MILAN — For the first time since 2014, NHL players are competing in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament, which begins Wednesday in Milan Cortina.
The return ends a 12-year absence marked by bitter negotiations, a pandemic, and shifting priorities. Here’s how it happened.
Why now?
The NHL began sending players to the Olympics in 1998. Canada has won three golds since, its first since 1952. But participation has long been contentious. Players want to compete on the world stage. Owners, who shut down the season and loan their talent without revenue share, are far less enthusiastic.
The league skipped the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, citing a lack of market interest and opposition from club owners. In 2022, COVID derailed Beijing: after 50 regular-season games were postponed, the NHL and NHLPA agreed players would not attend.
What changed
When Marty Walsh became NHLPA executive director in 2023, restoring Olympic participation became a priority. After months of talks, the NHL confirmed in February 2024 that players would head to Italy.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said the deal hinged on “big ticket” concessions: the IIHF and IOC agreed to cover insurance, travel, and accommodations—costs owners had long refused to absorb.
The result is the first best-on-best tournament in over a decade—and a long-awaited chance for stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon to chase gold.
