Few things have made NHL teams grumble more this season than the advent of the new five-day "bye" weeks which go into effect for all 30 clubs in the second half of this season.

Many a coach and team executive has complained about the impact it has had on the already compressed schedule.

Sources within both the NHL and NHL Players' Association say the five-day bye weeks are part of the discussion again as both sides finalize the Los Angeles All-Star Game negotiations (the NHLPA got the five-day bye week last year as part of the Nashville All-Star format agreement).

Now, if the NHL ends up participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics next season, that two-week break would stand instead of the five-day bye week.