The NHL is working with the NHLPA to bargain for a CBA extension. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.ca reports the NHL is speaking to players about extending the CBA in exchange for working out a deal to participate in future Olympics.
Donald Fehr confirms that he's started speaking with players about NHL's offer to go to the Olympics in exchange for extending CBA.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 16, 2016
Fehr declined to speculate about what recourse the #NHLPA has if the league's Board of Governors votes to not participate in 2018 Oly.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 16, 2016
It’s an interesting tactic. As Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.ca reports, if players were to agree to a deal it would be a double-edged sword. They’d be actively allowed to play in the Olympics but would be locked into the current CBA and all that comes with it for at least three more seasons.
Friedman reports a deal of this nature wouldn’t be the first.
“This move is not unprecedented. Prior to the NHL’s first foray into the Olympics (Nagano, 1998) both sides agreed to waive the right to re-open their CBA to ensure there would be no labour disruption at that time. The league and players also agreed to an early extension when expansion loomed to Atlanta, Columbus, Minnesota and Nashville. Obviously, the NHL did not want a shutdown while that was happening.”
Some see the offer as a cheap move to blackmail players into being locked into a league-friendly CBA. Outspoken agent Allan Walsh said the league was leveraging the Olympics.
Interesting. The NHL is attempting to leverage (or blackmail) the players strong desire to play in the Olympics into a CBA extension.
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) November 16, 2016
Walsh also said clients told him they plan to go regardless of a deal.
Several players I've talked to said if they're selected to respective Olympic teams, they're going no matter what NHL says.
— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) November 16, 2016
I can’t imagine the chaos that would be created should a player choose to go to the Olympics and get hurt. Insurance issues would be massive.
It’s hard to tell if the proposal has merit. The big question for players: Are the Olympics worth not being able to renegotiate the CBA? It doesn’t quite add up.
