VANCOUVER — With labour talks having already begun on an off-the-cuff foundation, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and union chief Don Fehr are in favour of rebooting the World Cup of Hockey match and holding it each 4 years.
Worldwide Competitors
The stumbling block to laying out a long-term calendar of worldwide competitors, nevertheless, revolves across the hot-button matter of the NHL competing on the Winter Olympics after skipping out on South Korea final yr.
“One of many issues I hope we could have is an settlement to ascertain the long-term schedule for worldwide occasions which would come with World Cups of Hockey,” mentioned Fehr, stressing the plural “Cups” throughout an interview with The Related Press on the league’s draft festivities in Vancouver, British Columbia, this previous weekend. “That’s a stand-alone occasion. It shouldn’t be seen as competing with or changing the Olympics. It may be achieved.”
Bettman is on board with regards to the World Cup.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (AP Picture/Ben Margot)
“We expect that’s an awesome occasion and it’s one thing we’ve been attempting to work out for greater than two years,” he mentioned. “We’re all in favour of setting a global calendar, and it takes two to tango, so to talk.”
There’s a caveat, in fact, and the rationale why the 2 sides aren’t tangoing simply but.
“We expect the World Cup of Hockey could be a great occasion, notably if we don’t go to the Olympics,” Bettman mentioned.
Although resolving a strategy to cut back the share of gamers’ salaries being held again yearly in an escrow fund is the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation’s most urgent concern with the collective bargaining settlement, worldwide competitors can also be on the listing.
September Deadlines Approaching
And that’s the place the World Cup — revived in 2016 — and Olympic Video games participation will play a task as soon as formal negotiations start this summer time main as much as September deadlines during which both aspect can select to choose out and terminate the present CBA by the autumn of 2020. The house owners have till Sept. 1 and gamers on Sept. 15 to succeed in their selections and set the clock ticking towards one other potential work stoppage.
“There have been a sequence of discussions. I don’t suppose I might name them formal negotiations but,” Fehr mentioned. “And in case your subsequent query’s going to be the way it’s going to finish up, I’m going to inform you, ask me in the midst of August as a result of I don’t know but.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA government director Donald Fehr (Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Gamers are sad with the league’s resolution to skip the latest Winter Video games after having participated within the earlier 5. Shutting down the common season for 2 weeks is a matter for house owners, as was the time distinction relating to South Korea, with video games being performed within the early morning for North American audiences.
The union sides with the league involving different points relating to Olympic participation equivalent to gamers’ medical insurance coverage protection and advertising and marketing rights.
None of these apply with regards to the World Cup as a result of it’s collectively managed by the league and union, with either side splitting the income.
The World Cup’s return was greeted with an amazing quantity of fanfare when Bettman and Fehr shared the rostrum on the 2015 all-star recreation festivities in Columbus, Ohio, to announce the eight-team occasion could be held in Toronto the next yr.
There was even dialogue — however no decision — of getting it held each 4 years. The World Cup was beforehand performed in 1996 and 2004, and succeeded the Canada Cup, which was held 5 instances from 1976-91.
Fehr Prefers Olympics
Talking just for himself and never the union, Fehr mentioned he would like the NHL compete on the Olympics after which have the World Cup held each 4 years — with two years separating the occasions.
“If it was as much as me, I’d do all of it sooner fairly than later, however we’ll see,” Fehr mentioned. “The query is, can we get the settlement on all of the intervening items.”
Fehr famous the union and NHL can’t resolve the Olympic participation query alone in labour talks as a result of excellent points should even be negotiated with the Worldwide Ice Hockey Federation and Worldwide Olympic Committee.
Bettman doesn’t see why the 2 sides can’t attain a deal on the World Cup, given they’re each in favour.
“Sure, so it ought to get achieved,” Bettman mentioned. “We’re going to finally come collectively and work out one thing that everyone’s snug with.”
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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
John Wawrow, The Related Press
