Personally I think they are merely playing their trump card. The NHL feels like they are paying too much of the freight. They are big on getting into the Chinese market. Next year the LA Kings and Vancouver Canucks will play two games in China, the 2022 Winter Olympics are in China and there is no way they will miss that. The players The fans The network(s) who bought coverage The Olympic Committee .....all want to see the NHL participate. Someone will find the money to pull this off in my opinion.
It's clear for Olympics. Now up to Russia , Germany , Finland , Norway and also Sweden to do right for winning mentality the very best from outside NHL. Not war with N.Korea instead new Vietnam war I prefer Vietnam war.