NHL players are set to compete in the Milan-Cortina Olympics after a lengthy absence of 12 years, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) agreeing to cover players' insurance and travel expenses. This agreement follows a contentious disagreement that began in 2018, when the IOC announced it would no longer cover expenses that totaled approximately €24.5 million during the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has expressed criticism over these arrangements, stating that the league is forced to suspend its operations without financial compensation during the Olympics. In response to ongoing player demands, the NHL Players' Association pushed for Olympic participation to be included in their collective bargaining agreement in 2020, and the NHL has now secured the rights to use Olympic content on its own channels. The anticipation is high as fans are eager for the return of the world's best hockey players to the Olympic stage after a long hiatus.

It has been a frustrating wait for both players and fans since Sidney Crosby led Team Canada to gold at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. The long-standing absence of NHL players from the Olympic ice hockey competition has generated excitement for their return to the international arena, as they prepare to once again compete for Olympic glory against their peers from around the world.