The NHL preseason schedule begins Sunday with five games and they will be officiated by NHL referees with or without new collective bargaining agreement in place.
As of this moment, there is no deal in place.
In 2010, the two sides worked through the preseason before reaching a four-year deal prior to the start of the regular season.
According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, the two sides don’t anticipate a strike and expect a deal in place prior to the start of the regular season on Oct. 8.
The two sides met in August in Toronto to discuss a new CBA.
In 1993, officials went on a 17-day strike before reaching a new deal in November.