Gary Bettman vs NHLers, what each side really wants

We're roughly three weeks from the opening ceremony in Italy, and the hype is real because NHLers are slated to return to Olympic hockey for the first time since 2014.

The problem is the main arena story won't go away. Reuters reported the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is still unfinished in key areas, including locker rooms, and a test event even had a brief stoppage because of a hole in the ice.

The NHL and NHLPA said they were «pleased» with that test run, but also made it clear they're monitoring remaining issues closely. Bill Daly has even warned that unsafe ice means no tournament for NHL players.

That's why Tardif's comments have weight, even when he's trying to project calm. He said, «There is no reason that the NHL will not come,» yet this whole build-up has been rocky enough to make future talks feel fragile.

The bigger picture is that the Olympic partnership is already supposed to extend beyond Milan. The IIHF says the agreement with the NHL and NHLPA covers both Milano Cortina 2026 and the 2030 Winter Games, so everybody has skin in getting this right.

The anxiety is all over social media, and it's coming from fans who remember how quickly best-on-best can disappear.

If you follow the Florida Panthers, this isn't abstract. A healthy Panthers roster could send a handful of stars to Milan, and that stage matters for the league and for the room back home.

It also explains the quiet tug-of-war everyone feels. Gary Bettman wants control and safety guarantees, players want the flag on their chest, and the arena issues give both sides fresh ammo.

Fans mostly want the purest version of hockey, best on best, national pride, and the kind of games you remember for decades, even if it comes with a real risk. They know a torn knee in February can change an NHL season, or even a career, but the Olympics feel bigger than the standings, because you're watching players carry a whole country for two weeks.

At the same time, it's not blind recklessness, fans still want safe ice, proper facilities, and an agreement that doesn't treat players like replaceable parts. The truth is a lot of us will accept the injury risk the same way we accept it in the playoffs, because the emotional payoff is enormous.

If Milan goes smoothly, it's a launch point for 2030 and beyond. If it doesn't, hockey fans know the nightmare scenario, another long wait for NHLers on Olympic ice.