Meet & Greet: Daly, Saskin Get Together, But Not To Bargain

NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly and NHLPA Senior Dir of Business Affairs Ted Saskin met yesterday in N.Y., but “no negotiating took place and no plans were made to meet in the future,” according to the AP’s Ira Podell. NHL VP/Media Relations Frank Brown said, “I know they were in the same place, but it was more of a conversation as opposed to a negotiation.” Daly and Saskin discussed last month’s World Cup of Hockey – a joint venture between the NHL and NHLPA — and other issues, while the ongoing labor dispute was discussed “just in a passing fashion” (AP, 10/27). A source added, “This wasn’t a bargaining session” (CP, 10/27).

CRACKING? In Calgary, Randy Sportak reports Flames D Mike Commodore said that he would “accept a salary cap to solve the NHL lockout.” Commodore said yesterday on Calgary’s Fan 960-AM, “I’ll take the slap on the wrist [for making this comment]. I don’t want to spend however long my career lasts playing here in the [AHL] ... If (a salary cap is) what it takes -– the sport has to go on -– so I’m going to say, yeah” (CALGARY HERALD, 10/28).