NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL, the players' association and now even federal mediators agree on one thing: the bickering sides are nowhere near a deal that would put hockey back on the ice.

The league and the union wrapped up two days of talks on Thursday in New Jersey, with help from mediators, but moved no closer to a solution to save the hockey season that has already been delayed and shortened.

Two members from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service joined the discussions on Wednesday AND Thursday but couldn't bring the sides any closer.