The NHL is heading back to the Olympic Games.
After months of negotiating, the league came to an agreement with the NHLPA, IIHF, and IOC to take part in the 2022 event in Beijing.
The arrangement was settled after a lengthy period of uncertainty during which NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly both expressed concern on separate occasions that a deal may not get done.
"I know that I can speak for hockey fans around the world when I say that we absolutely welcome the decision to bring back best-on-best ice hockey to the Olympics," IIHF President Rene Fasel said. "We had many constructive discussions, and a lot of hard work was put into making this happen within the time we set out for ourselves, and I want to thank all parties involved for their support and commitment."
The NHL and NHLPA can pull out of the Olympics if COVID-19 conditions worsen or if cancellations disrupt the regular-season schedule, according to a memo sent out to the players. The reported opt-out deadline is set for early January, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reports.
Players themselves have the right to decline to go to the Olympics at any time without consequence. There is no insurance for COVID-related illnesses.
After participating in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, the league could not reach an agreement in time for the 2018 event in PyeongChang, South Korea.
The Olympic Athletes from Russia captured gold in 2018, with Germany settling for silver and Canada claiming bronze. In 2014, Canada secured the gold, Sweden took home silver, and Finland nabbed bronze.
The 2022 Games run from Feb. 9 to Feb. 20.
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