Here is a summary of Bettman's statement made on the NHL Network recently reported on the HF Board..
"Gary Bettman reportedly appeared on the NHL Network/United States today and told the hosts that it would be extremely difficult for the NHL to participate in the 2018 Olympics in Korea and in the 2022 Games in Beijing, China or Almaty, Kazakhstan, whichever is awarded the bid. He reportedly said that while the Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver were extremely beneficial for the league, the Sochi Games didn't work out that well, especially considering the hardship of shutting down he league for 17 days and having players travel halfway around the world to compete. He also talked about the disadvantage for teams that contributed a lot of players to the Games, in comparison to other teams who basically sat home and rested.
He talked about how "Pyongchang" and Beijing weren't particularly hockey hotbeds, and that the times the games will be broadcast would eliminate all but the most diehard fans. He also talked about his "commitment" to international hockey through the World Cup, which explains the sudden, overnight resurrection of that seemingly dead tournament. He said he would provide more info on the World Cup and NHL decisions on the Olympic Games in the future. For all intent and purposes, sounds like the NHL is out of the Olympic business."
