Egland scores Teddy Bear Toss goal but Pats lose in OT
7h ago
Over 3,000 stuffed animals were tossed onto the ice.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have actually done something good for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The pandemic has given him a load of ammunition to say no to sending players to the Beijing Olympics.
Remember, when the players extended their deal with the NHL, league officials only said they’d do all they can to allow players to participate in the Olympics. There was no absolute 100 per cent guarantee.
So now Bettman is laying out the problems with going to Beijing and giving hockey fans a team Canada with Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby.
First are the insurance and travel costs. Then it’s the potential to still need isolation for players before or after the Olympics. Then there is the ability to use Olympics footage for NHL promotional purposes. Then there is already a strain on the schedule with this season going late and needing a two-week break for the Olympic schedule.
You know Bettman and the NHL don’t really want to participate in the Olympics, and unfortunately for the fans, it’s starting to look bleak if NHL players will actually be in Beijing.