The National Hockey League will announce Tuesday that it is rejecting the NHLPA's latest proposal that included a 24 percent rollback on player salaries according to published reports. The league contends that the formula only gives the clubs short-term aid and does not address the long term needs of the league. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to make a counter-proposal which will likely include 'cost certainty' or a salary cap. The sides are scheduled to meet at 1:00 PM tomorrow afternoon in Toronto.

The memo, a copy of which was obtained by TSN in Canada, indicates, 'In sum, we believe the Union's December 9 CBA proposal, while offering necessary and significant short-term financial relief, falls well short of providing the fundamental systemic changes that are required to ensure that overall League economics remain in synch on a going-forward basis,' according to Bill Daley of the league office.

Daley continued, 'there is virtually nothing in the Union's proposal that would prevent the dollars 'saved' from being re-directed right back into the player compensation system, such that the League's overall financial losses would approach current levels in only a matter of a couple of years.'

It appears that the union's proposal has not changed the fundamental differences between the two sides. Commissioner Bettman has a mandate from the owners to get a salary cap in place while Bob Goodenow of the NHLPA has said that a salary cap must be avoided at all costs.

The players have been locked out since September 15th and no games have been played this season. Unless a settlement is reached before January 1st, it is increasingly unlikely there will be any NHL hockey this year.