The Beijing Olympics open in less than 60 days.

And the NHL has just over a month to decide if it will be there.

The league and the NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association came to a long-awaited agreement in September with the International Ice Hockey Federation to take part in the 2022 Winter Games after skipping the showcase four years ago when South Korea hosted.

But thereB次元官网网址檚 a well-documented out clause that gives the NHL and NHLPA until Jan. 10 to pull the plug if COVID-19 conditions are deemed B次元官网网址渋mpractical or unsafeB次元官网网址� by either party.

Olympic participation and next steps in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal will no doubt be topics of discussion when the leagueB次元官网网址檚 board of governors gather in Manalapan, Fla., for their annual meeting Thursday and Friday.

Owners have always been lukewarm about the Games B次元官网网址� even under ideal circumstances B次元官网网址� because of schedule disruption, potential for injuries, and a host of other reasons.

The players, however, have been adamant about their desire to go to China. The league first took part in an Olympics in 1998, and went to five straight before declining in 2018.

But it remains far from a sure thing in 2022.

The NHL has seen a rise in COVID-19 disruptions over the last month, including the postponement of five games and a significant rise in the number of players placed into the leagueB次元官网网址檚 virus protocol.

There are also plenty of unknowns with the Omicron variant, and thereB次元官网网址檚 little doubt NHLers will be under a strict lockdown when in China. ItB次元官网网址檚 also unclear what happens if a player tests positive at the Olympics, but the mandatory quarantine could be as long as three weeks.

With all that in mind, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner, who was a lock for SwedenB次元官网网址檚 roster, became the first NHLer to opt out of the Games earlier this week.

B次元官网网址淩eality is that what (has) been said about how itB次元官网网址檚 going to be is not ideal for my mental health,B次元官网网址� Lehner posted in a series of tweets. B次元官网网址淢y well-being (has to) come first and being locked down and not knowing what happens if you test positive is (too) much of a risk for me.

B次元官网网址淗ope people understand.B次元官网网址�

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews missed out on sportB次元官网网址檚 biggest stage in 2018, is hopeful the league goes.

But he also knows itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to read the tea leaves.

B次元官网网址淚 try to stay away from the news, mostly,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot to take in.B次元官网网址�

There should, at the very least, be a little more clarity later this week.

B次元官网网址擩oshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press