Sides to meet in NHL lockout talks

Will the momentum from Saturday’s lengthy, productive talks carry into Tuesday’s negotiations between representatives of the NHL and the players union?
That’s the hope as both sides enter the 52nd day of the lockout.
Bill Daly, the NHL’s deputy commissioner, and Steve Fehr, the NHL Players’ Association’s special counsel, will meet Tuesday in New York. There’s a chance they could be joined by the big honchos – NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr, executive director of the players union.
There was guarded optimism after the sides met Saturday and discussed core economic issues. The league is believed to be considering guaranteeing the players’ contracts – without money being deferred through escrow.
The players have been vocal about their disdain for deferred payments.
The league has canceled games through Nov. 30. If a collective bargaining agreement is in place and the season starts Dec. 1, a 64-game, conference-only schedule is a possibility.