NEW YORK, NY (NEWS1130) – The National Hockey League and its players’ association will be back at the bargaining table in New York today, for the fourth-straight day.

Continuing talks suggest optimism, but those involved in the talks describe them as slow and laboured.

The big bosses on both sides aren’t saying much, but the buzz suggests these talks could very well determine the fate of the season.

The Hockey Hall of Fame inductions take place on Monday — honouring the likes of Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Adam Oates, and former Vancouver Canuck Pavel Bure.

However, Jim Lang with Sportsnet 590 The Fan said all of this will happen under the shadow of the lockout.

“You’re going to talk to all these gentleman and ask them about their career, playing in the NHL, ‘what’s it like to be a hall of famer, and oh by the way, what do you think of the lockout?’ To me, that’s a bit of a shame that they have to talk about the lockout when they’re trying to celebrate a combination of their life’s work,” says Lang.