Aside from the uncertainty raised by the coronavirus pandemic, Fasel told The Associated Press he doesn't foresee any major stumbling blocks that could derail negotiations leading up to the 2022 Beijing Games.
A person with direct knowledge of the agreement told the AP it includes a provision that would allow NHL players to compete at the next two Winter Games, including the 2026 Olympics in Italy. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contents of the CBA were not released.
"We didn't give up after Pyeongchang. We understood the situation, how it was at that time. No bad feelings," he said. "We really hope it will come in '22, and we are ready to work and find a solution." "It's exciting to consider the team of Americans that could represent our country in Beijing, and we applaud the efforts of the NHL and the NHLPA in making this a possibility," Kelleher said."At this point in time, we believe that the negatives outweigh the positives," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said following the February meeting in New York. Daly did raise the prospect of folding Olympic participation into CBA talks.
The last winter Olympics hockey totally sucked without the NHL Dull as ditch water. Hope we can celebrate the end of Covid finally in a few years with exciting Olympic hockey!