NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that player participation in the '18 PyeongChang Games was "discussed for 'about 10 seconds'" yesterday at the BOG meeting. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said, "As of right now, there's not a will." The NHL has "sent its players to every Olympics" since the '98 Nagano Games. Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane said, "As a proud American, you want to play for your country any chance you get. I think a lot of us players would be ecstatic if they said we were going to the Olympics. But at the same time, you understand the owners’ side of things, too, you know?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/29).
Meanwhile, Bettman "liked the buzz that helped" L.A. secure this weekend’s All-Star festivities, the first such weekend at Staples Center since '02. He noted the "growth of hockey in California in regards to the increase of registered players in the state," from 3,400 in '81 and '02 to 28,000 currently (L.A. TIMES, 1/29). Also, the NHL and NHLPA yesterday announced a joint initiative to "get kids playing hockey." The "Learn To Play" project will be "expanded from eight markets to all 31 teams for next season" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/29).
