The Daily: Growing Concerns About the NHL’s Olympic Participation

Covid’s impact on the NHL regular-season is prompting people around the sport to wonder whether going to the Winter Olympics is a good idea.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provides an excellent overview of the Olympic situation in his 32 thoughts column.  The NHL still has 46 days to pull out of the Winter Olympics without financial penalty.

When the NHL agreed to go to the Olympics, league officials left open the option of pulling out if Covid caused game cancellations. The NHL did postpone three Senators’ games.

NHL owners have never liked Olympic participation, because of the disruption it causes to the schedule and putting players at risk for injury. However, it is hard to believe Commissioner Gary Bettman pulling the plug on the NHL’s involvement unless a considerable number of games were cancelled. Players still seem to want to play in the Olympics.

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Friedman also is reporting that the Sabres have been inquiring about goalies in the trade market

Around the NHL

Detroit: Eight reasons why the Red Wings should beat the Sabres Saturday night

Ottawa: Goaltender Matt Murray is 0-5 this season and is under fire in Ottawa.

Colorado: Hockey Now looked at what Avalanche fans are thankful for? 

San Jose: The Sharks are rarely favorites, but as Sheng Peng writes, the underdogs can play like big dogs when they need to…

Calgary: The Calgary Flames are a powerhouse this season. One significant change is the resurgence of power forward Milan Lucic.

Toronto: Hockey Now’s Scott Cullen took a look at the former Toronto Maple Leafs around the NHL. Nazem Kadri is the big loss. 

Montreal: The Canadiens are still struggling. Our Montreal Hockey crew do some grading on the Habs’ goalies and defensemen at the quarter pole.

Washington: Sammi Silber writes that Caps forward Lars Eller is back on the ice after quarantining for Covid-19,