NHL Teams Warned Against Opposing Star Players’ Olympic Participation, Says Friedman
The NHL is facing tensions surrounding player participation in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Multiple front office executives expressed concerns about their limited influence over whether injured players can compete for their national teams. Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet highlighted these issues during the 32 Thoughts podcast.
NHL Teams Express Frustration Over Star Players’ Olympic Participation
One unnamed NHL general manager indicated that teams were advised against disputing player availability for the Milano Cortina Games. According to Friedman, teams were informed that player participation is a significant issue. “This was the number one thing in bargaining,” he noted.
- Teams have been told to respect players’ wishes regarding Olympics participation.
- Only players who are severely injured, like Jonas Brodin or Brayden Point, might be restricted.
This lack of authority leaves front offices vulnerable. Even if a player is injured before the Olympic break, teams are warned that they will likely lose arguments against participation. Friedman emphasized that teams must adapt to these circumstances when managing player availability.
Case Studies of Injured Players
Jack Hughes, who missed several games due to a lower-body injury, made a swift recovery to join Team USA and competed in a recent match against Latvia. Another case involved Buffalo Sabres’ goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. He was making strides to be Finland’s starting goalie but suffered an injury just before the Olympics.
- Luukkonen was removed from Finland’s Olympic roster due to his lower-body injury.
- Initial communication about his status was unclear, leading to further complications.
The Sabres were hesitant to provide definitive statements regarding Luukkonen’s availability, highlighting their limited say in his Olympic participation. Friedman’s insights clarify the dynamics at play that affect how teams interact with players’ Olympic plans.
Context of NHL Players in the Olympics
The NHL’s reluctance to send players to the Olympics in recent years was influenced primarily by injuries. Both existing and new injuries have raised concerns among team executives. Despite this apprehension, players remain eager to represent their countries in international competition.
In the latest collective bargaining discussions, players made concessions to ensure their Olympic participation would be guaranteed. The NHL Players’ Association has shown strong opposition to any decisions that would prevent players from joining their national teams.
Although Luukkonen will miss the 2026 Games, his Sabres teammates, Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin, will represent Team USA and Sweden, respectively. The team hopes that Luukkonen can recover fully in time for the second half of the NHL season, where he was performing at an impressive level with a .916 save percentage over his previous 11 games.
The Sabres will resume their schedule on February 25 when they face the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center.
