NHLers were supposed to play in 2022, but they didn’t
There was an enormous debate surrounding NHLers playing in the 2022 Games in China. Under the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA), NHLers were supposed to play in 2022 and 2026. 2030 would have been another matter discussed down the road.
Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic threw a monkey wrench into those plans. The league was wary of sending players over to China amid intense travel restrictions and the danger of getting sick with COVID.
Specifically, two points mainly put the kibosh on NHLers heading to the 2022 Games. Firstly, the Chinese government was adamant about quarantine rules. Some athletes arrived weeks in advance to comply with quarantine rules. Additionally, if an athlete tested positive for COVID, they would have to quarantine in China.
Under the worst-case scenario, an NHL player could have spent two months in China just going through quarantine protocols. Imagine a Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews being locked up in a hotel room for two months while their teams are playing for a playoff spot.
Imagine if Nathan MacKinnon had come down with a serious case of COVID. Who would have taken care of him? That brings us to the second point. The main sticking point was travel insurance. The NHL blew a gasket when it saw how much it would cost to insure players.
The IOC didn’t want to pick up the tab, nor did the IIHF. So, NHL owners, despite player protests, decided to nix player participation in the 2022 Games. Owners can do that because participation in international tournaments is not built into players’ contracts.
NHLers will participate in the 2026 Games. There’s no questioning that. However, don’t be surprised if several high-profile names get “hurt” right around the time the Olympics are set to begin. Ultimately, the 2026 Games may not be quite the best-on-best everyone thinks will take place.