Knights’ star defenseman uncertain if he will play in Olympics

Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said Sunday helium has concerns astir the imaginable COVID-19 protocols successful Beijing and is uncertain whether helium volition enactment successful the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Pietrangelo antecedently was 1 of 3 players named to the roster for Team Canada, joining forwards Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.

“I’ve got 4 kids that are nether the property of 3½. For maine to beryllium perchance locked up determination for 5 weeks positive the Olympics, that’s a agelong clip being distant from my family,” Pietrangelo said. “I’m not going to marque a determination until we get each the answers, due to the fact that those are benignant of hard to travel by close now. So, we’re each benignant of sitting and waiting.”

The NHL negotiated successful the astir caller corporate bargaining statement with the NHL Players’ Association to let players to enactment successful the 2022 and 2026 Winter Olympics.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said astatine past week’s Board of Governors gathering successful Florida the league besides has concerns astir Olympic participation, and a determination not to be would person to travel from the NHLPA. There is nary deadline for a last decision.

The NHLPA confirmed a study from the Toronto Star that the International Olympic Committee said immoderate jock with a confirmed affirmative trial for COVID-19 indispensable quarantine for a play of 21 days to 5 weeks. But the deficiency of connection regarding the quarantine logistics, specified arsenic wherever it would instrumentality place, has jeopardized the NHL’s participation.

Knights goaltender Robin Lehner antecedently said helium opting out of information for Team Sweden, citing intelligence wellness reasons.

“There’s a batch of guys that are benignant of sitting and waiting for answers,” Pietrangelo said. “I deliberation the league and the PA are some looking for answers, too, astir however this is each going to play out.

“A batch of the worldly that’s being discussed is retired of my control. It’s betwixt governments present and the IOC and each that. We conscionable get accusation arsenic it comes. We’ll marque a determination arsenic a radical erstwhile we person each the accusation and we’re conscionable benignant of waiting for that information.”

The NHL’s statement with the players states that immoderate disruption of the regular-season docket due to the fact that of COVID-19 postponements could effect successful the league deciding not to spell to the Olympics.

The Ottawa Senators had 3 games postponed, and the New York Islanders had 2 postponed due to the fact that of COVID outbreaks.

If the NHL does not spell to Beijing, it’s not wide whether the Olympic interruption volition stay successful the schedule. Several NHL arenas person already booked those dates for different events.

“I would expect sooner alternatively than aboriginal we would person answers, due to the fact that if we’re not going to spell oregon we are going to go, america with families, we person immoderate worldly to plan,” Pietrangelo said. “If we don’t spell we’ll astir apt instrumentality a abrogation with the kids. I’m conscionable benignant of sitting and waiting.”

Contact David Schoen astatine dschoen@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ connected Twitter.