Basketball: NHL and players association back to drawing table

The NHL and players association got back to the bargaining table on Tuesday, one week after trading barbs about who was to blame for the lack of progress in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

The sides met for 6[ hours before a World Cup of Hockey tournament game between the United States and Canada and are scheduled to conclude their two-day session on Wednesday.

Both the league and the union declined comment until the conclusion of the meeting, just as they did after Day 1 of a two-day session last week in Ottawa.

It was after that round of talks that the NHL claimed that the players association was stalling and wanted to force the owners to impose a lockout when the current collective bargaining agreement expires on Sept. 15.

The NHLPA denied the charge and said that the league will only accept a deal that includes a hard salary cap, a solution the players refuse to agree upon.