Bettman: Concessions needed for NHL to go to Olympics

March 24, 2017 at 11:49 a.m. | Updated March 24, 2017 at 12:06 p.m.

by Associated Press

St. Louis Blues left wing Magnus Paajarvi points to teammate Patrik Berglund after Berglund assisted on Paajarvi's second goal of the night against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)
St. Louis Blues left wing Magnus Paajarvi points to teammate Patrik Berglund after Berglund assisted on Paajarvi's second goal of the night against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Louis. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) - NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the International Olympic Committee and hockey's governing body will have to make concessions before the league sends the world's best players to the Winter Games in South Korea next February.

For now, Bettman says, "assume we're not going."

Bettman made it clear Friday at a breakfast with Chicago business leaders that league owners don't want to stop their season for three weeks again and put their stars at risk of injury without what they consider a tangible return. The NHL has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1998.

Bettman says the league has no timetable to resolve the dispute. The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Rene Fasel, says he needs to know by the end of April.

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