via the CP at TSN,

Steve Fehr says he believes the NHL's labour deal can be wrapped up quite quickly once the sides make a breakthrough in negotiations.

Speaking at the Prime Time Sports Management Conference, the special counsel to the NHL Players' Association says three issues remain to be solved: the split of money, player contract rules and who pays for the damage caused by the lockout.

"One thing Bill Daly and I agree on," he said at the conference. "When the moment is right, a deal will be done very quickly."

Fehr added that the NHLPA is open to mediation in the negotiations, an option he believes the NHL is not prepared to take. "My impression is the league isn't terribly interested it," he said.