The announcement came down amid the recent postponement of games due to the virus outbreak around the league. The NHL had originally factored in a two week pause from February 6th to the 22nd for the games to send the players. now, with the rise in concerns around the world about the new variant hitting, players were worried about going. Throw that in with the recent decisions around the league about postponing games, this decision makes sense. It stings a little but it does make sense.
Would seeing the best players in the best league in the world playing on the biggest international stage have been an amazing sight to see? Yes it would. Would have loved to see the NHL players playing on the world stage with a gold medal on the line. But given the current climate around the league and around the world with health concerns, it does make a lot of sense.
Following is the statement made by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman:
"We have waited as long as possible to make this decision while exploring every available option to enable our Players to participate in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Unfortunately, given the profound disruption to the NHL's regular-season schedule caused by recent COVID-related events -- 50 games already have been postponed through Dec. 23 -- Olympic participation is no longer feasible."
I'm sure I can speak for a fair number of my fellow hockey fans when I say that it really would have been amazing to see NHL players playing in the Olympics this February. It really is a showcase of the best players on the planet playing on a global stage. That can't happen now but it makes total sense given everything going on right now. Fear not, the players will be back at the Olympics. They can play again the next time the Winter games roll around in 2026!
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