The talks, staged at the NHL’s offices at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, were the first in three months, and have raised hopes the season can be salvaged after an 85-day and counting lock-out which has already claimed more than 380 games.
And according to reports in the US, the NHL Players’ Association put forward a document which outlined plans for a 24-percent ‘roll-back’ of salaries.
However, the league is adamant a salary cap must be introduced to protect the financial future of the league, amid rising wage bills which are forcing the league into debt.
The NHLPA says it will not agree to any salary cap - but is prepared to see its members take a pay cut in a move which, it claims, will save the league $1bn over six years. The new proposal also includes plans for a luxury tax.
NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow said: "There is still room for negotiation, but this is the basis for an agreement, this is the basis for there to be hockey this season."
More talks scheduled to take place today (Friday) have been put back until next week.
Currently arenas have been told they can book other events for up to 45-days until informed otherwise - meaning should any deal be agreed imminently, hockey is unlikely to start again until the end of January.
