“After discussions with the Executive Board, the NHLPA has given consent to realignment, to be re-evaluated following the 2014-15 season,” NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said in a statement Thursday night.

Both sides confirmed to ESPN.com that the NHLPA gave its consent to play in the proposed four-division system for three seasons — through the 2015-16 season — but the union will begin to re-evaluate the system after two seasons. Therefore, no changes would be made to the system before the 2016-17 season.

All that remains now is for the NHL’s 30 owners to vote on the plan in order for it to go into effect for the 2013-14 season. A source told ESPN.com on Thursday evening that the NHL hopes to hold the board of governors vote within the next week.

“The NHL Players’ Association confirmed to us today that it has consented to a revised plan for realignment, effective for the 2013-14 season,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “Our next step will be to bring the proposed Plan for Realignment to the NHL Board of Governors for its consideration. We will update the status of the process as future developments warrant.”

The NHL sent details of its realignment plan to owners Feb. 26 after discussing it for more than three weeks with the NHLPA.

The league had hoped to get consent last week, but had to wait because the NHLPA needed more time to get feedback from its membership. All 30 team player reps held calls or had face-to-face meetings with union officials to discuss the realignment plan, and some players had reservations about unbalanced conferences, a source told ESPN.com.

The NHL’s realignment plan calls for 16 teams in the Eastern Conference next season. Columbus and Detroit would move there from the Western Conference, which would be left with 14 teams. The plan also calls for the league to go from its current six-division format to four.

The realignment plan also introduces wild-card playoff spots within the conferences.

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Discussions were scheduled for Thursday and Friday between the NHL, the NHL players’ association, and officials from the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee to see if it makes sense for North American professional hockey players to go to the Olympics for a fifth straight time.

“I don’t expect any resolution or decisions this week,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press in an email on Thursday.

The Sochi Games are one year away. While a final decision isn’t required this week, one will have to be reached in the near future.

The current discussions are being held between NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, IIHL President Rene Fasel and officials from the IOC.

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After a round of small-group meetings Wednesday morning — held mainly to discuss pension issues — the union returned to league offices shortly before 3 p.m. ET to deliver its latest proposal. It was the fourth proposal made between the two sides in the past six days.

The meeting, which included several players, lasted approximately one hour.

The two sides expect to reconvene Wednesday evening, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said. According to a source, the next meeting is set tentatively for 8 p.m. ET.

Fehr declined to comment on whether the NHLPA will file a disclaimer of interest, which would dissolve the union, although the executive board will hold a conference call on the matter at some point Wednesday night.

The players have until midnight Wednesday to decide whether to dissolve the NHLPA, thereby nullifying its right to collectively bargain as a union.

With little details emerging from the information exchange between the sides, the NHLPA’s decision will provide the best glimpse at where negotiations stand.

A vote to disclaim interest would have a significant impact on negotiations — possibly derailing them altogether — and would be a sign the two sides are not as close as many had hoped.

Should it let the deadline pass, it is possible the union believes it can reach a deal.

The league already has canceled all games through Jan. 14, and the deadline to salvage the season is looming. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said a deal would need to be reached by Jan. 11 in order for a 48-game season to be possible.

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