VANCOUVER, British Columbia — While union negotiations have already begun informally, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and union leader Don Fehr favor resuming the World Cup of Hockey and holding it every four years.
The stumbling block in establishing a long-term schedule of international competitions, however, revolves around the hot topic of the NHL’s participation in the Winter Olympics after leaving out South Korea last year .
“One of the things I hope we get is an agreement to establish a long-term schedule for international events that would include the Hockey World Cups,” Fehr said, emphasizing the plural “Cups” during an interview with The Associated Press at the league’s draft festivities in Vancouver, British Columbia, last weekend. “It’s a standalone event. It shouldn’t be seen as competition or a replacement for the Olympics. It can be done.”
Bettman agrees when it comes to the World Cup.
“We think it’s a great event and it’s something we’ve been trying to work on for over two years,” he said. “We are all in favor of an international calendar, and it takes two to tango, so to speak.”
There is of course a caveat, and the reason both parties aren’t dancing yet.
“We think the World Cup of Hockey can be a wonderful event, especially if we don’t go to the Olympics,” Bettman said.
While finding a way to reduce the percentage of players’ salaries held each year in an escrow fund is the NHL Players’ Association’s most pressing concern regarding the collective bargaining agreement, international competition is also on the list.
And that’s where the World Cup – relaunched in 2016 – and participation in the Olympic Games will play a role once formal negotiations begin this summer, leading up to the September deadlines during which either side can choose to walk away. and to terminate the current agreement by fall 2020. Owners have until September 1 and players until September 15 to make their decision and settle the clock to another potential work stoppage.
“There was a series of discussions. I don’t think I would talk about formal negotiations yet,” Fehr said. “And if your next question is how it’s going to end, I’ll tell you, ask me in mid-August because I do not know yet.”
Players are unhappy with the league’s decision to skip the final Winter Games after participating in the previous five. The two-week shutdown of the regular season is a problem for the owners, as is the time difference with South Korea, with games taking place early in the morning for North American audiences.
The union sides with the league on other issues regarding Olympic participation, such as players’ medical insurance coverage and marketing rights.
None of these apply to the World Cup, as it is jointly controlled by the league and union, with both parties sharing revenue.
The return of the World Cup was greeted with great fanfare when Bettman and Fehr shared the podium during the 2015 All-Star Game festivities in Columbus, Ohio, to announce that the eight-team event would take place in Toronto later this year. next.
There were even discussions – but no resolution – about holding it every four years. The World Cup was previously held in 1996 and 2004 and was the successor to the Canada Cup, which took place five times between 1976 and 1991.
Speaking only for himself and not the union, Fehr said he would prefer the NHL compete in the Olympics and have the World Cup every four years, with two years between events. .
“If it were up to me, I would do it sooner rather than later, but we’ll see,” Fehr said. “The question is whether we can reach agreement on all the elements in between.”
Fehr emphasized that the union and the NHL cannot resolve the issue of participation in the Olympics alone in union negotiations, because the outstanding issues must also be negotiated with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee.
Bettman doesn’t see why the two sides can’t agree on the World Cup, given that they are both in favor.
“Yes, so it should be done,” Bettman said. “We’ll eventually come together and find something that everyone will be comfortable with.”
