NEW YORK — There is still no deal to send NHL players to next year's Sochi Olympics. But all signs point in that direction, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says “things are moving along.” Bettman, union leader Donald Fehr and International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel met for more than five hours Monday at league headquarters to work on a deal that would allow NHL players to compete in Sochi. This would be the fifth Olympics for the NHL. Not everything has been agreed to and the various sides need to meet internally to sign off on any pact. Still, Bettman called Monday's session a “constructive meeting,” adding “we're not quite ready to announce it's done.” “We're on a compact schedule,” Bettman added. “We seem to be pulling the oars in the same direction.” Fasel was headed to the airport following the meeting and planned to get together with various international groups beginning Tuesday. Fehr will brief the players during multiday union executive board meetings next week. “We had a very constructive meeting,” Fasel said. “I am very happy and pleased. I have to go back also to my federation and to other national federations, especially back to the IOC, to make a report. I am confident that we will have a solution at the end.” The biggest challenge the NHL faces every time the Olympics come is the need to stop the ice hockey season for several weeks in order for its players to go. That is even more of a factor this time because the Olympics are taking place one year after a lengthy lockout wiped out nearly half of the NHL regular season.— AP
