The NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s hopes of federal mediation helping solve the lockout didn’t work. As Michael Russo of the Star Tribune put it, it was a “complete and utter failure.”
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly issued a statement, saying the mediators found that both sides remain far apart, “and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time.”
The lack of progress prompted NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to suggest that the owners and players meet face-to-face — and only the owners and players. The idea would remove Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, and employees working for them.
