NEW YORK — The NHL Wednesday night rejected the latest players union proposal despite significant concessions from the union 67 days into the lockout. “We're still far apart, but hopefully there's some momentum so we can bring this to a conclusion,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “There was some movement in our direction, and it was appreciated.” Donald Fehr, the union's executive director, said the league responded to the offer with “nothing on significant economic issues” and “no reciprocity” in the talks at the NHL office in Manhattan. “The players have done an awful lot here,” Fehr said. “Still, it doesn't appear to be enough.” Winnipeg defenseman Ron Hainsey, who has been present at nearly every negotiating session, described the league as being less categorical in its rejection of the union's proposal than it has been in past sessions, particularly on Oct. 18, when Bettman took 15 minutes to turn down three union offers. “I would not say it was a blanket no,” Hainsey said. “They responded to our proposal, but there was no meaningful move in our direction in anything that we would consider a major issue.” No further talks were scheduled, but Bettman said he hoped to hear from the union Friday. With no deal imminent, the first half of the December schedule is expected to be canceled as early as Friday. Thus far, the league has canceled 327 games. The next cancellation is also expected to include the Jan. 27 All-Star Game, scheduled for Jan. 27 in Columbus, Ohio. The financially ailing Blue Jackets had been counting on the All-Star weekend to fill their coffers, but those hopes may soon be dashed. The union offered to accept 50 percent of revenue in the first year of a new deal rather than a guaranteed amount. It was the first time the union agreed to take a percentage of revenue. The union also agreed to a league demand to curb front-loaded contracts. Fehr characterized the union offer as leaving the sides just $182m apart over five years. But the league rejected that notion that the two sides were close. “Today isn't the first time the union has come out of a session and talked about how wonderful their offer is or how close we were, when in fact the reality was they were misleading you,” Bettman said. — Agencies
