NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "appears ready to put his players’ commitment" to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics "to the test," according to Chris Lingebach of CBS. The NHL last met with the IOC and Int'l Ice Hockey Federation in February, though negotiations have "since halted," and Bettman "took a hard line" on the issue of int'l competition on Tuesday. 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.” In previous years, as with the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the NHL has "taken a break from competition -- usually for a period of 2.5 weeks -- for its players to compete for their home countries internationally." Some NHLers have "already made clear their intentions to compete in the South Korea Games regardless of the league’s stance." NHL Washington Capitals player Alex Ovechkin "said so very matter-of-factly last fall." Money is the "primary underlying issue, as the NHL ... seeks financial compensation -- in the form of player insurance and transportation costs -- from the IOC in return for handing over" $3.5B in player contracts (CBS, 3/21). REUTERS' Steve Keating reported 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?" Bridgestone, a TOP sponsor and major NHL advertiser, is "trying to help push a deal forward." Bridgestone Americas VP of Sports & Events Marketing 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" (REUTERS, 3/21).
STILL TIME?: In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger reported the window for participation in the 2018 Games is not "officially shut," as there "still remains a crack of opportunity, even with (Bettman) painting such a bleak picture." The NHL "did not finalize its plans to send its players" to the Sochi Games until July '13 (TORONTO SUN, 3/22).