NHL is scheduling a break for the 2022 Winter Olympics and will release 2021-22 Season Schedule on Thursday!

Igor Burdetskiy July 19, 2021

1 1 minute read

Many have been anticipating next season’s schedule and we have finally confirmed with multiple sources that the 2021-22 NHL Season schedule will be released this Thursday July 22nd.

Along with the schedule itself for next season there is also going to be an NHL break for the Winter Olympics in Beijing. It’s currently reported by ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski that the break would be from Feb. 5-22, 2022.

However the NHL participation in the 2022 Winter Games isn’t yet guaranteed as that is still something that is being worked out.

Opening ceremonies for the Beijing Games are scheduled for Feb. 4, 2022. Preliminary-round games in the men’s ice hockey tournament are scheduled to begin around Feb. 9.

The NHL has also announced that the 2022 All-Star Weekend will be held in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena “during the traditional midway point of the regular season.” The NHL All-Star Game will be the last on-ice event before the Olympic break, but it’s unclear whether it’s considered part of that break.

“We negotiated in good faith with the Players’ Association last summer,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said last month. “We agreed that if the conditions were right and we could reach an agreement on all the material issues that we would commit and support going to the Olympics. That remains our position.”

On the day of Game 1 right before the Stanley Cup Final, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said there were “real concerns about whether or not it’s sensible to have our players participating and us shutting down for an Olympic break.” Among those concerns: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and how it might impact the Beijing Games.

“With the continued uncertainty with the virus, with the Games being halfway around the world, it’s not necessarily an ideal Games to go to,” Daly said.

It does look that the NHL and IOC should reach some sort of agreement in place by late July or early August to have NHL players participate for next year’s winter Olympics.

Let’s all hope it gets done for the sake of how much better the Olympics truly are with the participation of NHL players.

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Igor Burdetskiy

Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & CEO at Hooked on Hockey Magazine

I grew up playing Ball and Roller Hockey day and night somewhat religiously throughout elementary and middle school. The two don't compare though when I lace up the skates and hit the ice. I live and breathe hockey beyond the perspective of "it's just a game" and I will gladly talk hockey for hours with anyone. Hockey is more than just a lifestyle, it's a culture of passionate people who make memories every time the puck is dropped. Hockey has not only helped me get through some of the hardest times in life but has created some of the best memories to date. Want to talk hockey with me? Shoot me an email: iburdetskiy@hookedonhockey.com and let's talk some hockey!