"We will obviously brief the Board on where things stand with respect to the proposal to have NHL players participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in South Korea," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday. "I think it's safe to say we still have a lot of questions, and I don't think we are in position yet to ask the Board to make a definitive decision on whether or not we are prepared to shut down our season again to accommodate Olympic participation."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said last month at the PrimeTime Sports & Entertainment Conference in Toronto that the NHL's decision on Olympic participation will likely be made in January.
"Whether it's Jan. 1 or 15 or 20, that's not the issue," Commissioner Bettman said. "This isn't drifting into the spring."
One of the barriers holding up a decision is how to cover the costs for travel, insurance and accommodations for the players and their guests in South Korea. The International Olympic Committee has covered those costs for the previous five Olympics that have included NHL players. The IOC has told the NHL it will not commit to cover the costs for the 2018 Olympics.
IIHF president Rene Fasel told reporters following a meeting at the NHL's New York office on Nov. 16 that the federation has the money to cover the costs. Commissioner Bettman said the NHL is concerned that the IIHF would not be able to cover the full amount necessary and potentially could be taking funds that otherwise would help grow the game internationally at the grassroots level.
Commissioner Bettman also said that the owners are sensitive to the idea of shutting down the season for two and a half weeks in February.
"Ultimately it's a decision from an NHL standpoint that the owners are going to make, and I know there's some grumpiness, I don't know exactly how much, on the whole process of disrupting the season," Commissioner Bettman said last month.
In addition to the Olympics discussion, the Board will be given a recap summary of the World Cup of Hockey 2016, which took place in September in Toronto, and will discuss longer-term international planning ideas, such as the potential for overseas games next season and future World Cup competitions.
The Board will discuss League economics, including projections for hockey-related revenue, escrow, and revenue sharing for this season. Commissioner Bettman could give a rough projection for the 2017-18 NHL salary cap, as he has done at BOG meetings in previous years.
A report on the status of the Vegas Golden Knights as they prepare to enter the NHL as an expansion team next season will be given to the Board. Information on their operations to date and a review of the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft dates, rules and procedures will be discussed.
NBC Broadcasting and Sports chairman Mark Lazarus and Sportsnet president Scott Moore will present to the Board updates on each network's existing relationship with the NHL as a national broadcast rightsholder. The Governors will be given updates on national and local television ratings for this season.
The potential for the implementation of player and puck tracking will be reviewed and discussed. The NHL partnered with Sportvision to have player and puck tracking in the World Cup by embedding chips in pucks and sewing them into jerseys and tracking them through infrared cameras stationed throughout the arena.
The Board also will hear updates on the plans for the NHL Centennial celebration, which begins with the 2017 Centennial Classic game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto on Jan. 1 (3 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports).
In addition, ongoing plans for the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2 (1 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports) and the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29 (3:30 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports), as well as future outdoor games, will be discussed.
