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Donald Fehr says NHLPA, league are $182 million apart on five-year deal

The NHL and its players association have reportedly made progress toward ending the league's 67-day lockout during their meetings in New York on Wednesday.

The NHLPA proposed a five-year deal that would set Dec. 1 as the start date to a 68-game season, according to The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle. NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr estimated that there is a $182 million gap between the players' latest offer and the NHL's last offer.

An integral part of the players’ proposal is $391-million in “make whole” money over the five years, which is substantially more than the $211-million the owners last had on the table but less than the $592-million the NHLPA had previously asked for.

Included was a proposal by the union on eliminating heavily front-loaded contracts, the only element of contract rights the NHLPA included in its offer.

Fehr also said the players’ proposal for the first time deals in percentages as opposed to a guaranteed share.

“About as good as we can do,” Fehr told reporters in attendance.

The decision in now in the league's hands, and its response is expected to come at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun tweeted the following quote from Rangers star Brad Richards.

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/271303523734519808

https://twitter.com/Real_ESPNLeBrun/status/271303606823682049

The Globe and Mail provided full details of the proposal. Several reporters, including CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio, raised doubts about the accuracy of Fehr's estimate.