The NHL and NHLPA on Friday announced a tentative agreement with the International Ice Hockey Federation n Friday that allows NHL players to participate in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The agreement allows the NHL/NHLPA to later withdraw from the decision if they determine that evolving COVID conditions make player participation impractical or unsafe.
The NHL's regular-season schedule includes an extended break after the All-Star Game, Feb. 7 through Feb. 22, to accommodate the Olympics. In the event that NHL or the NHLPA decides to withdraw and not participate in the Olympics, the schedule will be revised.
Players who participate are expected to be subject to strict protocols, per this internal memo from the NHLPA's executive director Don Fehr. It is expected that athletes in the Olympic Village will be in a tight bubble, have to be fully-vaccinated, wear masks, and social distance. Players will likely not be permitted to bring guests.
The IIHF will cover costs of injury-related insurance, but there will be no insurance for COVID-related illnesses. If players miss NHL games due to COVID-related illnesses after participating in the Olympics, they will not be paid.
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This will be the sixth Olympic games in which NHL players have participated. The countries which qualified for the Olympics in men's hockey are China (as the host nation), Canada, the Russian Olympic Committee, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, United States, Germany, and Switzerland (based on IIHF rankings), and Slovakia, Latvia, and Denmark (based on qualification tournaments).
Mike Sullivan is the head coach of the United States team for the tournament, and Penguins assistant coach Todd Reirden and video coach Andy Saucier were named to his coaching staff on Friday. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Kasperi Kapanen, and Teddy Blueger are among the players who are expected to be named to their respective teams.
