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The long-awaited return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics could be prolonged due to concerns regarding the construction of the main ice hockey arena for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin that NHL players’ return to the Olympics after more than a decade-long absence rests entirely on organizers’ ability to get the venue built in time for the men’s competition, which runs from Feb. 11– 22.

“Depends on the percentage you want to place on the possibility the rink doesn’t get completed,” Daly said. “If there’s no rink completed, there’s no NHL players going to the Olympics.”

Daly’s threat comes amid real concern over the delays in the construction of the main arena.

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