NHL players headed back to Olympics and a newly modified World Cup
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a news conference in Toronto on Friday. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
TORONTO — NHL players will return to the global competition scene, both in the Winter Olympics and a modified World Cup tournament pared down to four countries.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Players Association executive director Marty Walsh and IIHF president Luc Tardif jointly announced on Friday an agreement for NHL players to participate in the 2026 Olympics in Italy and the 2030 Games in France, the first time they’ll go since Sochi, Russia, in 2014.
Bettman and Walsh also announced the 4 Nations Face-off for February 2025 between Team USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden, with games to be played in one U.S. city and one Canadian city.
“It means a lot,” said the Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews, who grew up in Arizona and will play for Team USA. “Representing your country is an honor. I think it will be great for the players and for the sport.”
Bettman said the hope is to start playing full-field World Cups every four years starting in 2028.
“We know how important international competition is to our players,” Bettman said. “We know how much they love and want to represent the countries from which they’re from. We think this is a great stage for the best on best.”
Russia and Belarus currently are under an IIHF ban stemming from the conflict with Ukraine. Tardif said the situation is under review.
Bettman said the IIHF will be responsible for coordinating all the associated costs with bringing NHL players to the Olympics, including insurance and travel.
Judicial process
Bettman said the NHL will wait for the judicial process to play out before potentially acting against four league players who have been charged with sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident at a Hockey Canada event in London, Ontario, in June 2018.
Bettman added that he does not expect the Devils’ Michael McLeod and Cal Foote, Flyers goalie Carter Hart or the Flames’ Dillon Dube to play again this season and noted that all are on expiring contracts. All have taken leaves of absence.
“The most responsible and prudent thing for us to do is await the conclusion of the judicial proceedings,” Bettman said.
Interested cities
Bettman said the NHL currently has no formal expansion plans but said multiple cities have expressed interest. Bettman listed Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Omaha, Kansas City and Houston and said the Utah group has expressed the most interest.
Walsh said the Coyotes playing in 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on the Arizona State campus is “unacceptable” and that the players deserve to play in an “NHL rink.” He said the Coyotes’ ownership has avoided discussions with the NHLPA and added that he would favor the relocation of the franchise if a permanent site is not found by the end of this season.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
