The two sides have decided to move forward in talks in an undisclosed location.  The talks continued until 10:15 p.m. and are expected to pick up again Wednesday.  The meeting details were kept from the media, but NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr did, however, agree to address the media just prior to the meeting on Tuesday.

“The players view has always been that we ought to keep negotiating until we find a way to get an agreement,” said Fehr. “You sort of stay at it day by day — so it’s very good to be getting back to the table. We hope that this time it produces more progress that we’ve seen in the past and we can figure out a way to make an agreement and to get the game back on the ice as soon as possible.”

The meeting that went into the late hours of Tuesday night, was mainly focused on contract disputes.  Little detail was offered to the press on the talks last night, but Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly offered a short statement, “not characterize the substance or detail of the discussions until their conclusion.”

New York played host to the meeting this time around.  Meeting in a secret location could help the process, though it doesn`t guarantee a deal.  Daniel Alfredsson was mentioned among 13 members of the NHLPA in attendance.  And unlike Fehr, he doesn`t sound too optimistic.

“I just feel that where we are at this stage that there’s still just a feeling out process,” said Alfredsson. “There hasn’t really been anything going on and until we get something substantial to work on I’m not too optimistic. I’m hoping this is going to happen now, but I’m not putting any hopes into it.”

This statement shouldn`t come as a surprise to hockey fans, as negotiations have carried a relative monotone since the summer.  In fact, Alfredsson suggests the league isn`t  showing any signs of desperation to save the season.

“I feel that so far it’s going according to the plan for the NHL and I don’t feel that they’re rushed to do anything,” he said.

However, even the pessimistic hockey fan can be grateful that negotiations have at least resumed after an unbearable 19 day hiatus.  TSN`s Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie have labelled this particular undisclosed meeting as “pivitol.“

The two sides are set to resume talks Wednesday, as desperation to save the season heats up.

The Good

• Phil Kessel took his turn taking a shot at the naysayers. He’s looked great all over the ice, and tonight he was on a whole different level. There’s no denying he’s got one of the quickest releases in the game, and he loves to victimize the Sens. Kessel’s first hat trick as a Maple Leaf couldn’t have come at a better time, especially since the Leafs ended up needing all the goals they could come by. If that wasn’t enough, it seems even Ron Wilson has a new-found faith in the sniper, as he was thrown out for the final shift of the game, and did a great job of burying the puck deep in the Ottawa zone with Matthew Lombardi.
• How good has Dion Phaneuf looked? That hit on young Stefane Da Costa was a huge tone-setter, and the captain got his first assist of the year on Grabbo’s powerplay goal. (more…)