The hockey world gathered in Toronto this past weekend for the NHL All-Star Festivities. But before the fun began on the ice, there was some business that had to be taken care of off the ice first.

In a press conference that was held on February 2nd, the day of the skills competition, the NHL, NHLPA, IIHF, and IOC announced that NHLers were returning to the Olympics, which was music to the ears of Connor McDavid.

“Just the opportunity to do that is a dream come true,” McDavid said. “Obviously, I’ve been vocal about this. I feel like it’s important for hockey as we continue to try to grow our game internationally and at home. I think it’s a great thing.”

The sport of hockey has been missing a best-on-best International Hockey Tournament featuring NHL players for quite some time now. The last time the NHL was involved in the Olympics was 2014 in Sochi. Prior to the NHL, it participated in five Olympics, which included Nagano (1998), Salt Lake City (2002), Turin (2006), Vancouver (2010), and Sochi (2014).

There is excitement around the game when the NHLers are at the Winter Olympics. Who could forget Canada vs USA in the Gold Medal Games in 2002 and 2010? Especially in 2010 when Sidney Crosby scored the Golden Goal in Vancouver on home soil in overtime against Team USA.

It’s great news. I mean, with all the uncertainty that’s been around it in years prior and just how great an experience that it is, I think it’s just awesome news, Crosby said.  “I’m sure that a lot of players are really happy and especially to commit to two years, two different Olympics, I think that’ll be great to see. The best players go head to head representing their country from my experience, I don’t know if you get better hockey than that. So it’s great to be a part of and great for fans and everyone involved.”

So, the moments that make the Olympic Games help the NHL grow its game. However, the game did not grow because the NHL could not use the media from the Olympics on their site to help grow the game. That item has been resolved to the satisfaction of the NHL and the NHLPA to allow this deal to happen.

But the Olympics was something the Players really fought for in the last CBA negotiations. The NHL and NHLPA agreed that as part of the Memorandum of Understanding included in the CBA that restarted the 2019-20 season back up after COVID shut the season down, there would be Olympic participation.

Originally, the NHL was supposed to send its Players back to the Olympics in 2022. However, with COVID wreaking havoc on the schedule that year, the NHL decided it was not in their best interest to send the Players to those Olympic Games.

However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman ensured the League would honour its promise to its Players.

“There is a recognition of how important this is to the players, and in the spirit of cooperation — particularly the work that we did together during COVID — everybody felt on our side that it was the right thing to do,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “… This really came down to doing something because the players really wanted it.”

The NHL was always going back to the Olympics on their terms. Since Day 1, according to sources that spoke to Full Press Hockey, the League has been eyeing the 2026 Winter Olympics as a chance to showcase their players and game on a world stage.

“Italy has been on their radar since 2018, one source told Full Press Hockey.

“It did not make sense for the NHL to send its Players over to South Korea and China. It was not going to benefit the League,” another source told Full Press Hockey. “The television schedule alone would make it hard for fans to watch these games and get exposure. The 2026 Olympics in Italy and the 2030 Olympics in France made logistical sense for the NHL.”

Commissioner Bettman is a smart negotiator. Remember, he has a law background, so he does not say things that do not have meaning behind them. He took criticism for his statement about the arena in Milan not being ready; however, that was to get negotiations going again.

The major sticking points over the years have been what the NHL gets out of it. The owners and the League take all the risk but get no reward from it. As previously mentioned, the NHL is satisfied with the media rights deal for the 2026 Olympics.

But it was the big-ticket items how the insurance and travel for the players and their families would be paid for. In the past, it was on the NHL. Luc Tardif, IIHF President, clarified that the organizations and the IOC will pay for those items.

The door is now open for the world’s best players to take center stage again. Especially for someone like Connor McDavid, who grew up watching players like Crosby represent their country at the Olympics. McDavid has pushed hard for NHLers to return to the Olympics. Not only did he have a hand in the revamped Skills Competition, but this as well.

McDavid will finally get the chance to represent Canada in a best-on-best International Hockey Tournament. He has played in the World Championship and World Juniors, donning the Maple Leaf, but never on a big stage like this. Connor McDavid played with Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. But now he gets to represent Canada at the Olympics.

“Canada and the US, it doesn’t get any better than that in hockey, and I just can’t wait to have a chance to be a part of that,” Connor McDavid said.

Crosby hopes to join McDavid in 2026 on Team Canada. But he knows that is something that is earned and not given.

“I love to be a part of it, but it’s something you have to earn though. It’s not something that’s given to you to represent your country then you got to earn it,” Crosby stated.

One thing is certain: we know the NHLers are happy they are returning to the Olympics. The question will be if Russian players will be allowed to join them. We do not know the answer just yet.

However, one thing is clear: Connor McDavid is about to show the world he really is the best in the world. He will do that at the Four-Nations Faceoff and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games next year.