Would it really be the end of the world if NHL players opted not to go half a world away to showcase themselves? Would NHL teams be willing to “loan” their minor-league prospects to Olympic teams? On top of the economic losses and injury concerns stemming from Olympic participation, NHL teams must also consider the fatigue factor. How long would it take NHL players to re-adjust their body clocks? A 2014 study by University of Massachusetts professor Neil Longley revealed that NHL teams overloaded with Olympians suffered a significant drop in performance after the Games.

Source: National Post June 01, 2016 16:52 UTC