NHL Olympic decision could be ‘negotiating ploy’: IOC member

OTTAWA, ON. (NEWS 1130) – A senior member of the International Olympic Committee believes the NHL’s decision to pull out of the 2018 games might be a negotiating ploy.

Speaking exclusively to NEWS 1130, Canadian Dick Pound says the main broadcaster for the Pyeongchang Olympics is NBC, which also has a lucrative contract to broadcast NHL games across North America.

“I can’t see NBC deciding to broadcast regular lead games during the Olympics because, you know, you get a five per cent share or whatever it is, for an NHL league game compared to a 25 per cent share for the Olympics.”

 

“Effectively it means the NHL may be going dark anyway. The only people that’ll be watching the games will be those that are prepared to go and sit in the stadium.”

Pound says he wouldn’t be surprised if games are being played behind the scenes… because the NHL needs as much international exposure as possible.

“From the perspective of spreading hockey around the world and getting attention on a much wider basis than simply North America where the NHL is king.”

The captain of the Vancouver Canucks, Henrik Sedin, also believes the NHL is bluffing.

“I don’t read much into the latest news. I think they want something out of it for us to go, so that’s my opinion.”

Sedin also jokes he wants to go to South Korea even if it’s just to watch curling.

Meanwhile, Canada’s sports minister says she hopes individual NHLers can still somehow get to play hockey in next year’s winter Olympics, even if the National Hockey League says its players won’t take part in the Games.

Carla Qualtrough says she’s not sure how it would work, both contract-wise and for insurance purposes. “Of course, Canada wants its best athletes to be there and this is making it more difficult for them to do so. Even if our NHL players don’t end up participating, we have such a depth of field in hockey in Canada that we will put forth a very strong team to defend our gold medals.”

Superstars like Jonathan Toews and Alex Ovechkin have said they hoped the NHL would come around to the big picture appeal of the 2018 Games.

Ovechkin has insisted he’ll be in South Korea no matter what the NHL decided and his boss — Washington Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis — has supported that stance, even admitting he could be fined for allowing it.

Meantime, the NHLPA has issued a scathing statement that slams the league’s move.

“The players are extraordinarily disappointed and adamantly disagree with the NHL’s short-sighted decision to not continue our participation in the Olympics.

Any sort of inconvenience the Olympics may cause to next season’s schedule is a small price to pay compared to the opportunity to showcase our game and our greatest players on this enormous international stage.

A unique opportunity lies ahead with the 2018 and 2022 Olympics in Asia. The NHL may believe it is penalizing the IOC or the players, or both, for not giving the owners some meaningful concessions in order to induce them to agree to go to Pyeongchang. Instead this impedes the growth of our great game by walking away from an opportunity to reach sports fans worldwide.

Moreover, it is doing so after the financial issues relating to insurance and transportation have been resolved with the IOC and IIHF. The League’s efforts to blame others for its decision is as unfortunate as the decision itself. NHL players are patriotic and they do not take this lightly. A decent respect for the opinions of the players matters. This is the NHL’s decision, and it’s alone. It is very unfortunate for the game, the players and millions of loyal hockey fans.”

The Games are being held in Pyeongchang, South Korea next February.