The NHL decided not to allow all players to participate in 1988,1992 or 1994, but an agreement was reached in 1995 to allow NHL players to play in the Olympics starting with the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.
The NHL decided not to allow all players to participate in 1988,1992 or 1994, because doing so would force the league to halt play during the Olympics. An agreement was reached in 1995 to allow NHL players to play in the Olympics starting with the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.