HOCKEY ON THE WIRE
Marathon session
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association returned to the bargaining table Tuesday and huddled together in an undisclosed location for more than seven hours in total.
The parties expected to hold another session Wednesday.
The meeting was held in a private setting to maximize the opportunity for progress and neither side offered much of an update once it ended.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll start bargaining and we’ll continue bargaining until we find a way to make a deal,” Donald Fehr, the NHLPA’s executive director, told reporters before talks resumed Tuesday.
The sides hadn’t held a formal meeting since Oct. 18 in Toronto, when the NHL took about 10 minutes to dismiss three proposals put forward by the union.
Cleary hopeful
As the leaders of the NHL and the NHLPA met Tuesday in a New York location, players began to express some hopefulness that a deal can be done to end the lockout.
“There’s a lot of optimism I think, for sure,” Detroit Red Wings forward Dan Cleary said. “Anytime Steve (Fehr of the NHLPA) and (NHL deputy commissioner) Bill (Daly) are saying the exact same thing, I think it’s positive.”
Cleary’s reason for optimism stems from the knowledge that the owners appear ready to honour all existing player contracts, a huge sticking point in negotiations to date.
“For sure there’s some optimism, there’s some light,” Cleary said.
Helm hurt
Red Wings centre Darren Helm won’t need surgery for his fractured cheekbone.
Helm saw a specialist after being hit by a deflected puck during an informal practice Friday at the Troy Sports Center.
“He found out he didn’t need (surgery),’’ teammate Dan Cleary told mlive.com.
“Stitches, a little swollen up, no surgery, which is great. Put a cage on, let’s go.’’
Top rookie
Erie centre Connor McDavid leads all rookies in OHL scoring with 21 points in 18 games and was added to the Team OHL roster for the 2012 Subway Super Series.
He’ll become the youngest player to compete in the 10year history of the event when he suits up against Russia Wednesday in Guelph.
“He’s a special, special player,” Otters GM Sherry Bassin told sportsnet.ca.
Back to school
Ex-Wings defenceman Jiri Fischer will visit Johnson Elementary today in Milford, Mich., as part of the Red Wings School Assembly Program.
The program will introduce 500 students to hockey through a youth street and floor hockey initiative. The Wings provide equipment and hands-on instruction and encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.