International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel said he had a good discussion Wednesday with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHL Players Association Executive Director Don Fehr about the worlds top hockey players participating in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.No hitting, and no elbows, Fasel joked in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.Bettman described the meeting as constructive and candid.Still lots of issues, Bettman wrote in an email to the AP.Fasel said his job is to raise funds for the players transportation and insurance. The International Olympic Committee does not want to cover those costs as it has the previous five Olympics. Fasel hopes to persuade the IOC to financially support the NHLs participation.It is the only league that shuts down to participate in the Winter or Summer Olympics, Fasel said.Bettman and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly declined to comment on a Sportsnet report indicating the league has offered to sign off on allowing players to go for gold in South Korea in exchange for the union not opting out of the collective bargaining agreement in September 2019, which would in effect extend the deal for three years.There have been some suggestions that could be construed that that discussion would be worth having, Fehr told reporters in New York. Obviously, we discuss that with players. We have begun that process, but were a long way from done.Bettman has said a decision would need to be made by early January at the latest, giving the league time to create its 2017-18 schedule with or without a two-plus week break for the Olympics.Fasel isnt in a rush.We can wait longer because we want to do all we can to keep best-on-best hockey in the Olympics, Fasel said.NHL and NHLPA officials recently visited the Olympic site in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and have deemed it suitable for international competition.Whether the worlds best hockey players go to South Korea in about 15 months is up to the league and union, though Russian superstar Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has said he will go even if there isnt an agreement.The IOC spent about $14 million to cover travel and insurance costs for NHL players for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Fasel has said the bill would be about $10 million for the next Olympics because it wont be necessary to charter planes to South Korea as it was to get players to Sochi.The NHL hasnt sounded eager about going to South Korea, but does appear very interested in tapping into Chinas huge market in 2022.When the IOC awarded the Beijing Games, it certainly created a bigger opportunity than we thought existed potentially before, Daly said in September. But it is also possible that you dont go to one Olympics and you do go to the other. I dont think anybody has ruled that out as a possibility.Fasel has been trying to persuade national Olympic committees and hockey federations to donate funds to keep the games best players on the biggest stage in sports. He acknowledged the IIHF could possibly use some of the $40 million it gets from the IOC every four years and make cuts from its development programs for boys and girls.Its not going to be easy to get this done, but thats my job, Fasel said.---Follow Larry Lage at www.twitter.com/larrylage and follow his work at www.bigstory.ap.org/content/larry-lage Kolten Wong .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Michael Wacha . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-dexter-fowler-jersey-large-1331q.html . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Ryan Helsley . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Enos Slaughter . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. Considering that his team has been without star guard Russell Westbrook and with the free agent departure of sharpshooter Kevin Martin, hes had to carry the majority of the load to not only keep his team afloat but more importantly, at an elite level. WASHINGTON -- Nationals All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos is out for the season because of a torn ACL in his right knee, manager Dusty Baker announced Tuesday.Ramos suffered the injury in Mondays game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.Shortly after play resumed following a 20-minute rain delay Monday, Arizonas Yasmany Tomas hit an RBI double to right field. On the play, Ramos leaped up to catch a high relay throw from first baseman Ryan Zimmerman. When Ramos landed on the dirt next to home plate, he collapsed to the ground, clutching his right knee and grimacing in pain.After spending several minutes on the ground while Washington trainer Paul Lessard examined him, Ramos exited the game. He needed assistance as he walked gingerly toward the first-base dugout and barely put any weight on his right leg.It is the same leg Ramos injured in May 2012, when he tore his ACL and MCL during a game in Cincinnati.Baker said Ramos will see doctors this week, then determine when he will have surgery.Hes upbeat about things, Baker said. He knows that other guys have come back from this. ... And Im positive as strong and as positive as he is and the way he works that hell be back stronger than ever.A 29-year-old free agent-to be, Ramos was in the midst of a career year in which he was named an All-Star for the first time. In 131 games for the Nationals, he was hitting .307 with 22 home runs and 80 RBIs, all personal bests.Without Ramos, Washhington will turn to veteran backup Jose Lobaton and rookie Pedro Severino to fill the void behind the plate.dddddddddddd Additionally, the Nationals called up catcher Spencer Kieboom from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday to provide catching depth.Washington also is dealing with injuries to several other key players. All-Star pitcher Stephen Strasburg has been out since early September with a strained flexor mass, MVP candidate Daniel Murphy has missed the past five games with a strained buttocks muscle, and reigning MVP Bryce Harper has been out after injuring his thumb while sliding Sunday.There is no timetable for Strasburgs return, although general manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday that he doesnt expect to have Strasburg back on the mound for the beginning of the playoffs.Baker said prior to Mondays game that he expects Murphy to be ready for the playoffs. After the game, Baker announced that Harpers X-rays came back negative.In addition, pitcher A.J. Cole was suspended for five games and fined Tuesday for throwing a pitch near the head of Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang on Saturday. Cole is appealing.The Nationals have clinched the National League East division title and will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '