In September, the NHL announced that they had agreed with the players' union that the players would be allowed to participate in the Olympics in Beijing next year.
But the increased corona infection has led to speculation that the NHL could still stop players from participating in the Olympics.
After several games were canceled due to corona outbreaks, several initiated NHL reporters have reported that the NHL has considered withdrawing its NHL participation if more games were postponed.
"We are worried"
Now, however, the league's manager Gary Bettman has stated that the league will release the players, as they previously promised.
- We are worried about a lot of things.
But we have given our players a promise.
And despite the fact that covid has set it for our game schedule, we have given our players a promise, and it will ultimately be up to the players, unless we together with the players' union decide the opposite, Bettman said on Friday night, after a meeting with the league's governors.
- I do not think it will be the optimal Olympic experience, with lockdown in the Olympic village and everything else that is going on.
But once again: We have made a promise and I will do my best to stick to it, well aware that it can lead to consequences that no one will like.
But even though Bettman is obviously not really that keen on releasing the players to the Olympics, the message is clear:
- Olympic participation will ultimately be decided by the players themselves.