Victor Hedman
FILE - Eeli Tolvanen (20), of Finland, scores a goal against goalie Lars Haugen (30), of Norway, during the second period of the preliminary round of the men's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. The 2018 Olympics without NHL talent offered a glimpse of things to come for players who hadn't yet reached the best hockey league in the world. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Olympics in 2018 showed glimpses of future NHL stars

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2023 06:00 AM EST

FILE- Team Canada's Sidney Crosby skates on the ice during practice in Ottawa on on Sept. 5, 2016, in preparation for the World Cup of Hockey. The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have abandoned plans to hold a World Cup of Hockey in 2024, according to a a joint statement Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, calling it not feasible to hold the tournament as they had hoped in February of 2024. The league and union say they hope to stage it in February 2025 and will continue to plan for that. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Russia-Ukraine war derails World Cup of Hockey plans for '24

By Stephen Whyno Nov. 11, 2022 03:27 PM EST

T-Mobile Arena stands in Las Vegas before an NHL hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. The arena is the site for this year's NHL All-Star game. (AP Photo/David Becker)
NHL All-Stars sad to miss Olympics, but happy to be in Vegas

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 04:21 PM EST

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)
NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 29, 2021 05:54 AM EST

FILE -Canada defenseman Shea Weber, left, trips over USA forward David Backes during the third period of a men's semifinal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 21, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. NHL players will not take part in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing after all. A person with direct knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the league is going to withdraw from the Olympics after the regular-season schedule was disrupted by coronavirus outbreaks, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
NHL announces players won't be allowed to go to Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 22, 2021 10:53 AM EST

Edmonton Oilers' Connor McDavid (97) celebrates a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during first-period preseason NHL hockey game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
NHL Preview: What to know about the 2021-22 season

By Larry Lage, John Wawrow And Stepen Whyno Oct. 11, 2021 02:23 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2019, file photo, Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane (88) celebrates with teammate Jonathan Toews (19) after scoring his third goal of the game in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty, File)
Kane, Matthews and Jones first 3 picks for US Olympic team

By Stephen Whyno Oct. 07, 2021 01:30 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2014, file photo, hockey pucks bounce off the wall during the warm up session before the USA vs Finland men's bronze medal ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. National Hockey League players are set to return to the Olympics in Beijing this winter after reaching an agreement with international officials. The league, NHLPA, International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation struck a deal Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, that will put the best players in the world back on sports' biggest stage in February after skipping the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
NHL reaches agreement to send players to Olympics in Beijing

By Stephen Whyno And John Wawrow Sep. 03, 2021 11:20 AM EDT