The National Hockey League and NHL Players' Association concluded a two-day negotiating session Friday, and plan to sit down again after new meetings are scheduled for next week. The two parties last met two weeks ago in Toronto during a two-day set of talks -- the first between the parties since April 19. However, according to Bill Daly, NHL executive vice president and chief legal officer, slight progress was made involving several key issues. "We had two long days of meetings in which the parties discussed and made progress on some of the key issues pertaining to a new economic system," said Daly in a statement released after Friday's meeting wrapped up. "While we have not yet been able to reach agreement on those issues, we remain committed to continuing the process in earnest until a new collective bargaining agreement can be achieved. The parties intend to stay in touch and we expect that new meetings will be scheduled for next week." Back during meetings between May 5-6, the two sides met for the first time since NHL commissioner Gary Bettman pushed aside the idea of using replacement players if there is no new collective bargaining agreement. Following a board of governors meeting on April 20, Bettman said, "We're not going to open on time if we don't have a new CBA with our players." The NHL lockout reached its 247th day on Friday.