The NHLPA does not want any potential World Cup scenarios to replace future Olympic particiaptionGETTY IMAGES
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Don Fehr are "in favor of rebooting the World Cup of Hockey tournament and holding it every four years," according to John Wawrow of the AP. The "stumbling block to laying out a long-term calendar of international competition, however, revolves around the hot-button topic of the NHL competing at the Winter Olympics." Fehr said, "That’s a stand-alone event. It should not be seen as competing with or replacing the Olympics. It can be done.” Though "resolving a way to reduce the percentage of players’ salaries being held back annually in an escrow fund" is the NHLPA's "most pressing concern with the collective bargaining agreement, international competition is also on the list." Players are "unhappy with the league’s decision to skip" the '18 Pyeongchang Games after having "participated in the previous five." The union "sides with the league involving other issues regarding Olympic participation such as players’ medical insurance coverage and marketing rights." Fehr said that the NHLPA and NHL "can’t resolve the Olympic participation question alone in labor talks because outstanding issues must also be negotiated with the International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee." Bettman "doesn’t see why the two sides can’t reach a deal on the World Cup, given they’re both in favor" (AP, 6/23).
