Fehr says players waiting for league to resume talks

TORONTO — Donald Fehr and the players' association are ready to get back to the bargaining table at any moment. They are now just waiting for the NHL to feel the same way.

(We aren't talking) because the owners have not indicated a desire to resume, the NHLPA's executive director said Wednesday night before a charity hockey game. We've indicated any number of times that we're willing to resume when they are (and) we're willing to resume without preconditions.

So we're waiting to hear back from them.

The sides haven't negotiated with one another since Dec. 6 in New York, when talks broke down. They also met with a U.S. federal mediator for two days in New Jersey last week and reported no progress. Since then, there has been only limited contact between the sides, including a brief email exchange on Wednesday.

The NHL believes that negotiations should resume only when there is something new to say.