NHL, players were close to deal

Union chief Donald Fehr is sticking to his story that a deal with the NHL to end the long lockout was close before talks suddenly broke off this week.

The NHL Players' Association executive director repeated earlier remarks that an agreement appeared to be within reach on Thursday night when the league rejected the union's latest proposal and rescinded its own.

"My comments from a couple of days ago stand on their own. I think we were very close," Fehr told reporters on Saturday - the 84th day of the lockout - after addressing a Canadian Auto Workers council meeting.

Fehr's comments run contrary to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who said angrily on Thursday he didn't think the owners and players were close to a deal and didn't know why Fehr claimed otherwise.

Fehr said he hasn't spoken directly with Bettman or deputy commissioner Bill Daly since talks crumbled, adding there has been some minor chatter between the sides, but that no future meetings have been scheduled.

"So far they have not indicated a willingness to continue discussions," Fehr said.

Daly told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Friday night he didn't have any thoughts how to restart the process.

"I have no reason, nor any intention, of reaching out to the union right now," he wrote. "I have no new ideas. Maybe they do. We are happy to listen."

Fehr declined on Saturday to comment directly on remarks by Bettman that questioned Fehr's motives for saying a deal was close, saying only he was disappointed with how things turned out. Fehr even urged those listening to his speech to deliver any suggestions on how to make a deal to him.

(China Daily 12/10/2012 page24)