NHL says more work to do before Olympic hockey deal is sorted for Sochi

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The NHL says there is more work to do before NHL players return to the Olympics.

NHL officials met Friday with representatives from the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation.

“We had a good working session and were able to discuss all of the issues involved in the possibility of having NHL players participate in the 2014 Sochi Games,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement.

“The parties are committed to continuing to work through the process, but there remains work to be done on all sides.”

NHL players have taken part in every Olympics since 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

But their participation carries with it a multitude of issues, from sharing highlights on various media platforms to insurance and the league taking a break to allow the players time to compete.

The 2014 Winter Olympics run Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia, and Daly has said previously the league will have to take a break of 17 or 18 days to accommodate the Games.

The league has estimated that 170 to 180 of its players would be involved in the Games.

IIHF president Rene Fasel has said he hopes an agreement can be finalized by May.

NHL officials visited Sochi last month. Meetings were also held in February in New York.