SOCHI, Russia -- The process of getting NHL players to come to the 2018 Winter Olympics has begun.
International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he has been consulting players and officials over a deal to ensure the NHL's best are available to play at the games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
"We are working on that. It will not be easy for sure, but our goal is to bring the NHL to Korea," Fasel said on the sidelines of the SportAccord convention. "It's a long way. We started one year ago. It's a long process. We have so many partners involved, so many, so it takes time."
The IIHF must reach a deal with NHL officials, the NHL Players' Association and the International Olympic Committee in order to get the players on board for the games. Insurance for player injuries is a perennial sticking point.
For the last Winter Olympics in Sochi, a deal was reached seven months before the games.
Fasel also said he did not consider next year's revived World Cup, organized by the NHL, to be a threat to the IIHF's annual world championship. The World Cup will be played in September 2016, four months after the world championship, which usually lacks many major NHL names.
"Different continent. Many different players. Different continent, different fans," Fasel said. "They're going to play (the World Cup) in Toronto, it's a hockey city, 100 percent. We go to Czech (Republic), another place where hockey is very, very popular."
NHL
Canucks: Burrows misses Game 4 with injury
CALGARY, Alberta -- Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows missed Game 4 of the playoffs against Calgary after injuring his upper body during the morning skate.
The team said on Twitter on Tuesday that he was taken to the hospital as a precaution but did not elaborate on the injury. The 34-year-old player was in obvious pain when he was hurt and left the ice quickly.
Burrows has two assists in three playoff games, with Vancouver trailing the first-round series 2-1. He had 18 goals and 15 assists during the season.
The Canucks called up forward Sven Baertschi. He was acquired from Calgary at the March 2 trade deadline for a second-round draft pick.