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ESPN's Pierre LeBrun is reporting that the NHL plans to pull its latest offer, which included a 50-50 split of Hockey Related Revenue, off the table if the Oct. 25 deadline for saving an 82-game season passes.
After the NHL laid out the proposal to the NHL Players' Association, commissioner Gary Bettman said the two sides had to reach a deal by Oct. 25 in order to retain an 82-game season. The date has come with no new negotiations scheduled.
"Things seem to be not progressing the way we would like - it's disappointing," Bettman told reporters at a Wednesday media conference announcing the Islanders' move to Brooklyn in 2015.
Bettman said it was possible that the next round of cancellations could include shutting down the Winter Classic. The league has already canceled 135 games through Nov. 1.
ESPN's Pierre LeBrun spoke to former Sabres president Larry Quinn concerning the lockout. Quinn said he's surprised the league is in this position.
"I really believe there’s a deal to be made here,” Quinn told ESPN.com. "And I’m shocked that given the money involved. ... I mean, the person that gets hurt the most in this is the player. You’ve got a diminishing asset, and unlike the owners, everything they make is a profit and it cannot be replaced. That’s just the nature of the beast. The fact that their limited livelihood would be jeopardized once again, something is just wrong. It makes you wonder what interests are being represented and why."