NHL plans to withdraw proposal, more games likely to be cancelled

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league's most recent proposal would be withdrawn. All games in November may be cancelled. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The NHL plans to withdraw its most recent proposal to the NHLPA once the Thursday deadline passes, according to a report from ESPN:

"When we delivered the proposal last Tuesday, we told them it would be on the table through today," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com Thursday afternoon. "Having not reached agreement through today, I expect that we'll formally notify the union Friday that the proposal is no longer on the table. We're going to take it back internally and figure out where we go from here."

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr was not surprised by the league's withdrawal. He commented,

"Review the history here: they make a proposal, it's essentially a take it or leave it, we respond on the core economics, they take 10 minutes and say no…. It takes two to negotiate. They seem to be really good at imposing deadlines and issuing ultimatums and having lockouts. It seems to be something they're well-practiced at."