NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman yesterday said that with negotiations on Olympic participation "at a standstill," people should "assume the league will not be sending its players" to the '18 PyeongChang Games, according to Steve Keating of REUTERS. The NHL "last met" with the IOC and IIHF in early February. Bettman: "There are no negotiations ongoing. We were open to having discussions on a variety of things that might mitigate the damage to our season but that had no resonance. As things stand now people should assume we are not going." Keating noted in return for handing over $3.5B in player contracts, the NHL is "seeking something akin" to IOC TOP Sponsor status that would "allow the league to market the Winter Games" on its platforms. Bettman said, "I've suggested why don't you treat us like a top sponsor." Keating noted Bridgestone, a TOP Sponsor and major NHL advertiser, is "trying to help push a deal forward." Bridgestone Americas VP/Sports & Events Marketing & Training Phil Pacsi said, "There's a lot of people interested in the same thing and seeing if there is a way to make it work." The NHL has participated in the last five Winter Games, and Bettman said that there has been "no quantitative benefit" to the league. Bettman: "This February, there is no baseball, no football, it is just us and basketball and we disappear. We don't get content for the NHL Network, we don't get content for our social media platforms and NHL.com. Why did we do it five times? Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time but we have been unable to quantify any benefit from it" (REUTERS, 3/21).
WINDOW NOT OFFICIALLY SHUT: In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger writes the window for participation in the '18 Games is not "officially shut," as there "still remains a crack of opportunity, even with (Bettman) painting such a bleak picture." While there are "indicators" that the league may not go, Bettman is not yet "officially closing the books." Zeisberger notes the NHL "did not finalize its plans to send its players" to the '14 Sochi Games until July '13. To that end, the league "already has two schedules ready" for the '17-18 season: one that "takes into account NHL Olympic participation, one that doesn't" (TORONTO SUN, 3/22).
TWITTER REAX: Yahoo Sports' Greg Wyshynski tweeted if the NHL is left out of PyeongChang, the "biggest hockey league on Earth will have a dozen months to frame 2018 as an inferior tourney and put all the blame on IOC." CP contributor Darren Haynes: "NHL, just go. Quit whining. Fans want it, players want it. World Cup is not even in the same universe. Done." SB Nation's Travis Hughes: "The NHL not allowing its players to go to the Olympics is bad for fans, players and the sport. But it's good for the NHL, so." Fox Sports' Pete Blackburn: "If NHL players aren't going to the Olympics, I guess we could just send the Colorado Avalanche."
