NHL lockout 2012: Bill Daly implies mid-January drop-dead date

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly stated in a radio interview on Sportsnet 590’s “Hockey Central at Noon” that the league has a drop-dead date for canceling the entirety of the 2012-13 season, sometime around mid-January.

While Daly stated that a specific date has not been chosen as of this time, he did acknowledge that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is unwilling to play a season shorter than 48 regular-season games. With all regular season games canceled through Dec. 30, Daly mentioned that additional cancellations could come before Christmas if no further progress is made in negotiations.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the two sides do not have any future negotiation meetings scheduled. Daly stated that he believes major hurdles still stand in the way of a new deal, and that there are three issues the NHL wants the players to make concessions on.

Daly specifically addressed the players’ desire to continue negotiations on compliance buyouts and a proposed cap on escrow, via Sportsnet.ca:

“They proposed compliance buyouts. They proposed a cap on escrow. Those are all money outside the system. In addition to the $300 million that we’re giving on top of the 50-50 that makes it not 50-50, they’re asking for more dollars outside of the system ... Until we settle all the financials, to suggest we have a 50-50 split is wrong and not accurate.”