Long Island will now wait until 2027 to host an NHL event.
The NHL is cancelling the Olympic sendoff event planned for UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders, in February, sources tell Sportsnet. ESPN's Emily Kaplan was first to report the news.
UBS Arena was originally slated to host a traditional All-Star Weekend that would serve as a jumping-off point for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, but that changed to an international event following the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
However, the NHL and NHLPA decided it would be best for the players to prepare for Milan-Cortina — something that was in consideration when deciding to host a sendoff event in the first place.
"We've concluded that whatever we do for (2026) needs to take into account that the players are going to be very focused on getting to Milan and playing in the Olympics, and we want to respect that," said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final back in June.
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics represent the first time NHL players can compete in the Games since 2014.
The Islanders will host a traditional all-star game and skills competition in February 2027.
