Will NHL players be headed to the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China this year? The league’s initial schedule release suggested as much, with a break penciled in for February 7-22, but several weeks later the NHL still has yet to confirm their participation. Fortunately, the wait for a decision will not have to last much longer. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly tells ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that the league will announce, one way or another, their intention for the 2022 Olympics by the end of the month. Wyshynski notes that multiple teams around the league had also indicated that a decision would be made in August. While Olympic participation was written in to the recent CBA extension, it was dependent on an agreement between the NHL and NHLPA and the IIHF as to terms. This has been made more difficult with the resurgent COVID-19 cases and the Games taking place in China of all places. Conversely, the league and players’ association are also concerned about the conditions that the players may be in, with Wyshynski writing that the restrictions could be even heavier than they were in the 2020 NHL postseason bubbles. If the NHL does opt to skip the Beijing Olympics, Daly confirms that the league does have a backup schedule that would fill some of the dates in that currently scheduled gap, though the logistics of such a move could be difficult for teams to manage.
- Tom Kuhnhackl appears to be on his way out of the NHL and back to Europe. The German forward has been linked to Swedish club Skelleftea AIK, reports local source Sport Expressen. They go so far as to say that the terms of a deal have been agreed to, just not formally announced. Such a move should not come as much of a surprise. Although Kuhnhackl enjoyed a good stretch as a reliable bottom-six forward, he was unable to crack the New York Islanders lineup last season, spending the year exclusively in the AHL or on the taxi squad. As a result, the 29-year-old now heads back to Europe to take on a starring role in the SHL rather than a depth role in North America. The move will also ensure that he can suit up for Germany at the Olympics regardless of the NHL’s decision. Kuhnhackl has been stellar on the international stage for Germany in the past and will look to do so again.
- Carolina Hurricanes prospect Kirill Slepets is not rushing to North America despite up-and-down development in Russia. The 2019 fifth-round pick has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Spartak Moscow, the team announced. An overage draft pick, Slepets is already 22 years old and after two season with KHL action, was relegated to only second-tier VHL play last season, leading some to expect he might try out a new development path. Instead, Slepets will stay put in Russia and try his luck with locking down a regular role with Spartak . A small, slippery winger, Slepets has struggled competing against the top talent of the KHL with just eight points in 43 games at the top level, but has shown his ability in the minors with 30 points in 65 VHL games. If he is to ever become a legitimate NHL prospect, especially at his age, the Hurricanes will need to see him take a major step this season or else try his hand in North America next year.
Another reason not to go to Beijing is the lousy ratings the Summer Olympics received. No reason to think that will improve in 2022.
But speaking of 2022, they already know that a new variant will be making landfall 6 months from now?
Interesting and curious.
@gbear i’m surprised that the olympic committee is even going to allow winter games in china given that it’s the hot bed for covid. tbh i wouldn’t be surprised if most countries pull out of this upcoming winter olympics and that nhl owners don’t want there top players out for weeks because they have to quarantine after the games. i know as a fan i would be pissed if i.e. o’reily was out for 2-3 weeks because he went over and played for us or canada and my note lose games because our best player/c is out because of protocol. also i’m not saying nhl players shouldn’t be allowed to play in the olympics but this year and until this whole covid thing gets resolved going to the covid hotbed isn’t the brightest of moves imo.
@brodie-bruce – It’s not just a hotbed for COVID, which, of course, is bad enough in its own right, but a hotter-bed for human rights crimes. That justifies a relocation, by some of our PHR member opinions, to a better location, like, say, Latvia (because they were good hosts for the IIHF World Championships).
aint that easy to just move the Olympics, for better or for worse. if the IOC cares they would have never approved Beijing’s bid.
@DarkSide830 – Can you think of a better time in history to establish a new precedent?
Hard to move the Olympics. Pretty easy to boycott them.
Overseas Notes: Olympics, Kuhnhackl, Slepets
I quick read “Kuhnhackl Over Slept Olympics” and was reminded of that great Seinfeld episode.
China’s greatest human rights crime as of today is its COVID lies that resulted in 4 mil dead and people in lock downs all over the world. The pandemic affected in some way or another all our lives and somehow noone has guts to treat China accordingly (boycott olympics). Well i guess thats just the clown world we live in today. The world of King LeFlops and Evander “i’m not stupid” Kanes
There is some chatter of Canada boycotting because of China sentencing Canadians to death after the Huawei heiress Meng was taken into custody for extradition to the US.
The Olympics is supposed to be above and beyond that insanity but in reality it is not.
If I was a Canadian athlete, I’d opt to stay home.