So as I am sure you have heard by now, the NHLPA is weighing their options now as China has increased their rules regarding the protocol should a player test positive for Covid during the Games. The original plan, the any athlete would have to stay in the country 3 weeks was scaring the NHL Players, but this past weekend China upped that to 5 weeks. That means, as it currently sits now, any NHL player who tests positive for Covid could potentially be stuck in China until almost April.
This I really has the players having to make a much tougher choice. They could be putting their team’s NHL season on the line should that happen, and also be stuck in China for nearly two months when all is said and done.
The NHL sources tell me they are monitoring the situation but they still believe this is the player’s call. The NHLPA negotiated for this right to play in the Olympics and the NHL is being covert careful NOT to get caught in some legal loophole.
There is also some confiusion as to whether or not in this situation the players could charter their own private jets to get out of the country and I believe that there will be some negotiations to that end between China, the Olympic Committee and the Players..
If there is no work around I believe we could easily see NHL players no longer taking part in the game and I am 100% sure if the PA still wants the players to play that a few guys will back out on their own.
So my question to you is basically: “Is this all worth it? Should the players just forget about these Olympics and look toward the next games?…