BEIJING — If NHL players are taking part in the 2026 Winter Olympics, international hockey officials want to know sooner rather than later.
International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif said Thursday he is optimistic about reaching an agreement with the league, NHL Players’ Association and IOC but he does not want to wait until the final year before the Games in Milan and Cortina to finalize it. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly does not believe that will be a problem.
“They understand how it’s difficult for us to wait till the last moment and the last moment,” Tardif said. “They understand that’s not easy for us, that’s not easy for IOC and that’s also frustrating for the fans and the players. That’s why I’m optimistic for the next one.”
The deal for the 2022 Games was not announced until September. The NHL withdrew in late December after the omicron variant-fueled wave of the coronavirus pandemic caused mass postponements of games, making this the second consecutive…
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