The number of confirmed covid cases in the American NHL has increased and many matches have been postponed.

Yesterday, the league reported that no American and Canadian teams will be pitted against each other until the second day.

It is thus unclear whether there will be any NHL players in the Beijing Olympics.

The players will vote on the issue on Monday, according to Aftonbladet.

"The NHL and the NHLPA (players' union) are discussing the issue (...) and are expected to be able to make a final decision within the next few days," the NHL wrote in a statement.

"Is there a program"

Johan Hemlin, sports director at the SHL, explains that they have a plan in case the Olympics go off without NHL players.

- We have the dialogue with the NHL, but we have no more information than what is public.

What the SHL does is that we have an alternative game program ready, if it is the case that the NHL does not participate in the Olympics.

There is a program that affects about 33 matches.

Some will be moved and some matches will remain (during the period).

- There are a few fewer matches during the period from the start.

But then, in consultation with the clubs, we have decided if and how to move any matches, it depends on what the Olympic competitions look like in all participating countries.

"Up to the player"

Hemlin believes that SHL as an organization is prepared.

- Now we have an alternative shadow scheme that is prepared, he says and continues:

- It affects us, but then we also have a pandemic.

Could it be that you do not release players then?

- We are not in that position, so to speak.

If a player is called up to a national team assignment, it is up to the player to handle it.

CLIP: Loob criticizes NHL: "Makes it for everyone" (December 9, 2021)

Javascript is disabled

Javascript must be turned on to play video

Read more about browser support

The browser is not supported

SVT does not support playback in your browser.

We therefore recommend that you switch to a different browser.

Read more about browser support

Håkan Loob.

Photo: Bildbyrån