TORONTO, Ont. – A day after the NHL players’ association presented its first offer to the league, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the two sides are “far apart” in their negotiations.

Bettman said the two sides have different views of the world.

“I think it’s fair to say that we value the proposal and what it means in terms of its economics differently than the players’ association does,” said Bettman.

“I think there still are a number of issues where we’re looking at the world differently. I’m not sure that there has yet been a recognition of the economics in our world _ and I mean the greater world and the sports industry, taking into account what recently happened with the NFL and the NBA.”

He said the players’ proposal was not particularly responsive to the leagues initial proposal.

The NHL tabled its opening offer last month.

The current CBA expires Sept. 15 and Bettman has already made it clear that the league will enact a work stoppage if a new deal isn’t in place by then.

On Tuesday, the union put forth a proposal that included a smaller percentage of revenues for players over the next three seasons in exchange for an expanded revenue sharing program to help struggling teams. The NHLPA estimated that players would be giving up US$465 million in salaries if the league continued on its pace of seven per cent growth each season.

Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr won’t sit down at the bargaining table together until next Wednesday.