from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

Bill Daly hasn't lost hope for a resolution.

As the NHL Players' Association prepares to announce the results of its vote to dissolve Friday, the NHL's deputy commissioner told QMI Agency in a one-on-one interview Thursday he's still hopeful for a season.

QMI: You caused a stir in Canada Wednesday by saying on Hockey Night in Canada radio that 'Yes' you thought there would be a season.

DALY: "I only had two choices: Of course, I was going to answer 'Yes'. Yes, I do (have optimism). That's more my nature. I don't understand to a large extent why we're where we're at. I still think at the end of the day we should be able to get deal."

QMI: Are you concerned about the devastation of cancelling a season for the second time in eight years?

DALY: "I would clearly not understand why we would be in a position of having to cancel the season over the issues that separate us."

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