NHL Players Unlikely Going To Olympics

According to Elliotte Friedman, the 2022 Winter Olympics is very likely not going to include NHL players and an official announcement should be coming in a few days.

Link of NHL/NHLPA joint statements. Unfortunately, Olympics without NHL players appears to be reality, although formal announcement not for a few days https://t.co/WnIzedTtzN
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 19, 2021

The NHL and NHLPA announced on Sunday that they are currently having discussions about Olympic participation. With the rise of COVID-19 cases, it isn't shocking at all that NHLers are not expected to go to the Olympics. With that, if they were to go and catch the virus, they would be forced to quarantine in Beijing for three to five weeks. That already previously turned players away from the idea like Erik Karlsson and Robin Lehner.

When seeing as how now six teams are now shut down until at least after the holiday break, it is very simple to comprehend why the NHL and its players are heading towards this decision. As we await for the official announcement, all we can do is simply be prepared.

There's always hope for 2026, right?