International participation continues to be a sticking point in NHL CBA talks, and the Winter Games in '18 and '22, along with World Cups in '20 and '24 are "what we're talking about," according to Elliotte Friedman of SportsNet. Also "on the table" are two Ryder Cup-type events, either Canada "versus the rest of the world or North America versus the world, replacing All-Star Games" in '19 and '23. There are also "two preseason games in China, hopefully starting next year and then more to come ... and two regular-season games in Europe, hopefully as soon as next year with the possibility of more." It is the league's "position that they will grow the game and make up some of the money that the players are concerned about." Friedman: "I spoke with some governors today and I believe that their position is, ‘We’ve made our offer, it’s out there. Who wants to come talk to us?’ We’ll see where it goes over the next six weeks” (“Hockey Night in Canada,” SportsNet, 12/10).
STRIVING FOR CONSISTENCY: In N.Y., Larry Brooks wrote the "moment a single player is granted permission to play in the Olympics rather than for his NHL team is the moment" the '17-18 season "becomes illegitimate." NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "can tap dance around this for now, but if and when the league opts out of Pyeongchang, the commissioner will have no chance other than to institute a policy barring players from competing under the consequence of NHL suspension." If the NHL "does not go to the Olympics, and if the league does not ban its players from competing, it will be pretty interesting to see how many teams get their 'bye week' during the Games" and "how many games, specifically, are scheduled" for the Capitals, whose Owner Ted Leonsis has promised to let LW Alex Ovechkin take part in the Games (N.Y. POST, 12/11).
CAPS LOCK: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Jared Clinton noted after the BOG meetings, Bettman "didn't give an exact figure as to what the cap will look like, but he said there's the potential for the upper limit to move" by roughly $2M. Any increase in the cap "would be good news for the players." Bettman also indicated that there is a "chance the cap stays flat," but that he would "prefer to speak with the NHLPA about a possible flat cap before answering questions about it" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 12/9).
COMMITTEE MINUTES: The NHL BOG on Friday elected Canadiens Owner, President & CEO Geoff Molson and Jets Exec Chair Mark Chipman to its 10-member Exec Committee. The two replace late Flyers Owner Ed Snider and Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos, Jr., who was not re-elected. The other eight members include Henry Samueli (Ducks), Murray Edwards (Flames), Rocky Wirtz (Blackhawks), Craig Leipold (Wild), Jeff Vinik (Lightning), Larry Tanenbaum (Maple Leafs), Ted Leonsis (Capitals) and Jeremy Jacobs (Bruins), who serves as Chair of the committee (Ian Thomas, Staff Writer).
