Issue
The 2006 Winter Olympics will be held in Turin, Italy, but it remains to be seen whether NHL players will be allowed to participate. Until there is a new collective bargaining agreement in place, the league won't comment on the possibility of NHL player participation in 2006.
Owners
"Going to Italy in 2006 adds a whole different set of circumstances; the (NHL season) break would be longer, and the wear and tear on the players would be greater and there are travel issues," Bettman said. "But we're not in a position to address 2006 until we address 2004."
The NHL's position on the matter is that it depends on how much time off will be needed to accommodate a host of issues: travel, scheduling, logistics, TV rights, revenue uncertainty.
"The Olympic participation for us particularly in 2002 was terrific. To go to Europe, it's further travel, a longer break, time zones are different for television coverage," Bettman said. "It could be like in Nagano where you didn't have North American teams in the gold medal game, not that it's all about North American teams but in terms of coverage here where we play our games, the difficulties will make it an even harder thing to accomplish."
The NHL's position on the matter is that it depends on how much time off will be needed to accommodate a host of issues: travel, scheduling, logistics, TV rights, revenue uncertainty.
"The Olympic participation for us particularly in 2002 was terrific. To go to Europe, it's further travel, a longer break, time zones are different for television coverage," Bettman said. "It could be like in Nagano where you didn't have North American teams in the gold medal game, not that it's all about North American teams but in terms of coverage here where we play our games, the difficulties will make it an even harder thing to accomplish."
Players
"Overall, the players all are in support
of Olympic participation because of the profile it can provide
the game because of the level of competition and everything,"
explained Bob Goodenow. "For the players who participated in 2002
it was a lifetime opportunity, and to represent your country and
play in the Olympics is indeed an honour.
"The ones who didn't participate liked the break. It's a long 82 game schedule. We'll have to wait and see – but I think from the players perspective, to participate again would be a positive."
The IIHF has already revealed the format for 2006 – no preliminary round like in 2002 with all 12 countries playing in the round robin – without knowing whether the NHL will send its players to Turin.
"The only thing decided so far is that the men's tournament will hold 12 teams, and it would have been the same had we gotten an agreement with the NHL-NHLPA today regarding their participation," IIHF president Rene Fasel said back in September 2003.
"Our basic format with 12 teams does not suggest anything more than just that. The only ones that really know are Messrs. Bettman and Goodenow."
"The ones who didn't participate liked the break. It's a long 82 game schedule. We'll have to wait and see – but I think from the players perspective, to participate again would be a positive."
The IIHF has already revealed the format for 2006 – no preliminary round like in 2002 with all 12 countries playing in the round robin – without knowing whether the NHL will send its players to Turin.
"The only thing decided so far is that the men's tournament will hold 12 teams, and it would have been the same had we gotten an agreement with the NHL-NHLPA today regarding their participation," IIHF president Rene Fasel said back in September 2003.
"Our basic format with 12 teams does not suggest anything more than just that. The only ones that really know are Messrs. Bettman and Goodenow."