NHL owners and players exchange offers, mediators may enter process

The NHL lockout entered its 82nd day on Thursday, and long meetings between the two sides continue to yield no results. The league and players’ association met on Tuesday and then again for 9 hours on Wednesday to try to come to terms on a new CBA. Third-party mediators may enter the negotiation process, reports the Sports Business Journal’s Liz Mullen via Twitter:

Source: There is a chance mediators will re-enter talks to end the #NHL lockout. Players suggested mediators be brought back in. #NHL—
Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen) December 06, 2012

The union said it would consider a 10-year agreement, something that had been discussed earlier, despite the fact that they do not want to go past six years. (The last CBA was a seven-year deal.)

The two sides will reportedly resume talks on Thursday afternoon, and outsiders have expressed optimism about the prospects of getting a deal done:

The NHL and NHLPA have been in contact. They're tentatively scheduled to return to the bargaining table this afternoon.—
Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) December 06, 2012

Observation of the CBA process: they've come too far to not get a deal done.That said, I'm not on the ground there to hear what's being said—
  (@JoshuaCooper) December 06, 2012

Player sources say they're determined to continue to negotiate for what's right. But there will be a deal and a season.—
Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL) December 06, 2012

Games through Dec. 14 along with the Winter Classic and All-Star game have already been cancelled.