The NHL is looking to see everything put in writing.
With frustration building and the lockout dragging, the league met with the NHL Players' Association on Monday night and requested that the union put all of its desires for the next collective bargaining agreement together into one complete offer.
"It's our position that we've made a couple comprehensive proposals in a row," said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. "We'd like to know where they are on all of the issues. We asked that they put together a comprehensive proposal for us to consider."
The sides have been unable to agree on proposed changes to player contract rights and how to share revenue, and will also need to sort out how they pay for the damage of a lockout. While they've exchanged ideas verbally in recent weeks, the league doesn't feel as though it has a complete picture of where the players stand.
Donald Fehr, the NHLPA's executive director, said he would take the league's request into consideration and make contact again this morning. He thinks "it's more likely than not" the sides will then meet for a second day.
However, it remains to be seen whether the union is ready to table a full proposal.
"I don't really know what to expect," said Daly. "We asked, I certainly hope it's something they'll consider."
The sides have struggled to find a way forward in negotiations. Fehr and commissioner Gary Bettman discussed the possibility of taking a break from talks last week, but Fehr thought it would be best if the sides continued to meet. It was be the first time they sat down together since Nov. 11.
The players continued to take public shots at the NHL's leadership. In an interview on TSN Radio 1050 on Monday, Florida Panthers forward Kris Versteeg suggested Bettman and Daly should be fired.
"You've got to look for the cancers and you've got to cut out the cancers," Versteeg said. "I think when you look at Bill Daly and Gary Bettman they've been looting this game for far too long."
