NHL talks ‘friendly’ but decision not reached

Akey meeting on the topic of whether NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics in South Korea a year from now ended Friday without a decision.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach joined International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA director Don Fehr in New York for the first time to discuss the Pyeongchang Games.

“This was a courtesy visit and there was a very good open and friendly atmosphere,” Bach said. “Hopefully this has prepared the ground for successful negotiations between the NHL and international federation. Of course, we all want see the best players at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018, and we know the players feel the same. Therefore, we hope even more that the international federation and the NHL will reach a solution to make the Olympic dreams of the players come true.”

Fasel said Bach was in New York for other meetings, setting up the visit without “hard negotiations,” or “major updates,” among the parties.

“I think it was very important to get us and the IOC and NHL/NHLPA together,” Fasel said. “This was a courtesy visit and I hope we can build on this and continue to work to a solution that will benefit the sport of ice hockey.”

The league is reluctant to shut down for two-plus weeks, though many of its players want to participate in what would be a sixth consecutive Olympics.

The IOC has indicated it does not want to cover the costs for travel and insurance expenses to get hockey’s best to the Olympics as it has done every four years since 1998. The governing body spent about $14 million to cover travel and insurance for NHL players for the 2014 Olympics.