TORONTO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The NHL and its players union plan to meet again this week to try to settle a dispute that could force cancellation of the entire 2004-05 season.
The two sides did not say where, or what day, they would get together.
"Today, the league contacted our office to arrange for continued small group discussions," said Ted Saskin, players union senior director. "We agreed to this request."
No NHL games have been played this season. A lockout of players began in September after the two sides failed to reach agreement on a collective bargaining agreement.
The league wants a salary cap. The players have refused to accept one.
The two sides met for informal talks twice last week.
"What we'd like to do is take back what was discussed last week, including some of the things we heard from the union, incorporate them into our thinking and come up with ideas that might lead to more productive discussions this week," Bill Daily, NHL senior vice president, told the Globe and Mail in Toronto.
