NHL cancels Olympic send-off, grants Isles 2027 All-Star Game
Jun 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft at Peacock Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The NHL has canceled a planned send-off event for the 2026 Winter Olympics in February at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
The league, however, plans to hold the All-Star Game and skills competition at the New York Islanders' home arena in 2027.
The initial plan was to create an international event on Long Island to replace the 2026 All-Star Game. That drew the ire of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who expressed her disappointment to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in a letter and requested the league "bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region in 2027."
League games will pause from Feb. 6-24 to accommodate the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The last time NHL players competed in the Olympics was in 2014, when Canada won gold in Sochi, Russia.
The league opted against a traditional All-Star Weekend for the 2025-26 season and planned another international event on the heels of the success of the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off.
--Field Level Media
Grading the NFL’s Worst Head Coaching Hires of 2026
MLB Owners Are Killing the World Baseball Classic
- Best NBA Betting Picks and Predictions for Thursday, January 29
- Wednesday Jan. 28 NBA Best Betting Picks, Predictions
- Rangers vs Islanders Jan. 28 NHL Betting Pick and Predictions
- College Basketball Picks Today: Nebraska vs. Michigan Headlines Loaded Slate
- Tuesday NHL Betting Picks: Expert Bets for Jan. 27th
- Best NBA Bets Today: Spread Picks and Player Props for Monday’s Games
- NFL Championship Weekend Picks: AFC & NFC Best Bets
