NHL contract talks adjourned as lockout looms

NEW YORK (AFP) –

National Hockey League officials and NHL Players Association representatives met for less than two hours before adjourning contract talks aimed at preventing a work stoppage.

National Hockey League officials and NHL Players Association representatives met for less than two hours before adjourning contract talks aimed at preventing a work stoppage.

No further negotiating sessions were scheduled, although both sides said talks could be re-started at any time.

The parties were meeting for the third time in four days, with the current collective bargaining agreement due to expire on September 15.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said the league will lock out players if no new deal is struck by then.

That would jeopardize the scheduled October start of the 2012-2013 campaign and scuttle the popularity the sport has rebuilt with supporters since losing the entire 2004-2005 season to a labor dispute.

The league wants any new deal to include a decreased share of hockey-related revenue for the players, who receive 57 percent under the current agreement.

The league’s latest proposal sought to give players 46 percent of hockey-related revenues over a six-year deal — slightly up from the 43 percent owners had originally proposed but still not palatable to players who are also being asked to accept limits on free agency and an end to salary arbitration.

Earlier this month players made a proposal that allowed for their reduced share of revenues for three years, before the fourth year of a contract saw their share “snap back” to 57 percent.

On Friday, players suggested salary “concepts” that would allow for their fourth-year share to be less than 57 percent.

But Bettman said the league had been “stonewalled” and indicated he felt players failed to demonstrate a sense of urgency.

“I’m disappointed,” he said in a media briefing.

Union executive director Donald Fehr, meanwhile, said the players’ counter-proposal was rejected and the owners opted to recess talks.

Bettman said the union didn’t really offer a true proposal but a “response” and also disputed that the league called a halt to talks.

Some players took to Twitter to voice their frustration.

“Really disappointing to hear the NHL’s reaction today,” St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said on Twitter. “#theplayers put forward another great solution only for it to be brushed aside”.