Photo: Bleacher Report

According to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks, the NHL Players’ Association has told players that the NHL will not pay for COVID-19 insurance at the 2022 Winter Olympics or Olympic Qualifiers in Beijing, China in February.

The NHL’s position is that players will not be paid for NHL games that they miss if they contract COVID-19 at the Olympics.

1. PA has alerted players that NHL will not pay for COVID insurance at Olympics or Olympics qualifiers. League position is that players will not be paid for games they miss because of COVID if contracted at Olympic events.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) August 12, 2021

The NHLPA has presented the International Ice Hockey Federation with cost of insurance but heard back that they will not pay either.

The players’ association released to players that they “strongly” advise against participating in qualifying events for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Though, talks are ongoing between the players and the players’ association.

The NHL is scheduled to have a break from Thursday, February 3 through Tuesday, February 22 for 2022 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada (which will be on Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5) and the Olympics, which is schedule to start on February 4 and end on February 20.

2. PA has presented IIHF with cost to of insurance but has been told international federations will not pay. So at this point, PA “strongly advises” players not to participate in Olympic qualifying events. Talks are ongoing.

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) August 12, 2021

By Harrison Brown