61.   The two sides appeared ready to compromise on rookie salary cap and free agency issues following six hours of talks Monday, The Canadian Press reported.

62.   The two sides have not met jointly since Thursday, when the players made a new offer that included a form of a rookie salary cap.

63.   While movement has taken place in the areas of the rookie salary cap, salary arbitration and free agency, the tax remains the main stumbling block.

64.   The deal would feature a rookie salary cap and limit rookie contracts to three years, after which a player would become an unrestricted free agent.

65.   The four major issues involved are revenue sharing to help small-market teams, a rookie salary cap, salary arbitration and free agency.

66.   The new agreement includes an expansion of the salary cap, a rookie salary cap and redcued limits to free agency.

67.   The marathon session was reported to have bridged what had been significant gaps in the arbitration, rookie cap and reopener issues.

68.   The proposed deal also includes a rookie salary cap, but it will increase average salaries over time and does away with restrictions on free agency.