NHL, NHLPA appear close to returning players to Olympics

The NHL and NHLPA "finally appear to be closing in on making play on the world stage a regular fit," according to Kevin Dupont of the BOSTON GLOBE. Provided all the parts can be pieced together in time, a "scaled-down version (read: Russia not included) of the World Cup could be held in February 2025." The NHL would "shut down for, say, 10-12 days, and some 100 players would stock four teams -- the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden -- for tournament play." A year later, the NHL would "shut down again for the better part of two weeks," with "players released" for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games. The World Cup then would be "played again in 2028, followed by the Olympics in 2030" ( BOSTON GLOBE, 12/30 ) .