In a move that plenty of people might have seen coming but resonates with unpleasantness nonetheless, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman dropped a bomb Tuesday in his response to whether the league will partake in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Bettman’s response, according to CBC Radio News’ Tom Harrington: “Assume we’re not going.”

 

The league has its reasons for holding back from Olympic participation -- namely ones centered on financial and player-health risks. But if Bettman’s not-so-subtle hint holds true, the NHL will certainly have no shortage of players -- and big-name ones, at that -- tempted to skip their own regular-season obligations for a shot at some overseas action on the world’s grandest athletic stage. 

 

And some owners, like the Washington Capitals’ Ted Leonsis, apparently won’t have a problem letting their stars pursue Olympic opportunities the NHL should probably be throwing in their direction.