Jamal Mayers spent Wednesday's game in the press box. Mayers has only played in three of Chicago's seven games this season. When he plays, he'll average a bit more than a penalty minute per contest, but he doesn't have enough offensive upside to make him worth picking up in most leagues.

Jamal Mayers made his season debut on Thursday. Mayers spent Chicago's first three games in the press box. "Things change quickly in our business," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "What (Mayers) brings to our team is valuable. Whether he's playing or not, he's going to be an important piece of our team." Mayers only logged 6:49 minutes in Chicago's 3-2 overtime win.

Jamal Mayers thanked federal mediator Scot Beckenbaugh for all his help in putting the tentative CBA deal together. "I don't think we could've gotten the deal done, quite frankly, without him," Mayers said. "With such few major issues remaining, he was able to pull out of each side what was there and make a determination on how to proceed. His approach worked and we were able to give on some things on both sides and come to an agreement." The whole hockey world owes Beckenbaugh a huge thank you for his work.

Jamal Mayers sees the NHLPA standing it's ground on the maximum contract lengths as the players protecting their middle class. The logic is that if superstars can't get the security that comes with a long-term contract, they'll instead demand more money per season. That would leave teams with less cap room to spend on other players. Meanwhile, the NHL has insisted that this is an issue they won't cave on. All the same, Mayers thinks that the two sides are close to an agreement. "It can't be understated how close we are," Mayers said. "For the NHL to think it was take it or leave it is unrealistic."

Chicago Blackhawks forward Jamal Mayers is frustrated with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman's recommendation for a two-week moratorium in CBA talks with the NHL Players Association. "We've shown a willingness to negotiate and move and we've been willing to get to 50 percent. It's how we get there," Mayers said. "We're not accepting their current proposal on contract issues. If you've taken a look at them, some seem farfetched. We've offered a solution for back-diving contracts. We've offered quite a bit and it's unfortunate that this is the way they see it. But that's the way it is." Blackhawks player representative Steve Montador said the moratorium is "a suggestion that we follow their script." Although he added that, at the present moment, there isn't much to talk about. Asked about a potentially second canceled season, Montador said, "I don't fear we're nearing that place at all."

Jamal Mayers pointed out that even if the two sides agree on hockey-related revenues, that's not the only issue the players have with the NHL's latest offer. "There are contracting issues that haven't come off their original offer very far at all, arbitration, contract rights. They haven't even spelled out the language that HRR would be as defined as it was in the last CBA, they haven't moved much on revenue sharing. There are a lot of areas," Mayers said. The NHL and NHLPA are expected to meet on Thursday and the NHLPA might make their counter offer at that time. How different it is from the NHL's offer and how the NHL reacts to it will probably determine if an 82-game season is still viable.

Jamal Mayers thinks it would be a shame if the lockout dragged on and he remains supportive of the players' proposed CBA. "There is no way players are going to accept a rollback," Mayers said. "We've come up with a unique and out-of-the-box solution to help solve some of the small-market teams' issues. We're willing to give up over $950 million over three or four years. That's a lot of money Gary can hand out to struggling franchises. The real question that needs to be asked is, 'Are those teams that are succeeding and making a lot of money ... willing to help out the weaker teams? And why should it all come from the players?'" The two sides are expected to talk on Friday, but it probably won't be about the core economic issues. Preseason games through September have already been canceled and it seems likely that we will lose at least more preseason contests before this lockout is over.

Veteran Jamal Mayers of the Chicago Blackhawks says he will bolt to a European hockey league if players are locked out by the NHL owners this month. "I'm an older guy and I don't think it would be helpful for me to be sitting around," Mayers, 37, said. "I need to be playing (and) I want to stay ready. ... You just have to prepare and hope you're going to be playing (in Hawks) training camp, and if that doesn't happen you go to Step B."

Jamal Mayers has agreed to a one-year extension with the Chicago Blackhawks. Mayers will earn a baseline salary of $600,000, but he could get more with bonuses. He had 15 points and 91 penalty minutes in 81 games in 2011-12.

Jamal Mayers was a healthy scratch in Game 6 - the third one in a row - after missing just one tilt all season. The veteran had 15 points and 91 penalty minutes in the regular season. ''Obviously, mostly I'm mad at myself for somehow allowing that to happen,'' Mayers said. ''It's the time of the year [where] it's the reason why I signed here, so it certainly is disappointing.''