Max Pacioretty isn't picking up what Gary Bettman is putting down.
On Tuesday, the NHL commissioner stated people should assume the league will not be shutting down in order to allow player participation at the 2018 Winter OIympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, citing an inability to quantify any benefit for doing so in the past.
Respectfully, the Montreal Canadiens captain and 2014 Team USA member disagrees.
"People want to see us go, we want to go," Pacioretty said, per Eric Engels of Sportsnet. "I think it helps the league. I know it helps the league."
Pacioretty added, "For me, it’s a no-brainer that players should be there and players should go."
In regards to what Bettman said Monday, Pacioretty sees it as part of the negotiation process.
"(Bettman) is a smart guy. That’s what you do. You never try and fold or give up too much too easily. That’s what smart negotiators do, but players want to go, and we’ve heard rumblings of owners wanting players to go. It’s no surprise. We’ll see what happens, but I expect us to be there."
It was reported in November the NHL offered to extend the current collective bargaining agreement with the players in order to ensure Olympic participation, a notion that was soundly rejected.
While Bettman hasn't slammed the door shut, clearly some middle ground needs to be found in order to make it happen.
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