Gary Bettman of the NHL and Rene Fasel of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will meet at the Junior World Championships.
Fasel has reiterated his position that the Olympic tournament will remain open until the last minute to accommodate NHL players, should the lock-out by the owners be settled, reports aroundtherings.com.
The NHL has cancelled more than 550 games since the lockout began in September and the remainder of the season appears to be at risk.
Fasel and the IIHF are devising a plan for countries taking part in the Turin Olympics to name rosters that would give them the flexibility to pick teams drawn from the NHL or from other leagues, enabling them to adjust their rosters to the NHL situation.
There is a likelihood that even if the NHL resolves its labour dispute in time for the 2005-2006 season, the league will not take an Olympic break for Turin, as it has for the 1998 and 2002 Games.
