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Daly calls NHL’s Olympic experience a ‘mixed bag’

billdalygetty

Back in July, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told PHT that the league and players’ union were taking a wait-and-see approach when it came to participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

“It’s our joint intention (NHL and NHLPA) to assess the experience in Sochi before even considering whether to continue with Olympic participation going forward,” wrote Daly in an email.

At the time, we surmised that the 2014 Games would be the last ones in which NHLers participated, at least for the foreseeable future. And based on Daly’s recent comments to the Wall Street Journal, we’ll stick with that prediction.

“Our experience with the Olympics has been a mixed bag—it’s not our tournament, we’re not in control of it, it’s at a time of the year that doesn’t work in our regular-season schedule,” Daly said. “On the positive side, we recognize we’re on a world-wide stage.”

In November, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman voiced his support for the return of the World Cup, as opposed to ongoing participation in the Olympics.