Bettman doesn't expect players under contract to defy Olympic decision

Gary Bettman isn't planning on NHL players going rogue.

The commissioner remained steadfast in his insistence that the NHL will not participate in the 2018 Olympic Games when asked about it at his annual Stanley Cup Final news conference before Game 1 on Monday night, adding that he doesn't envision players disregarding the league's stance.

"We have an expectation that none of our players are going," Bettman told reporters, according to CSN Mid-Atlantic's Tarik El-Bashir, adding, "There's no reason to pick that fight right now."

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is among several players who've stated they plan to go to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the tournament regardless of the NHL's official stance on participation.

Pyeongchang organizers have expressed a desire to re-open talks since the league announced in early April that it will not formally take part in the Games, but Bettman insisted Monday that it's no longer up for discussion.

"It is not and has not been," the commissioner said when asked if it's an open issue, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Monday's revelation that Tampa Bay will host the 2018 All-Star Game would also seem to put the Olympic chatter to bed.