“After spending several hours with both sides over two days, the presiding mediators concluded that the parties remained far apart, and that no progress toward a resolution could be made through further mediation at this point in time,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday in a statement. “We are disappointed that the mediation process was not successful.”

Don Fehr after yesterday’s meetings:

“The mediators informed the parties that they did not think it was productive to continue the discussions further today,” said Fehr. “The mediators indicated that they would stay in contact with the league and the NHLPA, and would call the parties back together when they thought the time was right.”