MUNICH — The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) is optimistic that NHL players will participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps, following a successful return to the Games earlier this year. Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, expressed confidence that negotiations between stakeholders, including the NHL, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), will lead to an agreement for the next Winter Olympics.
NHL players competed at the Milan-Cortina Games in 2026 after a 12-year absence, marking a significant milestone in international hockey. Walsh highlighted the strong television ratings generated during the Games, noting that approximately 8.7 million viewers tuned in to the CBC broadcast of the final game despite its early morning start in North America. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman suggested that an afternoon start could have potentially doubled those numbers, underscoring the league’s and players’ value to the Olympic broadcast.
The NHL and NHLPA’s 2025 memorandum of understanding includes a formal commitment to participate in the 2030 Winter Olympics, though the clause remains “subject to negotiation of terms acceptable” to all parties. Past discussions have faltered, leading to NHL players’ absence from the 2018 Games and the league’s withdrawal in 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns. Walsh, however, believes these previous challenges will not recur given the recent positive collaboration and shared benefits.
Walsh emphasized that while some logistical issues remain around accommodations, ticketing, insurance, and marketing, the stakeholders have strong incentives to reach a deal. “We’ll get there,” he said, adding that the agreement focuses primarily on player participation rather than peripheral arrangements.
The NHLPA has also pushed for expanded international engagement beyond the Olympics, a priority that has gained traction under Walsh’s leadership since he assumed his role in early 2023. The union successfully organized the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February 2025 and is planning a revived World Cup of Hockey event for February 2028. This sequence of events aims to create a more regular international schedule for NHL players, with the goal of maintaining a presence at both the 2028 World Cup and the 2030 Olympics.
The ongoing collaboration between the NHL and NHLPA is supported by a new collective bargaining agreement effective next month, guaranteeing labor peace through September 2030. The agreement introduces changes including an increase to an 84-game regular season, removal of fitness testing, shorter training camps for experienced players, reduced preseason games, and the elimination of a formal dress code—moves designed to modernize the league and enhance player individuality.
Additionally, the NHL has committed to hosting regular-season games in Europe for the next three years, starting with the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators playing in Düsseldorf this December. This initiative targets growth in markets that produce a significant portion of the league’s players, particularly in Germany, and seeks to expand revenue and sponsorship opportunities internationally.
Walsh framed these developments as part of a broader strategy to grow and evolve the sport globally. “We’re investing more in Europe. We’re investing more in the world. We’re up to 84 games. We’re in the Olympics. We’re in the World Cup. It’s a different business than it was 20 years ago,” he said, emphasizing the importance of increasing fans’ exposure to players both on and off the ice.