NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that collective bargaining talks with the players have been \"constructive, professional and cordial,\" but there was no announcement of a new deal ahead of the Stanley Cup Final.
\"We started a little bit later than we had anticipated for a variety of reasons on both sides, so I don\'t have an announcement to make today that we have a deal,\" Bettman said hours before Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. \"We have more than a year to go, and I think we\'re in a really good place in terms of our relationship.\"
Via espn.com