The NHL's lawsuit against its players was assigned to a relatively new federal judge who is a longtime New York Yankees fan and a former federal prosecutor.
NHL players will begin voting Sunday on whether they will grant the players' association's executive board the authority to dissolve the union because of the inability to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the league.
The NHL and the players' association did all their talking at the bargaining table, far away from the public eye. With another round of talks scheduled just one day after more than seven hours of negotiations, perhaps progress is being made.
The NHL Players' Association says it hasn't seen a lawsuit reportedly filed by the parents of late enforcer Derek Boogaard seeking $9.8 million from the union.
There were no formal talks on the first day of the NHL lockout, the league's fourth shutdown since 1992. And neither the owners nor the NHLPA has committed to face-to-face negotiations to end the labor unrest.