One of the lingering side issues that were outside the confines of this new CBA, yet still require negotiations with multiple parties, is the NHLs participation at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
The players overwhelmingly want to go, regardless of the awful time differences. The NHL has a number of issues facing it, not the least of which is shutting the league down here in North America for a couple weeks one season after a lockout.
Thats nothing, however, compared to the more prickly issues between IIHF president Rene Faselwho wants the NHLs presenceand league commissioner Gary Bettman.
For one, Bettman wants the leagues participation to be a front and center kind of deal, rather than a mere afterthought.
Given the leagues international exposure in recent years, the Olympics should be seen as a natural event for the NHL to market its product in Europe.
And that the crux of Bettmans objections.
The NHL gets very little financially out of the Olympics for the privilege of shutting itself down in the dead of winter when hockey means so much to so many in certain parts of North America that lack other sports.
NHL
Chris Johnston of Canadian Press wrote a detailed story this past week that spelled out the difference of opinion between how the IOC and the NHL see this venture.
In an ever-expanding world of digital media, in which the NHL has invested millions, it gets shut out on the international stage at the Olympics.
And thats bad for business and bad for the NHLs ability to market itself at the worlds most prestigious, international event.
NBC wants the NHL at the Olympics. And why not? After all, the network has the television contract in the U.S. for hockey and the Olympics.
In fairness to Bettman, after participating in the past several Winter Games, it should no longer be about the good of the game but about realizing financial goals that are both necessary and fair to all sides, especially the side that is providing the key element to the Gamesits players.
As I have always pointed out whenever asked questions about NHL players participation, our doors are always open, Fasel told Canadian Press.
I am confident that we will find wayslike we did in Nagano, Salt Lake City, Turin and Vancouverto stage this event on the biggest sporting stage there is.
Well see.
Not missing it
That would be former Red Wings defenseman Nick Lidstrom, who is retired now.
There was a report in Sweden earlier suggesting that Detroit coach Mike Babcock tried to talk Lidstrom out of retirement.
What really happened was Nick was on the phone with Kenny Red Wings general manager Holland and he handed me the phone and we started talking about the club, Babcock told Michigan Live.com.
I said, 'I hope you're doing well and enjoying retirement' and asked him if he's driving his wife crazy yet. He said he's been to a lot of games in Sweden.
I said, 'When the crowd gets going, does it still get you excited? Enough to put your equipment on? He said, no. We both laughed.
Lidstrom is an example of a true rarity in sportshe played his entire career with one organization, winning won four Stanley Cups and seven Norris Trophies.
Not too shabby, eh?
Associated Press, Canadian Press, Michigan Live.com, Montreal Gazette, Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, and the Washington Post contributed to this story.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net