NHL says ‘no’ to minor-leaguers at Olympics

Players with NHL contracts, even those in the minors, will not be allowed to participate in the Winter Olympics next February.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league’s stance Monday. The league announced in April it wouldn’t be stopping its season to go to the Olympics for the first time since 1994, but questions had remained about players in the American and East Coast hockey leagues.

“A decision has been made that all players under NHL contract will be subject to similar treatment,” Daly said.

This means players signed to two-way NHL contracts or loaned to minor-league affiliates by their clubs won’t be available to the United States, Canada or other national teams. The AHL said earlier this summer general managers could decide to allow players on AHL contracts to play in South Korea.

Daly confirmed players signed to NHL deals but who are playing in Europe, like Dallas Stars firstround pick Miro Heiskanen of Finland, would not be precluded from playing in the Olympics. Those players, who are loaned to European teams, wouldn’t be playing the season on their NHL contracts, which is the same situation for those in Canadian major junior leagues.

Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations and the U.S. general manager for the 2018 Olympics, said the organization will honour its partnership with the NHL and not put anyone under contract in its player pool.

Hockey Canada is also expected to avoid any potential conflicts.

Canada, as it showed with rosters for two exhibition tournaments in Russia this week, will lean heavily on European-based players with others mixed in.

The U.S. team is expected to be made up of a mix of current college players, those on AHL deals and professionals playing in European leagues.