from Stephen Whyno of the CP at the Toronto Star,

Even though no official decision has been made about NHL participation in future Olympics, China is definitely on the NHL’s radar.

After Pyeongchang, South Korea, hosts in 2018, Beijing is on the docket for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Opening up the Chinese market to hockey could be a lucrative opportunity for the NHL and NHL Players’ Association.

“Obviously China is an important market,” commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday. “It’s a big one. If you can influence 1 per cent of the population you’re doing well, so obviously we’re going to need to take a look at what we think the overall impact on the game would be by participating.”

Bettman and NHLPA executive director Don Fehr are careful to say they haven’t had any formal discussions about going back to the Olympics. It’s no secret that the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation would love nothing better than for the NHL to be back to headline a premier event.

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