The international stage is one of the best opportunities for the NHL to step up and promote itself and the best version of hockey possible, and now, we may be on the verge of seeing that once more.
While the hockey on that stage is still solid without the NHL, there's no doubting that when they are at the Olympics, it creates a major buzz for hockey with the best of the best going to battle.
After some years away from the game, the NHL and NHLPA are now working together on a schedule that would improve the international game and get NHL players on that stage ahead of a return to the 2026 Olympic Games.
It's not yet been laid out just what those plans are, but this is a step in the right direction, and with potentially stacked teams from Canada, United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia and many others, we could be looking at a return to hockey at its very best on the international stage.
