Skip to content

Decision on NHL players going to 2014 Olympics not expected this week

NEW YORK — A decision on whether NHL players will head to the 2014 Sochi Olympics isn’t likely this week, but a first day of discussions went well.

NEW YORK — A decision on whether NHL players will head to the 2014 Sochi Olympics isn’t likely this week, but a first day of discussions went well.

Talks between the NHL, the NHL players’ association, and officials from the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee stretched into Thursday night as the parties worked toward getting NHL players back to the Olympics for a fifth straight time. There are obstacles in the process, but the sides will get back together on Friday to talk some more.

“We had good discussions,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told The Associated Press in an email Thursday. “We expect to continue tomorrow.”

While the NHL and the players might want to participate in the Olympics again, they have to figure out if it makes sense for them to interrupt another season to make it possible.

“I don’t expect any resolution or decisions this week,” Daly said.

In these negotiations, the NHL and the players’ association appear to be aligned in their position.

The Sochi Games are one year away. While a final decision isn’t required this week, one will have to be reached in the near future. It is believed hockey federations will need to know by May what players will be available for their teams. The current discussions are being held between NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, IIHL President Rene Fasel and officials from IOC.

After enduring a long lockout that produced a shortened regular season this year, the NHL is weighing whether it is worth shutting down the game for more than two weeks next season to allow its players to go to Russia for the Olympics.

The time difference will force the games to be played at off hours in North America, and the NHL would like to receive concessions from the IOC .