NHL owners, realizing there will be no agreement with players -- and no season -- if they insist on imposing a payroll tax, are softening their stance and are suggesting alternatives, such as taxes on free-agent signings and rookie salaries.
Those ideas were believed to have been presented to union chief Bob Goodenow yesterday at the end of a five-hour session in Boston. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday in Boston.
General manager Harry Sinden of the Boston Bruins, a pessimist throughout the process, said yesterday, "There is hope."
However, sources on both sides acknowledged that no issue has been agreed upon.
"I don't see a deal being done in a day's time," Goodenow said. "There's an awful lot of work yet to be done."
If players reject the alternative taxes, owners might still allow the season to start if the union compromises on salary arbitration and entry-level salaries and agrees to negotiate a tax by next summer.