Leaked Milan Olympic hockey arena footage sparks real NHL concern

The images, shared by Darren Dreger, reveal heavy construction still underway just weeks before games begin, and the timeline has many in the hockey world uneasy about readiness and safety.

This could lead to NHL players pulling out of the Olympics as a whole.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has admitted the delays are giving the league serious concern, saying the build is closer to the start date without ice being ready than at any past Olympics. The league's caution underscores how crucial the venue is for the return of NHL players, who will compete at the Games for the first time since 2014.

Beyond the visuals, another headache has emerged: the planned ice surface in Milan's Santagiulia Arena may be up to 3-4 feet shorter than the NHL standard, a discrepancy reported by multiple outlets, including team sources. This difference in length, while compliant with IIHF Olympic guidelines, could shock players used to full NHL sheets.

The NHL hasn't said it would pull out, but Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly's blunt remarks to Matt Larkin underline the stakes: if there's «no rink completed, there are no NHL players going to the Olympics.» That warning wasn't casual talk, it was a direct statement of risk as the clock winds down.

Fans watching the footage feel a mix of disbelief and worry, noting the images paint a picture of an arena still needing essential work at a point when most Olympic facilities would be tested and ready.

Organizers maintain they're working hard to finish the 16,000-seat facility on time, and a test event has been moved to January to ensure everything from ice quality to safety systems is up to expectation. There's also no backup venue planned if Santa Giulia isn't ready; officials openly say «there is no Plan B.»

Local organizers defend the rink, promising ice that will be safe and suitable for top competitors, and they're collaborating with ice specialists, including NHL experts, to get it right. The first scheduled Olympic hockey matches still start with the women's tournament on February 5, followed by the men's tournament on February 11.

Whether the arena will be finished, how the slightly smaller ice surface might affect play, and if NHL stars will ultimately take the ice in Milan remain the big open questions as the countdown shrinks. For now, the hockey world watches those leaked construction shots with genuine concern.