NHL lockout begins as deadline passes
Labour stalemate between league and players could delay start to season after deadline passes with suggested last-minute talks dismissed as futile
A labour stand-off between the NHL and its players spiralled as the collective-bargaining agreement expired and league commissioner Gary Bettman locked out the players.
Bettman and the owners officially locked out the players for the second time in eight years when the current contract expired at midnight on Saturday.
No negotiations took place on Saturday and there were no further talks scheduled, raising the spectre of a possible delayed start to the season for a league whose entire 2004-2005 campaign was lost to a work stoppage.
Training camps are scheduled to open on Friday and the season is supposed to start October 11. A league spokesman had said the sides were so far apart that it would be fruitless to meet for one last time before the deadline.
"We spoke and determined there was no point in convening a formal bargaining session in light of the fact that neither side is in a position to move off of its last proposal," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.
"I'm sure we will keep in touch in the coming days and schedule meetings to the extent they might be useful or appropriate. We are sorry for where we are. Not what we hoped or expected."