Fasel: NHL needs to make Olympic decision by end of August

IIHF president Rene Fasel has set a deadline for the NHL to decide whether or not the league will participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Speaking at the closing press conference at the world juniors Sunday, Fasel said he needs a decision from commissioner Gary Bettman by the end of August, according to The Canadian Press.

"We would like to have a decision as early as possible if they're coming to Beijing - 'Yes' or 'No,"' Fasel said. "In Pyeongchang, there was a late 'No.' Especially the North American teams, U.S. and Canada, had some problems to find the players and to build up a good team."

The NHL informed the IIHF that it wouldn't be participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 10 months prior to the event. It marked the first time since 1998 that the league didn't send its players to the Winter Games.

In November, Bettman remained resistant to the idea of sending players to the Olympics, saying participation is "incredibly disruptive" to the NHL season. However, Fasel believes there's no greater stage for the game of hockey.

"The first mission is to promote the game of ice hockey," Fasel said. "The Olympic Games is the unique platform we can use, especially in Asia, with the best on best. Asia is two-thirds of the population. I consider Gary a smart person.

"He's smart. At the end, he will come ... I hope."

There hasn't been a best-on-best international hockey tournament since the World Cup in 2016. The NHL said in December that a proposed World Cup in 2021 won't work, but the league is aiming to hold one in 2024.