NHL players are not expected to participate in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, reversing plans announced in September and signaling fears that rising numbers of coronavirus cases and virus-related postponements will hurt the league’s ability to complete its season on schedule.
The decision about the Olympics is expected to be announced Wednesday, people familiar with the deliberations said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the NHL and its players’ union had not publicly disclosed their intentions, even as they had telegraphed them for weeks.
The NHL, which has had dozens of its games postponed this season, said Monday that it would pause its season for several days after a swelling number of players were ruled out of games after entering the league’s health and safety protocols.