Two sides talking through weekend

The NHL and NHLPA talked about the leagues latest proposalvia conference call on Saturday. And it looks like theyll at least keeptalking, if not necessarily negotiating through the weekend.The two sides will keep talking through Sunday, according tovarious reports. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Associated Pressthat there will be some more informal sessions in the morning (on Sunday).Nothing planned beyond that.Ifwhen those turn into more formal talks is unknown. Thetwo sides have plenty to talk about in terms of the leagues latest proposal, a288-page document that the NHL presented to the players association onThursday. The league is still offering the make-whole payment of 300,something it threatened to take off the table when talks stalledand got ugly in early December. The NHL did offer a few changes, including increasing aplayers maximum contract length to six years instead of the previous five,which Daly at the time called the hill we will die on. It remains seven yearsif a player re-signs with his current team. The salary variance was also raisedfrom 5 to 10 percent.The league is still looking for a 10-year collectivebargaining agreement, with the ability to opt out after eight years.The clock is ticking on saving any type of NHL season. Ifthere is one, commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear that at least 48 gamesneed to be played. Games are currently canceled through Jan. 14.