TORONTO -- The two sides in the NHL labour negotiations are hoping to make some progress next week by putting the four main players in the talks in a room together.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly will sit down with players' association executive director Donald Fehr and his brother Steve Fehr, the union's No. 2 man, in a small group session Tuesday.

Economic issues will be the main topic of conversation as a wide financial gap remains between the two sides.

Bettman says no progress can be made until those "fundamental economic issues" are solved.

Fehr says he remains optimistic there is enough time if there is a "mutual will" to get a deal done before the current collective agreement expires on Sept. 15.

The league has said if there is no deal by then, the players will be locked out.

The two sides had a short meeting today in Toronto where the union expanded on its proposal as it pertains to rules governing player contracts.