Lockout update: meeting on, deal off

Yesterday's reports from The Hockey News -- which said that a deal had already been agreed to -- were "entirely untrue and without foundation," according to NHL vice president Bill Daly. Still, the sides are meeting now in New York in the hopes that a thirtheenth hour deal can be reached. There is no word on who may or may not be involved at this point, though it's believed that Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux have both traveled to New York. TSN is reporting that a source close to the talks is saying the chances of a deal being brokered today are "very remote." Not quite the optimism from yesterday, but it's definitely a good sign that they're talking. Check back for more later as I'll be updating things when I can. UPDATE (4:30 pm): The meeting is over and no deal has been reached. Things appear as bleak now as they did at 1:00 Wednesday afternoon. Just three days after cancelling the 2004-2005 season, both the NHL and NHL Players' Association met in New York for 6 1/2 hours in an effort to table a new collective bargaining agreement and perhaps save the season - again. TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that no progress and no deal have materialized yet, while no further talks are scheduled at this point. A source close to the talks added that despite the presence of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, the situation was "not good".