NHL and IIHF continuing negotiations over 2018 Olympics

SOCHI, RUSSIA - FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speak during a press conference on day eleven of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 18, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The NHL and the IIHF are continuing in their negotiations to see their players attend the 2018 Olympics. Rene Fasel and Gary Bettman have both been reserved about releasing any information on it, however.

It seems that one party is more optimistic than the other, as IIHF president Rene Fasel has stated that negotiations are ongoing. This would be a huge blow to the level of play at the 2018 Olympics if the NHL player pool does not attend.

Fasel did, however, state that there was a deadline for the negotiations to be completed if the NHL is to attend. Fasel told German outlet Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, “The problem is that the NHL always takes a large number of guests,” Fasel told the German newspaper (translated by Inside the Game’s Nick Butler). “In Vancouver, we had between 600 and 800 and in Sochi over 400. In South Korea, it would be similar. Gangneung [the site of Olympic hockey games] does not have extra hotel rooms. We can only release these capacities by the end of June, at the latest mid-July.”

Another roadblock in negotiations moving forward are the reported monetary demands of Gary Bettman and the NHL. Fasel doesn’t believe that these demands are realistic, and this could end up being the main issue keeping the NHL out of attending the 2018 Olympics.

Fasel continued on to say, “[Bettman] claims the same rights for the NHL as a TOP (The Olympic Programme) sponsor who pays $100 million,” Fasel said. He wants to use the Olympic Rings for the NHL. If the IOC says yes, what do we do with athletics, swimming, gymnastics, skiing, ice skating? Then we would have to grant these rights to all the big sports federations. It is also about the principle.”

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While this may come off as a bit of bad news, the fact that negotiations are continuing despite the differences should offer hope that the NHL and the IIHF might find a common ground to get their players to the 2018 Olympics.

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