Negotiations between the NHL and its Players' Association broke off this afternoon, and no further sessions are scheduled.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has said repeatedly that the league will lock out the players if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't in place before the current one expires Sept. 15.

The parties met for about 90 minutes at the league's New York office today, but made no progress on the major economic matters in play.

Indeed, they couldn't even agree on which side decided to temporarily suspend the talks.

NHLPA head Donad Fehr said it was the league's idea; Bettman denied that.

Fehr also said the NHLPA is prepared to discuss non-economic issues anytime the league wants to do so, and Bettman said the NHL will return to the bargaining table when the NHLPA wants to do so.