Any goodwill built during an extended run of collective bargaining talks between the NHL and NHL Players' Association quickly evaporated Friday.
The sides emerged red-faced and frustrated after hitting a roadblock during their fourth consecutive day together at the bargaining table. The league and union looked to be moving slowly toward a deal after trading proposals earlier in the week, but ended up exchanging some heated words after discovering they were still about $380 million US apart on economics.
"I don't have a whole lot to tell you other than we met on a fourth consecutive day," commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We're waiting to hear from the players' association in terms of when they'll be ready for us to get back together again."
There were no further bargaining sessions scheduled, but Donald Fehr, the NHLPA's executive director, remained hopeful they would pick up talks again today.
