The Beijing Olympics start in less than 60 days.
And the NHL has just over a month to decide if it will be there.
The league and the NHL Players Association reached a long-awaited deal in September with the International Ice Hockey Federation to participate in the 2022 Winter Games after skipping the showcase four years ago when South Korea hosted.
READ MORE: NHL players will dress up at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
But there is a well-documented exit clause that gives the NHL and NHLPA until January 10 to disconnect if either party considers COVID-19 conditions “impractical or unsafe.”
Olympic involvement and the next steps in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal will no doubt be up for discussion when the league’s board of governors meets in Manalapan, Florida, for its annual meeting on Thursday and Friday.
Owners have always been lukewarm about the Games, even under ideal circumstances, due to schedule disruption, the possibility of injury, and a host of other reasons.
The players, however, have been adamant about their desire to go to China. The league first participated in an Olympics in 1998 and went to five in a row before falling in 2018.
But it is far from certain in 2022.
READ MORE: Canada’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics is a sign of ‘progress’, athletes say
The NHL has seen an increase in COVID-19 outages over the past month, including the postponement of five games and a significant increase in the number of players placed on the league’s virus protocol.
There are also many unknowns with the Omicron variant, and there is little doubt that the NHLers will be under a strict lockdown when they are in China. It’s also unclear what happens if a player tests positive for the Olympics, but the mandatory quarantine could last up to three weeks.
With all of that in mind, Vegas Golden Knights goalkeeper Robin Lehner, who was a lock on Sweden’s roster, became the first NHL player to opt out of the Games earlier this week.
“The reality is that what (has been) said about how it is going to be is not ideal for my mental health,” Lehner posted in a series of tweets. “My well-being (has to) come first and being locked in and not knowing what happens if the result is positive is (too) a risk for me.
“I hope people understand.”
Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews missed the sport’s biggest stage in 2018, is hopeful the league will continue.
But you also know that tea leaves are difficult to read.
“I try to stay away from the news, especially,” he said. “It’s a lot to take in.”
READ MORE: McDavid, Crosby, Pietrangelo Named to Canada Men’s Hockey Team for the Beijing Olympics
There should be at least a little more clarity by the end of this week.
Chicago Blackhawks scandal
The board of governors is also meeting for the first time since the scathing independent report detailing how allegations of sexual assault made by Blackhawks draft pick Kyle Beach against a former assistant coach were largely ignored by management during the team’s race to the 2010 Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Jets governor and co-owner Mark Chipman promised last month that he would use his influence within the NHL to “recognize that there are systemic problems that require systemic solutions.”
READ MORE: Winnipeg Jets’ Cheveldayoff Says He Was’ Unaware ‘Of The Seriousness Of The Blackhawks Scandal Allegations
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff was Chicago’s assistant at the time, but said last month he “wasn’t aware” until this year of the seriousness of the allegations.
Cheveldayoff is the only person placed in a May 2010 meeting to discuss the allegations still in use in the NHL.
READ MORE: NHL Players Association to Launch Independent Review of Kyle Beach Battery Allegations
The NHLPA has also said it will commission an independent review of the union’s response.
Some teams were forced to play smaller rosters due to COVID-19
The St. Louis Blues had to play with just 17 skaters Tuesday, one fewer than usual, for salary cap reasons with forward Robert Thomas injured.
The Blues achieved a 4-3 victory over the Florida Panthers, and are now allowed to use an emergency withdrawal.
It’s a scenario that cropped up a couple of times in 2021-22, but one the league was able to avoid last season when taxi squads were used as a tool to combat COVID-19 shutdowns.
READ MORE: Jets Scheifele Joins Team Captain on NHL COVID-19 Protocol
The Toronto Maple Leafs were forced into a Blues-like situation in October when they signed college goalkeeper Alex Bishop to a one-day amateur tryout to serve as a backup.
Other NHL news
Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal record – a mark most thought would never fall – continues with relentless pace.
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his third goal of the game by a hat trick during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Washington. The Capitals won 4-3.
AP Photo / Nick Wass
The 36-year-old Washington Capitals sniper has already scored 20 goals for the 17th time in 17 seasons to reach 750 in his career.
READ MORE: Alex Ovechkin becomes eighth NHL player to score 700 career goals
Ovechkin, who is 144 goals behind Gretzky’s record of 894, is on track to score 63 times in 2021-22.
If those numbers are exceeded, he will be exactly 100 goals behind the Grande at the start of next season.
Vancouver Canucks fans haven’t had much to be excited about this season, or most of the past eight years.
READ MORE: A look at the NHL surprises, the disappointments thus far after a quarter of the season has been played.
But there was genuine joy in the stands Monday when fans chanted “Bruce, there he is!” to the tune of the 1990s hit “Whoomp! (There he is) ”by Tag Team honoring new head coach Bruce Boudreau towards the end of a 4-0 win.
The colorful 66-year-old took the job after Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning opened the door following the team’s appalling start to the season.
READ MORE: Fighting Vancouver Canucks hope Boudreau can start a sad season
Boudreau, however, joked that the line could quickly morph into “Bruce, there he goes!” if things go sideways.
New Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau smiles as he attends a press conference in Vancouver, BC on Monday, December 6, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS / Jonathan Hayward
© 2021 The Canadian Press
Reference-globalnews.ca