Get Set for the Lockout: NHL Labor Talks Turn Nasty

Hopes that the 2004-05 NHL season might start on time took a serious blow today. League officials emerged from two days of bargaining with the NHL Players' Association and turned up the hostile rhetoric.

"We are very frustrated and concerned over where we are in this process. The Union is engaged in a charade," says a statement released by the league.

"It is clear to us that Union leadership has no interest in negotiating or making a deal to save the start of the season. Union leadership is stalling, doing everything in its power to ensure this collective bargaining negotiation is not resolved in a timely manner."

The NHLPA sees it differently. "It's been healthy dialogue, it's a process we started at the last meeting, really to start reviewing the business operations and management of the 30 teams,'' Ted Saskin, the NHLPA's senior director told reporters after today's meeting.

NHL Collective Bargaining Basics: If all the numbers and the jargon leave you bewildered, try About Ice Hockey's quick and easy explanation of the main issues seperating the NHL and its Players' Association. Read more...