NHL Players Will Not Participate in 2018 Winter Olympics

​Wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman has 30 years of professional experience. When he’s not working hard at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman enjoys ice hockey. 

In April of 2017, the commissioner of the National Hockey League (NHL), Gary Bettman announced that after five straight winter Olympics participating, the NHL would not allow a break in its schedule to permit its players to participate in the 2018 games in PyeongChang.

Bettman explained his decision was a result of a variety of compelling reasons. Surveys by NHL fans indicated that they were against the break and teams complained of the disruption to their season. He also said that many teams were punished by losing players to injuries sustained during the Olympics.

The cost was another reason why the NHL decided against participation. The International Olympic Committee had paid all of the associated costs for the previous Olympic Games, but they had informed the NHL that it would not foot the bill in 2018. While they eventually agreed to pay, Bettman thought the money would come from other worthy programs.

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