Report: NHL offers to extend CBA to ensure players' Olympic participation

The NHLPA reportedly has an offer on the table from the league that, if accepted, could confirm their participation in the 2018 Olympics.

In exchange for the league's blessing, the players' union would agree to extend the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr did not deny the report, according to TSN's Frank Seravalli, adding that he's already started talking to players about the offer, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Both parties met with the IIHF and several hockey federations Wednesday in New York to discuss Olympic participation.

Related: Bettman has inquired if NHL can skip 2018 Olympics, return in 2022

Despite the offer, IIHF president Rene Fasel said he's not leaving the meeting optimistic.

The current CBA expires Sept. 15, 2022, with a potential opt-out in 2020 that would have to be submitted by Sept. 1, 2019.

A similar scenario played out before the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, the first time NHL players took part in the Games. The two sides agreed to extend that CBA to ensure participation and labor peace through the tournament.

Another CBA extension took place when expansion teams in Atlanta, Columbus, Minnesota, and Nashville were entering the league, because the NHL didn't want to disrupt their arrival.