The NHL is going to the Olympics. The league sent out a memo to players today (via John Hoven of SiriusXM NHL) outlining their agreement with the IIHF and IOC to send NHL talent to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. There has been a break built into the schedule, allowing for players to depart North America on February 6. As Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports, the league retains the right to withdraw participation if the COVID situation worsens or if their regular schedule has been disrupted by outbreaks, leaving no room to reschedule games.
The 2022 Games will be the first true best-on-best action since 2016, when the World Cup was held just prior to the start of the season. This will be the first time the NHL has participated in the Olympics since 2014, when Canada defeated Sweden for the gold medal. The tournament scoring leaders that year were Phil Kessel and Erik Karlsson, two players that would be hard-pressed to repeat that feat this time around.
Olympic participation was one of the sticking points in last summer’s CBA negotiation, though the league only agreed to work as hard as possible to find an agreement with the IIHF and did not guarantee the NHL would go. They have proven true to their word, securing insurance for the players at the cost of the IIHF. There is no COVID-related insurance, according to the memo, but the IIHF has created a $5MM fund to help cover lost NHL salaries for any athlete that contracts COVID at the event (provided they were following protocols at the time).
One note that may be of interest is the size of the rink. The Games will be played on regulation NHL-sized rinks and officiated by NHL referees and linesmen.
Good to see the best of the best back. Not going to lie though, I had a great experience cheering for the Germans against the Russian team that was full of star caliber professionals last time around.
Interesting that it is on the NHL sized ice surface. Would like to see players like McDavid or Matthews on the larger ice surface, see what they can do with all that space.
Disappointed that it is NHL referees. Would prefer refs who are not influenced by Bettman.
Will the league also allow the influx of players getting Covid upon returning
I’m sure they’ll be under a fairly strict quarantine similar to the bubble in the playoffs during 2020.
NHL & NHLPA will still be able to pull out of Olympics, should COVID conditions worsen, or if NHL schedule has been disrupted by cancelations.
Deadline for the opt out is believed to be in early January.
The NHL can impose Nazi-like rules mandating vaccines yesterday but then the next day allow their players to go play in the Winter Olympics — in lovely China, of all places!!!! Makes perfect sense to me ….
Did you just compare the NHL’s COVID policy to Nazi germany? My god man you are too far gone if you actually meant that.
You have misunderstood something based on your first statement.
Plus cash is king. They don’t care about human rights as long as they can make a buck.
Couldn’t say it better myself. This league is morally bankrupt.
This is a disgraceful decision by the league and its players. One thing is for sure and that is they won’t be getting a dime from me any longer.
Not like the Preds were worth your money before this.
Gbear: Humans are morally bankrupt. Grease someones hand with enough silver, and watch morality fly out the window. I don’t like it, but I accept it as a reality. The NHL is doing what capitalism requires of it and if you were fiscally invested in it you’d be on board.
@KAR 120C – Maybe I’m a holdout, but no, I wouldn’t sell my soul for the dollar bill. I’d have alot more of them if I had.
All about the Benja-yuans.
@jdgoat – Is there a reason your reply icon disappeared? Would be kind of lame to reply to others comments without them being able to do likewise.
Everyone’s reply icon is there for me.
I hope some guys chose to boycott.