text: Lockout Looms as NHL Players' Contract Offer Rejected  TORONTO (Reuters) - The National Hockey League rejected an  offer from the players in the latest round of labor  negotiations Thursday, leaving little hope of avoiding a  lockout start to the season next month.
inputs: Lockout Looms as NHL Players' Contract Offer Rejected  TORONTO (Reuters) - The National Hockey League rejected an  offer from the players in the latest round of labor  negotiations Thursday, leaving little hope of avoiding a  lockout start to the season next month.