Confirmation of the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players to the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Olympics appears to have appeased Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, who expressed bitterness when the team left the Trip to Pyeongchang and Beijing abandoned in 2018 and 2022.
Number 63 noted Commissioner Gary Bettman's comments a few days ago. NHL skaters haven't played on the big Olympic stage since 2014, when Canada won the gold medal in Sochi. Marchand, now 35, could make his playing debut in Italy if he maintains his level of performance. Will he be able to convince those responsible for the national team?
• Also read: A Canadian team without Quebecers at the 2026 Olympics?
• Also read: The NHL is returning to the Olympics and… a new tournament
• Also read: Olympic Games: Sidney Crosby has to “earn” his place.
“It’s really a huge goal. “I would do anything to be there and make sure I was in the best shape possible and in the best position possible to try to get a position,” he told The Hockey News magazine.
In his eyes, the league's decision to return to games was crucial, as was the decision to hold a competition in 2025 that brings together elite NHL players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland.
“I believe that [les hockeyeurs] have earned this right. They have put themselves in a position to be among the best in the world in their field,” he said.
He won't forget it
Despite this seemingly positive news for his career, Marchand won't forget the NHL's absence from the 2018 and 2022 games.
“It was really disappointing that the boys had their last few games stolen,” he said. I think it’s a great opportunity for the players, a unique opportunity for them.”
In 2021, the veteran expressed harsh words regretting the NHL's decision not to come to China, saying in particular that it had not kept its promises.
“I know they don’t care about the Olympics; They don't make any money from it. And ultimately, it is just that: a “business”. “And we, the players, are taken for granted,” he mused to reporters. It is very annoying that we were promised our participation when we signed the collective agreement. I felt like they wanted to get out of there and that we should have created something that would allow us to go to the games.