TORONTO -- The optimism that the NHL lockout was nearing its end is gone. One look at Gary Bettman's face showed that.
The NHL Commissioner left today's meeting at NHL Players' Association headquarters "obviously disappointed" after the union offered three CBA counter proposals, none of which resembled the league's offer made Tuesday.
"I am, to say the least, thoroughly disappointed," Bettman said this afternoon. "I don't know what the next step is. I'm obviously disappointed"
Bettman said none of the union's offers came close to the NHL's 50-50 proposal and said the sides are again speaking a different language.
"As the calendar ticks away, we're going to do more cancellations," Bettman said.
---John Vogl
