CHICAGO -- The head of the NHL players' union says negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement will begin "very quickly" -- perhaps as early as this week.
New NHL Players Association executive director Donald Fehr was in Chicago for meetings. He says negotiations will begin after Wednesday's meeting of the NHLPA's executive board.
Fehr was asked if a work stoppage was inevitable. He said nothing like that was coming from the union.
The NHL cancelled the 2004-05 season before a labour deal was reached that included a salary cap for the first time. That agreement expires on Sept. 15.
