No progress for NHL, union after more talks

The NHL and NHLPA met with federal mediators for a second straight day Thursday, but the meetings apparently were unproductive again.

NEW YORK -- The NHL and the NHLPA met with federal mediators for a second consecutive day Thursday, but the meetings apparently were unproductive again.

Although the two sides reconvened following Wednesday's dispiriting session -- one which yielded no change in either side's bargaining positions -- it seems the only step forward was that both the NHL and NHLPA actually met in the same room.

There was, however, no substantial progress to report.

"Doesn't appear as if we have any (progress)," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPNNewYork.com via email.

No future meetings have been scheduled at this point, but the players had an internal executive board conference call Thursday evening.

The NHL and NHLPA plan on having a conference call Friday, sources from both sides confirm to ESPNNewYork.com.

NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr, who was joined in mediation by NHL general counsel Bob Batterman, told ESPNNewYork.com via email that he expects to speak with the league on Friday.

Whether a face-to-face meeting will follow remains to be seen.

Although mediation has failed to produce results thus far in negotiations -- Scot Beckenbaugh served as the facilitator the past two days -- it has not been ruled out as an option moving forward.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr also was involved in the day's meetings, intermittently, but no players were in attendance.

Information from ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun was used in this report.