceed with a lockout on Saturday if a collective bargaining agreement hasn't been reached.

Industry revenue has grown from $2.1 billion to $3.3 billion annually under the expiring deal. Owners asked players to cut their share of hockey-related revenue from 57 to 43 percent, and then modified their offer to 46 percent during a six-year proposal. Players are concerned management hasn't addressed its problems by re-examining the teams' revenue-sharing format.

Regular-season openers are to start Oct. 11.