(ATR) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says there is no drop-dead date for negotiations to ensure NHL players remain in the Olympics.
NHL players are allowed to play in the Olympics thanks to the collective bargaining agreement with their union, the NHL Players Association. That contract expires in 2011, meaning the game’s top stars could miss playing in Russia when the Games head to Sochi in 2014.
Speaking at a press briefing Thursday with International Ice Hockey Federation chief Rene Fasel, Bettman says no decision has been made and one won’t be made until after the Olympics.
A number of players, especially Russians, have expressed a desire to continue playing in the Olympics.
Bettman said the NHL has to look at several things, most notably the lack of player control during the Games, before the NHL can commit to sending its players to the Olympics.
“There’s plenty of time. We’re focused now on having the best possible tournament we can have.”
“When you look at these games from 30,000 feet it's all good. But you do have to take a step back at ground level and look at the impact on our season and what, perhaps, we can do about it.”
Bettman’s biggest concern is protecting the NHL’s “most important asset”, its players.The combined value of the more than 140 NHL contracts in Vancouver is $2.1 billion.
The IOC and IIHF both want the NHL to remain in the Olympics.
Bettman said he met with Jacques Rogge who “reiterated [the Olympics’] desire to have us back, which is always nice to hear”, according to Bettman.
At the start of the briefing, Fasel made his desires clear: “I really hope we can continue this cooperation we’ve had in the past years.”
Fasel stressed their friendship, saying: “we are not always on the same page —we have some challenges.”
The NHL has faced tight deadlines before with player participation. Prior to the Turin Olympics the NHL was mired in a work stoppage. Even a few weeks prior to the tournament the players’ participation was uncertain.
One possible way to assuage NHL concerns is to put ice hockey in the Summer Olympics, during the league’s offseason. But Bettman and IOC member Fasel rejected the idea.
Fasel said the Summer Games are too large, and the Olympic Charter makes it clear ice sports belong in the Winter Olympics.
The NHL first participated in the Olympics at the 1998 Games.
Written by Ed Hula III.
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