NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly on ice quality concerns at 2026 Winter Olympics: ‘If the players feel that the ice is unsafe to play, then we’re not going to play’

The International Ice Hockey Federation confirmed Monday that the ice surface to be used in Milan, Italy, for the 2026 Winter Olympics will be shorter than NHL-regulation size. Games at the two arenas will be played on rinks measuring 196.85 by 85.3 feet, while regular NHL dimensions are 200 by 85 feet.

News of the size difference came as a surprise to participating players and, perhaps more importantly, to the NHL commissioner’s office, with deputy commissioner Bill Daly telling The Athletic’s Chris Johnston that he only found out about the issue last week. Daly, present at this week’s Board of Governors meeting in Colorado, elaborated on the mounting concern about rink construction in Italy, noting that NHL participation could even be at risk.

“If the players feel that the ice is unsafe to play, then we’re not going to play,” Daly told Johnston. “It’s as simple as that.”

Players have previously competed on international-sized rinks at the Olympics, but the agreement between the NHL, NHLPA, and International Olympic Committee specified an NHL-sized rink for the 2026 Games. The NHL last sent players to the Olympics for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

In a statement released Monday, the IIHF wrote that the surface’s size differences will be “insignificant” and “should not” raise any player safety concerns. The statement, in full, was posted on the official Olympics website in conjunction with the IOC:

The IIHF can confirm that the ice surfaces for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will measure 60.0 m x 26.0 m (approximately 196.85 ft. x 85.3 ft).  While these dimensions differ slightly from a typical NHL rink, they are consistent with IIHF regulations, match the rink size used at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games and are fully consistent with the dimensions the NHL requires as part of its Global Series Game arena specifications.  All involved, the IIHF, the Organizing Committee, NHL, NHLPA, IOC and the relevant venue authorities agree that the differences in rink specifications are insignificant, and should not impact either the safety or quality of game play. We look forward to welcoming the world’s best players for a best-on-best competition at the Games.

Beyond the rink size and ice quality, the construction timeline for the venues still seems up in the air and ever-changing. Delays have already plagued the new arena, which will not be done in time for a previously planned test event later this month.

While most facilities are tested well in advance of Olympic use, the new arena will have very little wiggle room before official puck drop, and there’s no backup venue available if it’s not done in time. According to hockey insider Frank Seravalli, Daly told reporters that the Milan Olympic arena is now scheduled for completion on February 2. The first game in the women’s tournament is scheduled for February 5.

While the potential issues for the NHL remain, Daly told Seravalli that the league does not believe any of the obstacles ahead are “insurmountable.” However, the NHL and the NHLPA will insist on having the standard 200-by-85 ft. NHL ice surface at the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps.

The men’s ice hockey tournament will start with preliminary games on February 11, with the gold-medal game scheduled for February 22.