Did NHL Players Play in the 2018 Olympics?

A look at whether NHL players took part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

NHL Players in the 2018 Olympics

The National Hockey League (NHL) is the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, founded in 1917. The NHL is composed of 30 member clubs: 23 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from February 9-25. The NHL did not send any players to the 2018 Olympics.

Who was eligible to play?

In order for NHL players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) had to agree to a number of conditions set by the NHL. The main condition was that the NHL’s regular season would not be interrupted, as it was in previous years. In addition, the IOC would not cover any of the costs associated with transporting and insuring NHL players. As a result, many of the NHL’s best players were not available to represent their countries in Pyeongchang.

Which NHL players played?

As the 2018 Winter Olympics approach, NHL fans are wondering which of their favorite players will be donning their country’s colors in Pyeongchang.

With the NHL declining to participate in the 2018 Games, none of the league’s active players will be representing their countries in South Korea. However, there are a handful of former NHLers who are suiting up for their respective countries.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable names:

For Team USA, Ryan Miller and John-Michael Liles both represented their country at previous Olympics and bring a wealth of experience to the team. Miller was part of Team USA’s silver medal-winning squad in 2010, while Liles was on the 2014 team that fell just short of a medal, losing to Canada in the bronze medal game.

Joining them on the American squad is James Wisniewski, who played 824 games over parts of 11 seasons in the NHL. Wisniewski is currently playing in Germany’s top professional league.

Team Canada will feature two former first-round picks in Wojtek Wolski and Derek Roy. Wolski, a 2010 first-rounder by the Colorado Avalanche, last played in the NHL during the 2014-15 season before heading to Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Roy, meanwhile, was taken 32nd overall by Buffalo back in 2001 and last played in North America during the 2015-16 campaign. He’s currently plying his trade with Linkoping HC of Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan league.

How did they do?

With the NHL not sending players to the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, it was up to other professional leagues and countries’ national teams to fill out the rosters. The Olympics hockey tournament features 12 countries, who are each allowed to dress 22 players.

Here’s a look at how each NHL-less team did in Pyeongchang:

-OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia): Won gold
-USA: Won silver
-Canada: Won bronze
-Czech Republic: Lost in quarterfinals
-Finland: Lost in quarterfinals
-Sweden: Lost in quarterfinals
-Slovakia: Finished in seventh place
-Germany: Finished in eighth place
-Norway: Finished in ninth place
-Denmark: Finished in 10th place

NHL and the Olympics

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. Every four years, the best hockey players in the world compete in the Winter Olympics. However, NHL players were not allowed to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

What is the NHL’s stance on the Olympics?

The National Hockey League has been a longstanding supporter of the Olympic Games and our players have proudly represented their countries on the world’s biggest stage. However, in light of the league’s current scheduling conflict with the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, we have reluctantly decided not to participate.

We understand and appreciate the disappointment this decision creates for all hockey fans who love our sport and who cheers on their favorite countries every four years. We hope that you will understand our decision and continue to support NHL hockey and our players.

How have they handled it in the past?

Since the NHL began allowing its players to compete in the Olympics in 1998, every Winter Olympics has featured NHL players on the majority of teams. However, that will not be the case for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The NHL has decided to not allow its players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, much to the chagrin of fans and athletes alike. The primary reason for this decision is that the Winter Olympics are being held in February, during the middle of the NHL season. This would require the NHL to halt its season for nearly three weeks, which it is unwilling to do.

Some have criticized the NHL for its decision, arguing that it is putting its own interests ahead of those of its athletes and of hockey as a whole. However, others have argued that it is understandable why the league would not want to disrupt its season.

It remains to be seen how this decision will affect both the NHL and hockey at the Winter Olympics. It is possible that talented hockey players from other leagues will rise to fill the void left by the NHL’s absence, leading to an exciting and competitive tournament. However, it is also possible that fans and casual viewers will be turned off by the lack of star power on display. Only time will tell how this decision will affect both the Olympics and the NHL in years to come.

What is the NHL’s reasoning?

The NHL has been hesitant in the past to send its players to the Olympics. In fact, NHL players didn’t participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The main reason for this is that the NHL doesn’t want to pause its regular season for about three weeks to accommodate the Olympics.

Another reason is that the International Olympic Committee doesn’t cover insurance or travel costs for NHL players like it does for other athletes.

The NHL has also said that it’s difficult to promote its own brand when its athletes are playing for their countries instead of their NHL teams.

Some people have speculated that another reason the NHL doesn’t want its players to participate in the Olympics is because they don’t want to promote a rival sport. For example, if a popular hockey player like Sidney Crosby scores the winning goal for Canada in the gold medal game, it might take away from the attention on the Stanley Cup playoffs, which are happening at the same time.

NHL Players and the Olympics

While NHL players were not able to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics, many of them did participate in other Olympics games. In fact, NHL players have been in every Olympics since the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. However, the NHL did not allow its players to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics because the games were being held in South Korea.

How do the players feel about it?

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has been hesitant to allow his players to participate in the Olympics, but the athletes have consistently voiced their opinion that they should be allowed to represent their countries on the world’s biggest stage.

Bettman has cited several reasons for his hesitance, including the disruption to the NHL season and the fact that the International Olympic Committee does not compensate the NHL for its participation. However, many of the league’s top players have made it clear that they would be willing to take part in the Olympics even if they were not paid for it.

Alex Ovechkin, perhaps the NHL’s most recognizable star, has been a vocal advocate for NHL participation in the Olympics and has even said that he would be willing to go to Russia to play in the 2018 Winter Games even if the NHL does not send any other players.

Other top players, such as Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, have also expressed their desire to represent their countries in the Olympics. It remains to be seen whether Bettman will relent or if the NHL will be forced to sit out another Olympic games.

What are their thoughts on the NHL’s stance?

Many NHL players have voiced their displeasure with the league’s decision to not allow its players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. While some feel that the Olympics are a distraction from the NHL season, others believe that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not be missed.

“It sucks,” said Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews. “You want to represent your country. I think guys are going to find a way to do it.”

Added Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price: “It would have been an amazing experience, just like it was in 2010. I’m sure there are a lot of guys in the NHL that feel the same way.”

What would they like to see happen in the future?

NHL hockey players have been playing in the Olympics since 1998, but they were not allowed to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The NHL said it was due to “unresolved issues” with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). But many believe that the real reason was because the NHL wanted more money from the IOC.

Now that the 2018 Winter Olympics are over, some NHL players are speaking out about what they would like to see happen in the future. One popular idea is for the NHL to take a break during the Winter Olympics so that players can go and represent their countries. This would be similar to how NBA players are allowed to participate in the Summer Olympics.

Many players also believe that it would be beneficial for the NHL to have its own hockey tournament during the Olympics. This would allow the best players from around the world to compete against each other, even if they are not from the same country.

Whatever happens in the future, it is clear that NHL hockey players want to be able to represent their countries on the world’s biggest stage.