Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Hockey Talk And Rumors

12/04/2016 at 8:40am EST

from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun,

- It was no surprise the NHL Players’ Association rejected the offer to extend the collective bargaining agreement for three years in exchange for the green light to go to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. So, what happens next? “The players want to go and the owners don’t want to go so that’s where it stands,” a league executive Saturday. While it would be easy for the NHL to simply turn the page and reject the idea of going, Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin has already declared he’s heading over to play for Russia anyway. If Capitals owner Ted Leonsis doesn’t stand in Ovechkin’s way then look out. You have to worry about the domino effect if that happens. What if Connor McDavid tells Oilers owner Darryl Katz he wants to suit up for Team Canada and there’s no stopping him? This has the potential to get ugly if a resolution isn’t reached.

- Two coaches executives believe are on the hot seat at the moment: Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice and Buffalo’s Dan Bylsma. Sooner or later both have to start getting better results. The Jets should be in a playoff position in the West while the Sabres haven’t been healthy but they should have a better record.

- Trying to make a deal isn’t easy which is a familiar complaint the last few years. “It’s the same old thing,” a league executive told your correspondent Saturday. “The standings are so tight, nobody’s out of it and there’s so much parity that it’s hard to make a trade. It’s really no different than other years.”

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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