The termination of the 2012-13 NHL season has become a great possibility after federal mediation between the league and the player's association failed to resolve the current dispute.
The two sides met with Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services Deputy Director Scot L. Beckenbaugh and Director of Mediation Services John Sweeney for two days in Washington D.C., but with no progress arrived to the same results as in 2004.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly released a statement on NHL.com and stated that, "Today, we concluded two days of mediation with FMCS mediators and representatives of the NHL Players' Association. After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time. We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful."
NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr responded that Donald "Today, players and NHLPA staff, along with representatives of the League, concluded a second day of mediation under the auspices of the FMCS. This afternoon, the mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today. The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the League and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right."
There are no meetings scheduled and the two sides have not met without mediation since November 21 when a NHLPA proposal was shut down just moments after being presented.
The NHL has cancelled all games up to December 14 as well as the Winter Classic and All-Star Weekend.There has been a rumor of a 48 game schedule that would start in Janaury. However, with the two sides still far apart, it looks like even that schedule may not be feasible.