All signs are pointing toward the NHL not sending players to the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the league won’t be sending players to the Olympic games.
The NHL said this in a statement Sunday afternoon: “The NHL and NHLPA are actively discussing the matter of NHL Player participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and expect to be in a position to announce a final determination in the coming days.”
Friedman’s report was echoed by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
The move to not send players to the Olympics is likely the right, albeit tough, choice. Players who might test positive overseas could be forced into a four-week quarantine period, meaning they would likely lose NHL games.
On top of that, the NHL is currently being crippled by COVID-19 outbreaks that have shut down a number of teams, the Detroit Red Wings being the latest.
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