TORONTO, Ont. – The NHL labour negotiations appear bleak after talks to save an 82-game regular season accomplished little with the union rejecting the league’s offer of a 50-50 split of revenue between the players and the owners.

The NHL Players’ Association rejected an offer from the league, which calls for a full 82-game season and would see revenues split 50-50 between owners and players.

The union tabled three different proposals that league commissioner Gary Bettman called “thoroughly disappointing.”

“None of the three variations of player share that they gave us even began to approach 50-50, either at all or for some long period of time,” Bettman said.

“It’s clear we’re not speaking the same language.”

Sidney Crosby was among 18 players present at the meeting.

“It’s not even given a day to think about or crunch numbers, it’s shut down within minutes,” he said.

“That doesn’t seem like a group that’s willing to negotiate.”

Sportsnet hockey analyst Nick Kypreos does not expect a deal to be reached by Saturday — the date set by the league.
    
“There’s a tremendous need by the owners all of a sudden to play 82 games — a full season,” Kypreos said. “I think the players will be just as happy to play 72 or 68 as long as they get a deal they think is fair.”

Union executive director Donald Fehr called the 50-50 proposal “less Draconian than others.”

“This is a proposal from which we can negotiate and try, and reach a conclusion,” he said.

However, he said the players would lose nearly $1.8 billion dollars in revenue under the proposal.

Bettman said it is a fair deal that would allow the the 82-game season to begin Nov. 2.

“It’s one that we hope gets a positive reaction so that we can drop the puck in November,” he said.

In a worst-case scenario, Sportsnet hockey analyst John Shannon said two months of hockey could be cancelled.

“Don’t be surprised if we see two months of hockey cancelled, Winter Classic gone, All-Star game gone, and we may not even see hockey let alone in January, but until next September,” he said.

The Winter Classic is especially important to Toronto Maple Leafs’ fans, as the highly anticipated New Year’s Day game will see Toronto facing the Detroit Red Wings.

A new round of talks is yet to be scheduled.

The players have been locked out since Sept. 15.