NHL, players schedule talks

NEW YORK – The NHL and the players’ association will hold the next round of labor talks Thursday and Friday, several sources close to the negotiations told the Associated Press on Monday.

The first bargaining sessions since April 19 will take place in Toronto, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

The league and the union have met five times since commissioner Gary Bettman canceled the entire 2004-05 season on Feb. 16.

They have also agreed to meet twice next week and twice the following week in an attempt to reach a deal and end the lockout that began last September.