Photo credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Hockey fans expecting a star-studded NHL return to the Olympics in Milan received an unexpected dose of uncertainty this week from deputy commissioner Bill Daly.
While there has been a lot of excitement surrounding the NHL’s return to the Olympic Games in early 2026, the NHL’s deputy commissioner has suggested that there’s still a possibility that the league does not send its players to Milan.
Daly, asked directly about the chances of NHL players not participating in 2026, made it clear the risk isn’t tied to negotiations or league hesitation. Instead, it hinges almost entirely on one surprising factor: the rink itself.
According to Daly, the only meaningful obstacle is whether the Milan organizers complete the arena on time. If the venue is not finished, the NHL will not send its players.
He framed it bluntly, noting that the answer depends on “the percentage you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed. If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics,” as shared by Matt Larkin on X/Twitter.
The league and the NHLPA have long voiced their desire to return Olympic participation to the international schedule after not participating since Sochi in 2014.
The current CBA includes provisions for 2026 involvement, and planning between the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF has suggested smooth progress.
That’s why Daly’s comment landed as both a reassurance and a warning. The league remains committed, but the infrastructure must meet Olympic standards long before puck drop.
Olympic rink delays now the only real hurdle for NHL participation
Fans immediately reacted, many surprised that construction timelines – not financial or logistical disputes – are now the determining factor. The Milan venue has faced public scrutiny for delays, and the IOC has already shuffled plans more than once.
For players, this uncertainty comes during a cycle many have been eagerly anticipating. Stars like Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and Hart Trophy frontrunner Nathan MacKinnon have never represented their countries in true best-on-best Olympic play, and the 2026 tournament is widely viewed as a generational showcase.
Daly emphasized that the league still expects NHLers to participate. But the caveat lingers, and until the rink reaches confirmed completion, the hockey world will remain just slightly on edge.
Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily