CSNNE- The NHL and NHLPA have patched things up and are continuing to push toward a new CBA with deadlines surrounding them.

 After two days of separate meetings with federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly made their way to the players’ New York City hotel on Saturday afternoon for the first face-to-face meeting since Thursday.

Beckenbaugh’s work on Friday and Saturday was crucial in getting the two parties close enough to get in the same room, and perhaps building some of the trust that had been frayed by a pair of misunderstandings this week.

It’s been reported that progress has been made in the area of the pension plan and the second year salary cap number, and that both sides are showing encouraging amounts of movement toward a middle ground. Former NHL defenseman Bret Hedican even tweeted on Saturday afternoon that: “Nothing official yet that I've heard, but several sources have said it's done. Let's hope this is Official!”

But several players contacted by CSNNE.com indicated that they’ve heard no official word about the lockout being over, and were skeptical about any reports saying otherwise.

Not sure what to take of this news. The two sides were very close to get a deal done last month and we all know how that ended. Now we have some sources saying that the deal is done. So I am going to take this with a grain of salt and wait for an official announcement. If the deal is done the season would start on Saturday January 19th, 2 weeks from today, meaning to get at least one week of training camp the deal would have to be made by the end of next week. As the schedule stands the Bruins would open in Montreal.  Hopefully they can get their act together and come up with a deal soon, some hockey is better than no hockey and I know Bruins fans will be excited to watch them skate again.
As always we will keep you updated when more information rises.