I think the NHL realized that they couldn’t take three weeks off for the Olympics AND postpone chunks of games for COVID in the same season. If this was done for political reasons, all well and good, but I suspect it’s a painless way to keep their season on schedule.
I believe you’re correct.
I think the NHL and NHLPA both agreed that using the Olympics break to hold the covid postponed games was best.
Best for the NHL who didn’t want their players to endanger themselves and best for the NHLPA lower paid players who wouldn’t be paid for games that got canceled.
I didn’t have anything to do with politics.
I suspect the NHL is doing this because players are routinely taking over-the-counter cold medications to deal with potential minor COVID symptoms, and those medications contain ingredients that are considered banned, performance-enhancing substances under IOC rules.