[sureLoss]

How the NHL can prevent players from going to the Olympics:

http://www.tsn.ca/how-the-nhl-can-pr...mpics-1.715216

So, what can the NHL do to curb individual players from leaving their club?

One option would be to issue a rule stating that any player who leaves his club next February to play in the Olympics will be banned from playing for his team for the remainder of the season, including the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The belief is any such unilateral order would quickly be grieved by the NHL Players’ Association, who would likely feel that stiff a penalty and change to the rules would need to be bargained.

There are a number of other, more creative options on the table.

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, any player under NHL contract leaving his club to play for another without being loaned is grounds for a material breach of contract.

A club could then seek to terminate that player’s contract, and even potentially sue that player for millions in damages that occurred as a result of the breach, including an impact on the team’s poor performance or lost revenue due to reduced attendance.

If a player like Ovechkin were to follow through and go to the Olympics with Leonsis’ permission, such a breach of contract would probably not be contested. The Capitals wouldn’t want to terminate Ovechkin’s contract or hold him liable for damages.

But what if Leonsis and other team owners don’t have a choice?

Under the NHL constitution, Bettman is afforded broad powers to “ensure the integrity of the game and public confidence in the League.”

According to Section 6.3 (j)(b), Bettman can impose a fine on a team owner for as much as $1 million and revoke draft picks. He can increase that amount “as much as may be prescribed by any League rule or By-Law.”

In other words, Bettman could issue a decree that any breach of contract by a player not pursued by his club would be subject to a fine of $10 million.

Would Leonsis write a cheque for $10 million for Ovechkin to play in the Olympics? What about for Kuznetsov, Backstrom and Oshie?