The players under contract will not be JO

Photo: Jacques Boissinot The canadian Press
The assistant commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly

Players who hold a contract from the national hockey League, even the ones playing in the minor leagues, will not be able to participate in the olympic winter Games to Pyeongchang in February.

The assistant commissioner of the NHL, Bill Daly, confirmed the decision of the league to the Associated Press on Monday. The circuit Bettman announced in April that it would not make a break in her next season to allow its players to compete in the olympic tournament for the first time since 1994. The fate of the players of the american League and the ECHL remained outstanding.

“A decision has been made and all players with a contract the NHL will be treated in the same way,” said Daly.

This decision means that players whose contracts are two-pronged, or who are assigned to the minor leagues by their club, will not be available to represent their national team. The LAH said earlier this summer that its managing directors may allow players with contracts of the american League, flying to South Korea.

Exceptions

Daly added, however, that players under contract to the NHL, but playing in Europe, as the first choice of the Dallas Stars Miro Heiskanen, Finland, will be able to participate in the olympic tournament. These players on loan to european clubs, not écouleraient not a year of their contract in the NHL, as is the case for the players league of major junior hockey in canada.

Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of operations hockey at USA Hockey and general manager of the national team in view of the 2018 olympic games, said that the american federation would honor its partnership with the NHL and was not going to include player under contract in its formation. Hockey Canada should also avoid conflict with the NHL.

Johannson had declared Friday as the official rules for the olympic Games had not been finalized until recently.

“For me, if they are not registered with the NHL, which means that they do not have a contract with the NHL is that they are available,” he said.

For Americans, this means that they would be deprived of some of the best elements of the american League of the last season : leading scorer Kenny Agostino, defenceman T. J. Brennan, and goalie Troy Grosenick, all holders of a contract of the NHL. By contrast, Chris Bourque and goalie John Muse, two american players under contract to the AHL, could be retained.

The United States should send a formation composed of players academics, under contracts of AHL and professionals playing in Europe in Pyeongchang. Canada, as he has demonstrated with his training and has participated in two tournaments preparatory in Russia this week, will rely heavily on players working in Europe.