NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh 'hopeful' of NHL's participation at 2026 Olympics

The National Hockey League and its players continue to talk about Olympic participation in 2026.

"We've had good conversations and are fine-tuning a couple of points," NHL Players' Association executive director Marty Walsh said. "I'm hopeful. Players are very eager to play."

Hockey hasn't seen a best-on-best tournament since 2014. The NHL skipped the Games in 2018 and pulled the plug in 2022 because of COVID-19 concerns.

The league and union want to eventually get the World Cup back up and running on a regular schedule and are working toward a smaller international showcase event in 2025.

"I grew up a hockey fan," Walsh said. "Best-on-best tournaments, they didn't happen that often, but when they did, they were amazing … memories that you talk about.

"That'll help hockey."

WATCH | Canadian hockey dominates 2014 Sochi Games:

Walsh has shaken a lot of hands through the years.

As a union leader, as the mayor of Boston, and as U.S. President Joe Biden's first labour secretary.

Nine months into his new gig, Walsh is doing more of the same.

He has been making the rounds across the league in the early part of the schedule to get to know — and better understand — his membership.

"For a lot of a lot of players it's their first time meeting me," Walsh said during a recent media availability in Toronto. "Good conversation and good dialogue. Lots of talking about business growth and development. They're asking a lot of questions.

"The response has been really strong."

Walsh replaced outgoing NHLPA boss Don Fehr in February following two years in the Biden administration. The union was looking for a new voice as the league continues to emerge from financial hardships brought on by COVID-19, and with the current collective