"The process, in our view, needs some urgency," NHL chief legal officer Bill Daly told the Associated Press on Tuesday night. "Why put meetings off another week when we should both have nothing else right now that is more important than to continue talking and trying to make a deal?"

<i><b>Editor's Note....Gee, you think? Where was that attitude 6 months ago???</i></b>

After eight hours of meetings last week and contentious comments coming from both sides, the atmosphere seemed poor. But the postponed travel wasn't necessarily a sign that an end to the impasse was near.

"The parties met today in New York City, and at the conclusion of the meeting they agreed to set aside time for additional meetings [today] and Thursday," union spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said. "The NHLPA will not comment on the status of the negotiations until after this series of meetings concludes later this week."

Originally, the sides planned to talk about a new collective bargaining agreement on Monday and Tuesday in New York, but that was cut to only Tuesday after two days of discussions last week. They had already scheduled meetings for next Wednesday and Thursday, likely in Toronto.

Bettman, Daly, Goodenow and NHLPA senior director Ted Saskin were to arrive today in Austria. Many of the players taking part in the world championships are on NHL teams, and the United States and Canada qualified for quarterfinal games that will take place Thursday.

The NHL made a new offer to the players last Thursday in Toronto, but no progress was reported by either side after talks ended Friday.

The latest proposal was spawned by a union offer April 4 that contained a hybrid concept that addressed the relationship between player salaries and league revenues. It contained an upper cap of $50 million and a floor of $30 million.

As before, the sides have not come close to an agreement on the values of the caps or how wide a range there should be between the minimums and maximums.

Phoenix

Wayne Gretzky is still in talks to become coach of the Coyotes, but no decision is close, the team said.

A report in the East Valley Tribune in Mesa, Ariz., said Gretzky and owner Steve Ellman were close to agreement on a three-year contract extension that would make Gretzky the team's new head coach. The Tribune cited NHL sources and said an announcement would be made this week.

Gretzky, the NHL's career scoring leader and the Coyotes' managing partner, is in the final year of a five-year contract with the team.

New Jersey

The Devils are optimistic that forward Patrik Elias will not have any lingering effects from a recent bout with hepatitis A.

"Our doctors have looked at all the information and believe that everything will be fine," New Jersey President Lou Lamoriello said.

Elias, 29, is believed to have contracted the illness while playing in Russia during the NHL lockout. He lost 30 pounds and was hospitalized in the Czech Republic for almost a month.