The NHL has "made an offer to its players that could confirm their participation" in the '18 PyeongChang Games, according to sources cited by Elliotte Friedman of SPORTSNET.ca. However, in exchange "for the league’s blessing, the NHLPA would agree to extend" the current CBA. A source indicated that it "could be for three more years." The current CBA expires Sept. 15, 2022, but both the NHL and NHLPA "have the ability to opt out" in '20 (SPORTSNET.ca, 11/16). TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli noted NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr "did not dispute" the report. However, reps from the NHL, IIHF and NHLPA left a meeting yesterday saying that the sides are "no closer to an agreement." Two recent NHLPA team player reps yesterday "expressed a significant amount of doubt" that a deal like the one proposed by the league would be "acceptable to the general membership." IIHF President Rene Fasel yesterday confirmed that he has secured the $10M "required to pay for player contract insurance, transportation and hospitality from outside sources." With the funding secured, the NHL "seemed to push the goalposts back, shifting the conversation to a lack of control and input in the Winter Olympics and other hurdles." Fasel also confirmed the NHL "balked at the IIHF’s collection sources, which would include contributions from individual member federations," such as Hockey Canada and USA Hockey (TSN.ca, 11/16).
GOOD DEAL FOR PLAYERS? THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell noted the "general feeling is that there is no way the players are going to give up three years of control over CBA negotiations in return for the chance to play in an Olympic tournament about which, quite frankly, they’re rather ambivalent." Campbell: "Do the players want to play in the Olympics? Absolutely. Are they willing to make a major concession to go South Korea to do it? Almost no chance" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 11/16). Friedman wrote he would "be surprised" if the players took this particular deal. If they accept, they will "lock-in for a longer period of high escrow, their biggest issue with the current CBA." They also will "gain labour peace and the right to go to the Olympics." Friedman: "Now: do they believe NHL participation in the Games will happen anyway? If they think yes, they are giving up something for nothing. If they think the NHL is serious about saying no, then they have something to gain." The NHL "doesn't want to go" to PyeongChang, and as injuries "mount and threaten to ruin several teams’ seasons, owners don’t want to go, either" (SPORTSNET.ca, 11/16). ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun wrote it is hard to believe the players would "give up the chance to reopen the CBA" in '20 and "not try to negotiate a cap on escrow." The "game of chicken here is that the NHL knows the players want to go to South Korea, so it is looking to see how much it can squeeze that for leverage" (ESPN.com, 11/16).
AN AGENT'S TAKE: Octagon Hockey agent Allan Walsh tweeted multiple times on the NHL Olympic talks, claiming the NHL is "attempting to leverage (or blackmail) the players strong desire to play in the Olympics into a CBA extension." The league has "shown the world they know what a great CBA they have and want it to continue forever." The NHL "said it needed $10M in Transportation, insurance and hospitality costs. It got it. Now, the NHL demands CBA extension." Walsh asks, "Where is connection between getting Olympic transportation costs and insurance covered and 3 more CBA years of 15%+ escrow?" He also tweeted several players said that "if they're selected to respective Olympic teams, they're going no matter what NHL says" (TWITTER.com, 11/16).
EXPENSE REPORT: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the expenses for competing in the Games are "pretty extensive ... and that's something that we've understood that the IOC has paid" in the past. Appearing on Toronto-based CJCL-AM, Bettman said of the IIHF offering to pay some of the expenses, "They're looking to figure out ways to do it a little differently, not necessarily as good, but looking for ways where maybe they can save the money for doing it, and in the course of doing this, my guess is (Fasel) is looking to raise money from whatever sources he can, separate and apart from the IOC." Bettman: "Frankly, I do have a concern potentially about that because money that would normally go to hockey development, particularly at the grassroots level, is being diverted for this purpose." He added, "I'm not sure why it is that the IOC all of a sudden after five Olympics thinks it's a good idea not to pay for the things that they had paid for." More Bettman: "If it wasn't for the fact that the players like going and representing their countries we wouldn't even be having a conversation about going" ("Prime Time Sports," CJCL-AM, 11/16).
