NHL players headed back to Olympics for first time since 2014
NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade.
The world’s top hockey league will allow its players to participate in the Winter Games in 2026 in Milan and in 2030 under an agreement announced Friday by the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, International Ice Hockey Federation and the IOC.
NHL players have not been at the Olympics since 2014 in Sochi.
“There is a recognition of how important this is to the players,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said at a news conference during All-Star Weekend. “Everybody felt on our ownership side that it was the right thing to do . ... This really came down to doing something because the players really wanted it.”
IIHF president Luc Tardif smiled and said, “We made it” after two years worth of work that picked up over the past six months.
“With all the uncertainty that’s been around it in years prior and just how great of an experience that it is, I think it’s just awesome news and I’m sure a lot of players are really happy,” Canada and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby said. “And especially to commit to two different Olympics, I think that’ll be great.”
Milan, barring another unforeseen circumstance like the pandemic that caused players to miss Beijing in 2022, will be the first Olympics for a generation of stars led by Canadians Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar and Americans Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Adam Fox. The tantalizing rosters could see the likes of McDavid, Crosby and Connor Bedard on the same team battling for gold.
“The opportunity to do that is a dream come true,” McDavid said. “I’ve been vocal about this. I feel like it’s important for hockey as we continue to try to grow our game internationally and at home. I think it’s a great thing.”
The NHL paused its season for the Olympics five times from 1998 through 2014, and most of the players now in the league grew up expecting to play on that stage. Disagreements over who would pay for insurance and travel costs, the time difference between
South Korea and North America were cited as factors in the NHL passing on Pyeongchang in 2018.
Bettman said in 2026 and ‘30, team owners will not be paying “big ticket” costs like travel and insurance. That is up to the IIHF and respective organizing committees. Tardif said national federations and Olympic committees will contribute.
Pandemic-related scheduling issues scuttled plans to send players to Beijing two years ago. As recently as this past fall, U.S. defenseman Charlie McAvoy said he was still upset about not being able to play in the 2022 Olympics.
NHL’S KINGS FIRE COACH
The Los Angeles Kings fired coach Todd McLellan on Friday and named Jim Hiller the interim coach for the rest of the season.
Los Angeles went into the AllStar break with the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference, but only four points from falling out of a playoff spot.
The Kings had a 20-7-4 start to the season, with the 44 points tied for the most in team history after 31 games. Since Dec. 28, they have gone 3-8-6. The three wins are tied for fewest in the league in that span and the 12 points are tied for the fifth worst.
McLellan had seemed relieved that the Kings went into the break with a 4-2 win over Nashville on Wednesday.
MICHIGAN PROMOTES THREE
Michigan has promoted Kirk Campbell to offensive coordinator and Grant Newsome to offensive line coach on a new staff headed by Sherrone Moore following Jim Harbaugh’s departure.
Campbell had worked as quarterbacks coach, and Newsome had coached tight ends during Michigan’s 2023 national championship season.
“Kirk and Grant are two bright offensive minds,” Moore said Friday in a statement announcing the promotions. “They have brought a lot to our offensive staff and will make even larger contributions in their new roles. I am excited to have Kirk and Grant take on greater responsibilities in our offense as they continue working with our players to help further their development on and off the field.”
Also, J.B. Brown was promoted from analyst to special teams coordinator. Brown has been working with Michigan’s special teams since 2021, and Moore says he has an “outstanding mind” for it.
The moves come a week after
Moore was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. Moore takes over for Harbaugh, who received a five-year deal to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.
A’S AND GIANTS MAKE DEAL
David Forst and Farhan Zaidi are longtime friends who worked together for years in Oakland, and now executives of each Bay Area team.
They made a trade Friday that had been discussed for months, and the Athletics acquired a pair of pitchers to join their rotation who were starters for the Giants last season.
Free agent left-hander Alex Wood agreed to an $8.5 million, one-year contract with the A’s, who also acquired right-hander Ross Stripling and $3.25 million toward his salary from the Giants.
“It’s fair to say those four guys come in with a good shot and a good spot in the rotation,” said Forst, the A’s general manager.
Boosting the rotation with some experienced pitchers was a top priority for a club that has lost 214 games the past two years.
The teams announced the swap Friday. The Giants will receive minor league outfielder Jonah Cox.