NHL, NHLPA reportedly working towards 2026 Olympic participation
The NHL and its players have gone 7-years since the last time the teams played in a best-on-best international tournament. The last time the league took part in an Olympic games was over 10 years ago, but it appears that's nearing a change.
According to the brand new Executive Director of the NHLPA, Marty Walsh the Players Association and league are working on a resolution. Walsh shared the following with ESPN.
My focus is to try and make that happen. I'm working with commissioner Gary Bettman, collectively together with the IIHF, and hopefully we'll be able to come up with an agreement and move forward. A lot of players from around the globe want to play for their home country. They want that best-on-best tournament. They want to be part of it.
The NHL hasn't been part of the Olympics since the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. In the finals of that tournament Canada defeated Team Sweden to win their second consecutive gold medal.
Due to insurance issues the NHL opted to pull out of the 2018 Olympics and hasn't returned since due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But expect the league to return at the 2026 Milan games. The league and NHLPA continue to also work on a possible World Cup of Hockey to increase the exposure on the international stage.
| POLL | ||
If NHL players participate, who is the favorite to win Gold? | ||
| Canada | 49 | 41.9 % |
| United States | 14 | 12 % |
| Sweden | 51 | 43.6 % |
| Other | 3 | 2.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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