NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics

FILE - Russia forward Vladimir Tarasenko wraps the puck around the goal against Slovakia forward Branko Radivojevic in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. A handful of NHL players are voicing frustration over the decision not to allow them to go to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Tarasenko said on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, he would have gone if given the choice. Keeping the season going while allowing individual players to choose whether to go was not something that was ever considered.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

FILE - Canada's Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal against Europe during the third period of Game 2 of the World Cup of Hockey finals, in Toronto on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016. A handful of NHL players are voicing frustration over the decision not to allow them to go to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Marchand ripped the league and NHLPA on social media Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021 for adding taxi squads to keep the season going but not in February to give players the option to leave for the Olympics. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File)