Former NHL player Paul Bissonnette voiced strong criticism on Tuesday regarding the league’s NHL Olympic season scheduling as players prepare for the Winter Olympics, marking their first appearance since 2014. He highlighted the strain caused by requiring players to finish an 82-game regular season while also competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Bissonnette described the current scheduling approach as unreasonable, emphasizing the physical toll it takes on athletes expected to perform at such a high level in both commitments.
“Making these guys play 82 games in an Olympic year is a f***ing joke,” Bissonnette tweeted.
Proposing a Shortened Regular Season to Ease Player Burden
To address the challenges of NHL Olympic season scheduling, Bissonnette recommended lowering the regular season game count to 76 during Olympic years. His plan includes playing four games against each team in a player’s own conference and one game against teams from the other conference. Additionally, he suggested returning to a 1-8 playoff seeding format for those years.
“76 games should be the number. 4 games with everyone in your conference and 1 game with teams in the other conference. Go back to 1-8 seeding in those years because it’s the way it should be anyway but at least we get the every 4 years,” Bissonnette tweeted.
This proposed adjustment aims to reduce injury risks, improve players’ recovery time, and maintain the thrill of the Olympic competition every four years.
Background on NHL and Olympic Participation Challenges
The NHL did not allow players to participate in the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics due to unresolved conflicts with the International Olympic Committee over scheduling and financial responsibilities. Despite the break planned for the upcoming 2026 Games, concerns remain over the grueling schedule that places heavy demands on players.
The NHL regular season will pause from Monday to February 25 to accommodate the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Olympics, which begins on February 11. The gold medal game is set for February 22. Still, squeezing the full schedule around this short hiatus has raised worries about the increased frequency of back-to-back games and limited rest periods.
Impact of Condensed Scheduling on Player Health and Performance
Players competing in the Olympics face the risk of returning fatigued or injured just as the NHL playoffs approach, intensifying the physical and mental challenges. The compressed timeline for an 82-game season intersecting with a major international event strains athletes and raises questions about the current operational structure.
The playoff format currently involves a divisional structure introduced in the 2013-14 season, which some argue adds to scheduling complexity. Bissonnette’s suggestions advocate for revisiting these systems during Olympic years to protect players and maintain competitive integrity.
