Bettman made it clear about the players’ participation in the Olympics: Will Slovakia strengthen the NHL stars?
The leadership of the overseas NHL will leave the question of participation in the 2022 Olympics to the players. Competition commissioner Gary Bettman said after Friday’s Board of Governors in Florida said that although less than two questionnaires were hanging less than two months before the Olympic tournament, the league would abide by an agreement with the NHLPA to start professorship at the Olympics. It is up to the players whether they want to present themselves in Beijing in the current situation.
“Despite the fact that many more issues are needed, the NHL will not play players in the Winter Olympics. We are keeping the deal as we promised. But I know the NHLPA is concerned.” Bettman said.
NHL officials still expect details about the covid protocols from the 2022 Olympic Organizing Committee. The league is interested in organizing the situation if the hockey player in China has a positive coronavirus test. A possible two- or three-week quarantine could discourage players from participating in the Olympics. The spread of the new omicron variant may also weigh a lot. “Players say they want to go to the Olympics. I don’t think it’s going to be a great experience given the lockdowns in the Olympic village. Anyway, we let the players play once and ten pay,” Bettman was quoted by the AFP agency.
The NHL has promised to release players to the 2022 Olympics before the end of the 2019/2020 pandemic season. They also included the agreement in the current collective agreement. The league plans to suspend the competition from February 3 to 22 during the Olympic Games. Deputy Commissioner Billy Daly noted that under the agreement, the league could withdraw its participation in the Olympics at any time due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it can only do so without financial penalties until 10 January 2022.