The NHL lock-out has forced the cancellation of all games through the end of November.
The NHL announced Friday that 326 regular-season games from Oct. 11 through Nov. 30 were lost - more than 26.5 per cent of the schedule. The news came a day after a league-imposed deadline passed for a deal with the players' association that would allow for a full season.
"The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action," Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "By presenting a proposal to the NHLPA that contemplated a fair division of revenues and was responsive to player concerns regarding the value of their contracts, we had hoped to be able to forge a long-term collective bargaining agreement that would have preserved an 82-game regular season for our fans. Unfortunately, that did not occur."
The dispute is all too similar to the 2004-05 lockout that led to the cancellation of that entire season - the first time a North American professional sports league lost a complete campaign to a labour dispute.
Reaching a new deal potentially became even tougher Friday, because the NHL pulled off the table its most recent offer - one that included a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues.
"The league informed us today that they have withdrawn their latest proposal and have cancelled another slate of regular-season games," union executive director Donald Fehr said.
"This is deeply disappointing for all hockey fans and everyone who makes their living from hockey, including the players. But it comes as no surprise."
Players earned 57 per cent of revenue in the recently expired contract. Owners originally sought to bring that number below 50 per cent this time around before the most recent NHL offer of 50-50. There is a major divide between the sides over how to deal with existing player contracts.
