Sidney Crosby headed to NHL’S CBA talks with Bettman

(CP) — Sidney Crosby is ready for another kick at the can.

With the NHL and NHL Players’ Association scheduled to hold a unique collective bargaining session on Tuesday afternoon, the league’s most recognizable player travelled to New York to make himself available for the exclusive meeting.

Crosby has been involved throughout the negotiations and could play an important role with the leaders of both sides scheduled to sit out on Tuesday. The Penguins captain has emerged as a voice of reason during the lockout and would find himself sitting across from Pittsburgh owner Ron Burkle, among others, if the NHLPA decides to send him into the bargaining room.

It promises to be a unique setting, particularly with commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr on the sidelines. There was hope Monday that a new dynamic might pro- duce some different results in negotiations.

“Ultimately, we are just trying to find some meeting format that can gain some traction,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. There should be plenty of urgency from both sides. Players have missed four paycheques because of the lockout and the NHLPA’s executive board voted over the weekend to distribute a $10,000 stipend to each member.

Meantime, league owners will head into Wednesday’s board of governors meeting facing a potential discussion about when the latest possible date should be to reach an agreement that would save a shortened season. There is also the strong possibility of more game cancellations by the end of the week.

The NHL and NHLPA took part in two unsuccessful days of meetings with U.S. federal mediators last week before Bettman floated the idea of removing himself and Fehr from talks.