The December words of NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly reverberated throughout international hockey circles.
During the NHL’s annual Board of Governors meetings in Colorado Springs, Colo., the construction of the Olympic ice hockey arena in Milan, Italy, remained a top topic of conversation.
To update: Santagiulia Arena is not done and will not be when the 2026 Winter Olympic Games begin in February.
Noting concerns regarding an ice surface initially built with incorrect dimensions, Daly said: “If the players believe that ice isn’t safe, then we’re not going to play. It’s as simple as that.”
Well, not so simple, considering the NHL players were slated to come out of their 12-year Olympic hiatus. Solving many of the owners’ and players’ hurdles, such as commercial licensing rights, insurance, and travel accommodations, the NHL and NHLPA agreed to alter the regular season and go dark for three weeks and strike a deal with the IIHF and IOC last July. Several of North America’s top ice technicians were sent to Italy to help ensure the players’ safety.
The rink may be three feet shorter than what the NHL players called for, but the Milan-Cortina Games will go on and feature stars like the Hughes brothers and Tkachuk brothers, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby, who seeks his third Gold Medal at 38 years old with favored Team Canada.
Led by MacKinnon, the NHL’s second-leading scorer, the Canadians (+140) received the top sports-betting odds to capture the Gold Medal, according to ESPN. Backed by Jack and Quinn Hughes and Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, Team USA (+200) received the second-best odds.
The men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament is scheduled to begin at an unfinished complex Feb. 11. The Gold Medal game will be Feb. 22.
A first-hand look at Milan's new Santaguilia Olympic hockey arena, officially opened, finally, but far from ideal. Nevertheless, a big step forward towards getting things right with the Milan-Cortina Olympics less than one month away..https://t.co/6dxNpoqmL4 pic.twitter.com/syHiDR2fUn
— Brian Pinelli (@Brian_Pinelli) January 10, 2026
Here is a look at the men’s Olympic ice hockey odds to win the Gold Medal during the upcoming Milan Games, according to ESPN.com:
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