After hours of tense talks, the NHL and its players finally achieved their elusive deal early Sunday morning, including a new defined benefit pension plan.

Hockey players are sticking together as a union for now and are working long and late hours with the NHL to try to reach a new collective bargaining agreement to get the game back on the ice.

The NHL says it has made a new contract offer to the players in an attempt to end the lockout and save the season.

If the NHL and the players' association are going to make a deal to save the hockey season, they are likely going to have to do it by themselves.

Both sides in the NHL labor fight seem willing to talk. The problem is neither group likes what is being said at the other end of the table.

Forget about a deal to save a full hockey season: the NHL and the players' association can't even agree to get together to talk.