Another ploy from the weasel. In his 23 years as head of the NHL, he has demonstrated his skill at exploiting every opportunity to exercise greed. The Donald Trump of the sports world is not serious about omitting the 2018 Olympics. He has the funding he bullied out of the IOC. Now, he must decide to go or stay home. The stay home option would be very controversial. Ovechkin and a few others might decide to go anyway! That would be a slap in the face to the NHL. But what if the top 100 players decide to go. That would be a PR meltdown of epic proportions. There would be no possibility of retribution, as you can't fire them all. Would you cancel the league games or play AHL talent. Either way, fans would raise hell with teams, Rogers and anyone else who would listen.
And then the Weasel might suddenly develop the need to spend more time with his family.
Which weasels never want to do because they are survivors. 

So cut the crap, Mr. Bettman. Do your labour negotiations at the table.