The IOC is brutal but the NHL is not exactly an upstanding corporate citizen either... when you see their back channel dialogue on concussions and violence that has been released coupled with Bettman's scorn for grassroots access to the pro game (pushing broadcast to cable, pushing tickets and revenue generation to the absolute max freezing out mid/lower income families).
Ultimately at a time when leagues like the NBA are breaking their back for exposure in Asia the NHL turning their back on this is foolish. There should be more to the league's strategy then maximize $s today. Bettman has made his owners more money and protected their short term interests by damaging the long term future of hockey on a number of fronts.
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