The NHL labour talks have hit another roadblock and this one appears to be massive.

After two optimistic days that suggested a deal could be imminent, negotiations between the league and the NHL Players'
Association broke off dramatically Thursday.

 The NHLPA presented a new offer to the league Thursday afternoon, a proposal that union head Donald Fehr called ``a clear outline'' to end the dispute.

Fehr said he believed the two sides are ``clearly very close if not on top of one another in connection with most of the major issues.''

The league flatly rejected the offer, saying the two sides aren't close despite what Fehr says.

The NHL commissioner said any new offers the league made this week are now off the table.

During talks this week, the league said it was willing to increase the amount of deferred transition money paid to the players to US$300 million which sat directly between what had most recently been tabled by the NHL ($211 million) and NHLPA ($393 million).

Another issue that surfaced was the league's desire to see a 10-year term on the collective bargaining agreement. The union's offer Thursday was for eight years with an option for opting out after Year 6.

There are no new talks scheduled.

Thursday was the 82nd day of the lockout.