NHL cancels remaining preseason games

The National Hockey League has canceled the remainder of its preseason games, citing the lack of a contract with its locked out players, the league announced Thursday.

The league last week had canceled games through Sunday, but because there is "the absence of a collective bargaining agreement between the NHL Players' Association and the NHL," the entire preseason was wiped out.

Media reports say the two sides will resume contract negotiations on Friday, the first time in two weeks that representatives for the NHL and the players have met formally. The New York Daily News reported that meetings will be held through Sunday.

The last time the NHL canceled preseason games was in 2004, which preceded a yearlong lockout of the players by the owners.

The regular season is scheduled to begin October 11.