Bill Daly
Canada's Eric Staal walks to the ice for a men's qualification round hockey game against China at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
IIHF, NHL officials hoping for early deal for 2026 Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2022 09:09 PM EST

Bettman: NHL going worldwide with revival of Global Series

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 07:48 PM EST
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NHL is ready to go worldwide again after two years of coronavirus restrictions and a missed Olympics. Commissioner Gary Bettman...

Montreal Canadiens players and coaching staff look on from the bench against a backdrop of empty seats during during second-period NHL hockey game action against the Philadelphia Flyers in Montreal, Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL shuts down 2 more teams for a week amid COVID surge

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 17, 2021 06:17 PM EST

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) skates around the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Bettman: NHL still planning to have players go to Olympics

By The Associated Press Dec. 10, 2021 06:42 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2014, file photo, hockey pucks bounce off the wall during the warm up session before the USA vs Finland men's bronze medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. National Hockey League players are set to return to the Olympics in Beijing this winter after reaching an agreement with international officials. The league, NHLPA, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation struck a deal Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, that will put the best players in the world back on sports' biggest stage in February after skipping the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
NHL reaches agreement to send players to Olympics in Beijing

By Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow Sep. 03, 2021 11:20 AM EDT

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman takes part in an interview next to a Seattle Kraken NHL hockey goalie helmet Wednesday, July 21, 2021, during the Kraken's expansion draft event in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
NHL teams get 2021-22 schedules with, without Olympic break

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 22, 2021 03:49 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy stretches before the first period in Game 1 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Montreal Canadiens, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)
Bettman casts doubt on NHL players going to Beijing Olympcs

By Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow Jun. 28, 2021 06:19 PM EDT

New York Yankees relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman, left, leaves the field after a bullpen session with catcher Gary Sanchez after a bullpen session during a baseball summer training camp workout Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
The Latest: Pop keeping eye on Japan, and Olympic hopes

By The Associated Press Jul. 11, 2020 08:14 PM EDT

FILE - This Aug. 23, 2019, file photo shows International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel watching the opening ceremony of the 2019 Sirius Junior Club World Cup ice hockey tournament in Sochi, Russia. Fasel is encouraged upon learning the NHL’s tentatively agreed to labor deal opens the possibility of the league allowing its players to return to Olympic competition. Aside from the uncertainty raised by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Fasel told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday, July 7, 2020, he doesn’t foresee any major stumbling blocks that could derail negotiations leading up to the 2022 Beijing Games.(Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik, Kremlin via AP, Pool, File)
IIHF encouraged by NHL's potential return to Olympics in '22

By John Wawrow Jul. 07, 2020 04:53 PM EDT

The Olympic rings are seen Monday, March 30, 2020, in Tokyo. The Tokyo Olympics will open next year in the same time slot scheduled for this year's games. Tokyo organizers said Monday the opening ceremony will take place on July 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Latest: Becher defends Sharks' games amid county caution

By The Associated Press Mar. 31, 2020 07:47 AM EDT

A man looks at a Tokyo 2020 countdown clock displaying the current date and time outside Tokyo Station, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in Tokyo. Not even the Summer Olympics could withstand the force of the coronavirus. After weeks of hedging, the IOC took the unprecedented step of postponing the world's biggest sporting event, a global extravaganza that's been cemented into the calendar for more than a century. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Latest: Hurricanes ask employees to take time off

By The Associated Press Mar. 25, 2020 07:44 PM EDT