It’s been nine years since NHL players had the chance to compete in the Olympics. When negotiating a new collective agreement during the pandemic, it was clear that players would be given the green light to take part in the 2022 Olympics in China and 2026 in Milan, Italy. The 2022 draft was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, but everyone was hoping players would get the green light for 2026.
That was until Tuesday. Because the NHL commissioner said he was concerned about delays related to the construction of the amphitheater in Milan where the ice hockey tournament was to be held. “The construction of the arena is not yet very advanced. Typically, new arcades are opened several months before the Games to test them with various events. We are currently told that the amphitheater will open six to eight weeks before the Games, assuming there are no new delays. »
The solution
Apparently there are solutions to the problem, including holding the Olympic tournament in a different city than planned. But here too, NHL officials are asking questions about the validity of such an option. “The question is whether it will be in Milan or not,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. This is a concern for us and I am convinced that it is also a concern for the players because they would go to the games without experiencing the experience of the games. It is a problem. »
However, it will be up to the players to decide whether they are ready to take part in the tournament, even if it will be impossible for them to live in the Olympic Village if the Games are not held in Milan. Of course, it’s still a little early to draw conclusions, but obviously the NHL is still using negative language for its players’ participation in the Olympics, as has been the case for eight years.
A damper
If the NHL leaders are still more or less interested in stopping a season for the Olympic tournament, they have no problem doing so for a mini-tournament that they want to organize in early 2025, this time between Canada, the United States States, Finland and Finland Sweden. Gary Bettman would not confirm which countries would be participating, but said his goal was for the World Cup to return in 2028, two years after the Milan Games.
This is not the first time the topic of the World Cup has come up, but given the absence of the Russian team due to the war in Ukraine, it is clear that interest from broadcasters and hockey fans is mixed.
Geoff Molson reassuringly
Players can count on Geoff Molson to be an ardent supporter of the NHL’s presence in the Olympics. “I always support the presence of players at the Games because it is good for their development and it is a great opportunity for them to represent their country. It is a great platform to promote hockey. »
As for the performance of his team, which is currently playing around .500, the Canadiens owner likes what he’s seen since the start of the season. “The atmosphere throughout the organization is really positive,” emphasizes Geoff Molson. The team spirit is at a very high level and the players want to win and improve. It’s hard to ask for anything better. If we look at the start of the season, there were players who struggled and now we feel like they are playing better. This is evidence that they are well trained, that there is good leadership and that we have the right development program in place. »