- FMCS.gov: Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen issued a statement regarding the NHL and NHLPA labor negotiations:
“I have had separate, informal discussions with the key representatives of the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association during the course of their negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement. At the invitation of the FMCS, and with the agreement of both parties, the ongoing negotiations will now be conducted under our auspices. I have assigned Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh, Director of Mediation Services John Sweeney, and Commissioner Guy Serota to serve as the mediators.”
“Due to the extreme sensitivity of these negotiations and consistent with the FMCS’s long-standing practice, the Agency will refrain from any public comment concerning the future schedule and/or the status of the negotiations until further notice.”
- Louis Jean via twitter: Talks will be on Wednesday, neither side is saying where the meeting will take place. The NHLPA can still decertify at any time as it would have no bearing on the Mediation.
- TSN Radio via twitter: Bob McKenzie said: “Last time the NHL has mediation the season was cancelled 3 days later. However the divide was larger and it was too late. While there is still a divide the 2 sides are on the same page but they need to bridge the gap. Mediation is not arbitration. The PA has been pushing more for this (mediation).”
- James Mirle via twitter: The NBA had mediation, and it didn’t accomplish much. On the positive side, there were long days of talks.
- Chris Kuc via twitter: Blackhawks Steve Montador: “There’s no power the mediators have to enforce anything, so I hope it helps to engage the NHL in negotiations.”
- Craig Custance via twitter: Cory Schneider on having a mediator: “Pretty tempered… hopefully it’ll provide some new perspective.”