The NHL's future participation in the Olympics "is in doubt," after news that the IOC is "balking at reimbursing some of the expenses that were paid for in the past for the league and players," according to sources cited by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com. The IIHF last week met with the NHL and NHLPA and "updated all parties with the news." This could "be a bargaining ploy by the IOC, since these are early days in negotiations for the NHL participation" in the '18 PyeongChang Games. If the IOC "insists on scaling back what it has paid the NHL and NHLPA for participating in the past, it's possible the NHL and NHLPA pull out" (ESPN.com, 4/23). IIHF President Rene Fasel said of the negotiations, "We had a meeting with the NHL last week and the prognosis is not really good. ... (But the IOC) not covering the cost as they did at the last five Olympic Games puts us in a difficult financial situation." Sources said it is believed the IOC paid approximately $14M on top of $18M contributed by the IIHF on transportation and insurance "to have NHL players attend" the '14 Sochi Games. YAHOO SPORTS' Sean Leahy noted Fasel "believes those costs could be reduced" to $10M for PyeongChang (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/24).
WAY OF GIVING THANKS: In Chicago, Joe Knowles noted NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed several topics during a meeting with the APSE, including why Chicago is hosting the '17 Draft. Bettman said that it was "largely because of the 'success of the Blackhawks' and called them 'terrific partners.'" Bettman: "Ask them to host an outdoor game and they say yes. Ask them to be the opponent (in an outdoor game) and they say just tell us where to show up." Bettman said the NHL was "changing the culture of the game" in response to the concussion epidemic. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that "man-games lost to concussions are down" year-over-year. Daly: "The game is a lot safer than it was 10 years ago." Bettman added, "We were the first league to do baseline testing. We've been out in front on this issue" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/23).
