NHL, officials' union 'quietly' engaged in collective bargaining negotiations

As a new NHL season approaches, the league and the officials' union are working towards coming to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The union, of course, is comprised of both referees and linesmen.

The previous agreement was ratified on Oct. 4, 2010, days before the start of the regular season; officials worked the entire pre-season schedule without a contract that year.

As such, it may be a few weeks until this matter is resolved.