The NHL will not require players to miss regular-season games for opting out of the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.
That tournament, scheduled from Feb. 12-20, is replacing the NHL All-Star Game this season.
Normally, players who are named to NHL All-Star rosters but opt not to participate in the event -- either because of injury or personal reasons -- are required to miss one game immediately preceding or following the NHL All-Star break, per NHL policy. However, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN on Monday that the policy will not apply to players who opt not to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The break for the 4 Nations Face-Off starts Feb. 10, with regular-season games resuming Feb. 22.
The Vegas Golden Knights announced Sunday that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo had withdrawn from the 4 Nations Face-Off because of an undisclosed injury and to prepare for the rest of the NHL season. He had been named to Team Canada when rosters were finalized in December.
Pietrangelo, 35, is the first player to opt out of the event while still actively playing for his NHL team. He played 24:22 and was a plus-2 in the Golden Knights' 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday.
The 4 Nations Face-Off is first of its kind, featuring NHL stars from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland representing their countries in a round-robin tournament. A co-presentation from the NHL and the NHL Players' Association, the event is intended to hype up the NHL's return to the Winter Olympics in 2026 after opting not to participate in the past two men's ice hockey tournaments.
