Winter Olympics 2026: NHL players will skip Games if ice is unsafe – but league boss “optimistic”

“I don’t want to be flip about it. We probably will know that in advance of the official start of the Games. What you do at that point becomes a different issue.

“Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we’re not going to play.

“It’s as simple as that.”

The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions.

The NHL players’ association said on Saturday the concerns were more around the quality of the ice than the size.

Daly, though, said he did not think the issues were insurmountable.

“We have offered and they’re utilising our ice experts and technicians and outside providers,” he added.

“We’re basically moving everybody there to try to help get this done in a way that’s acceptable for NHL athletes. And I’m cautiously optimistic it will be fruitful.”