NHL owners, players to meet face-to-face

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After a few days of mulling over NHL commissioner Gary Bettmans suggestion of a meeting with no league or NHLPA top brass, the players association has agreed to it.

Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews and Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will be among the players meeting with owners in New York today, Day 80 of the NHL lockout. Bettman first suggested the meeting, which will not include him nor NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, on Thursday after sessions with a federal mediator stalled. Toews confirmed yesterday he will be in New York for the meeting.

We expect the following NHL owners to attend: Ron Burkle (Pittsburgh Penguins), Mark Chipman (Winnipeg Jets), Murray Edwards (Calgary Flames), Jeremy Jacobs (Boston Bruins), Larry Tanenbaum (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Jeff Vinik (Tampa Bay Lightning), NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. We will make further details available when available and as appropriate."

While Fehr and Bettman wont be present, Fehr said in a statement, that, each side will have a limited number of staff or counsel present.

There will be owners attending this meeting who have not previously done so, which is encouraging and which we welcome, Fehrs statement continued. We hope that this meeting will be constructive and lead to a dialogue that will help us find a way to reach an agreement.

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