Bettman: NHL participation in 2018 Olympics not a current priority

As of right now, the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang are not on Gary Bettman's mind.

The NHL commissioner was at Busch Stadium on Tuesday to discuss January's Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, but touched on other topics during his press conference.

One of the focal points was whether there's been any progress regarding NHLers participating in South Korea, and according to Bettman, there hasn't.

"We probably won't get to it in terms of serious discussions one way or another with players' association and the IIHF and the IOC until winter. It's not on the front burner right now," Bettman said, according to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.

Ahead of the start of the Stanley Cup Final in May, Bettman said NHL teams likely aren't interested in interrupting the regular-season schedule, adding that the financial situation is the biggest hurdle to get the players to the games.

If the multiple parties are unable to reach a deal, it would mark the first time since the Nagano games in 1998 that NHL players won't participate.