An Olympic record in stall tactics
NHL notebook: Bettman holds all the cards as decision on 2018 Games draws closer
OTTAWA — A decision on NHL participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics is looming and it can’t come soon enough.
The deadline to determine whether the league will allow its players to travel to Pyeongchang, South Korea, next season is supposedly set for mid-January, but few teams still have any idea which way this may go.
While the NHL’s owners have indicated they don’t see much to gain by participating, commissioner Gary Bettman is keeping all options open to see what route representatives of the NHL Players’ Association, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee take.
“Lots of people think that mid-January may be an artificial date,” said a league insider before the weekend.
The belief is Bettman has all three groups right where he wants them and is waiting to see if anybody will blink. The IOC is of the opinion the NHL should be happy the players have been invited to participate, but Bettman doesn’t believe that should be the case one bit.
“He’s going to sit and wait for the best deal,” the insider added.
While NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr indicated last week he’s optimistic the players will head to the Olympics next season, it’s highly doubtful the league is going to get the extension of the collective bargaining agreement it wants in return for that to happen.
That means it may be up to officials from the IOC and the IIHF to sweeten the pot financially to make it worthwhile to go to Korea.
The clock is ticking, but who knows what the actual deadline really is?
OFF THE GLASS
A league executive indicated Saturday there’s “no question” the amount of trade talk has increased in the last few days, especially with several teams represented at last week’s world junior championship playoff round at the Bell Centre in Montreal. However, he isn’t convinced that will lead to a pile of action over the next couple weeks. “Too many teams are in it,” said the executive. The only defined sellers? The Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres ... There has been plenty of talk that Colorado GM Joe Sakic hung the “for sale” sign up last month and, as this space reported, is willing to talk about everybody but forward Nathan MacKinnon. Three names to keep an eye on: Jarome Iginla, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene. The Bleacher Report’s Adrian Dater reported Saturday that Landeskog and Duchene are both garnering a lot of interest. He noted the Bruins had held talks with the Avs about Landeskog, but couldn’t find the right fit for a deal. The word from league executives is Sakic is asking for a lot for all his players because there’s no pressure to win in Denver.
THIS N’ THAT
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has been looking around for a forward. He’s patient, so he won’t rush into anything, but you have to wonder if the heat is being turned up on coach Jon Cooper in a big way. The Bolts didn’t look very good in their 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday afternoon and they remain on the outside of the NHL’s playoff picture. Sooner or later, something is going to have to give because the Bolts look disjointed ... If anyone is looking to move a defenceman, give Bruins GM Don Sweeney a call in the next couple of days. The word is he wouldn’t mind making a deal for a blue-liner as well and the name of forward Ryan Spooner is out there as trade bait.
RUMOURS DU JOUR
With winger Brendan Gallagher gone for at least two months with a broken hand, you have to wonder if Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin will step up his efforts to acquire a forward. Several teams have held talks with the Arizona Coyotes about forward Martin Hanzal, a UFA on July 1, and it would make sense for the Habs to consider that option. The issue, as always, is the asking price because there’s a strong belief Arizona GM John Chayka overvalues his players ... A lot of teams are intensifying their search for help with the deadline approaching and the Chicago Blackhawks have stepped up their efforts to bring in a forward. While the Hawks have activated winger Marian Hossa off injured reserve, the word is Chicago GM Stan Bowman would like to add a little more depth. The Hawks will show interest in Iginla because they’ve had good success with deadline rentals in the past, but Chicago has cap issues.