Toews: Olympic decision shows NHL headed in direction of lockout

To say that the NHL's unwillingness to participate in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang has created friction with the NHLPA would be an understatement.

With the current collective bargaining agreement expiring after the 2021-22 season, that friction could be an important point in the timeline of a future NHL lockout.

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who represented Team Canada in both the 2010 and 2014 Games. Like many other players, he isn't pleased with the league's decision, and thinks it could be an ominous sign of things to come.

"It just seems like it comes down to what can they (the NHL) get out of us when the next CBA negotiation rolls around," Toews told Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.

Asked whether the league is hurtling toward another lockout, Toews responded, "I wouldn't be surprised. If we're already hitting some road bumps with something like (the Olympics), we're heading in the same direction. Can't say anyone should be surprised at this point."

As a three-time Stanley Cup champion, Toews' voice is louder than that of an average NHL player. Bolder comments have already come from other faces of the league like Alex Ovechkin, who stated: "I'm still going."

Though the 2016 World Cup of Hockey was a success, it doesn't appear to have succeeded in quenching players' thirst for international, best-on-best hockey.

"Compared to the World Cup, there was no comparison really, as far as energy and excitement," Toews, who's won both tournaments, said of participating in the Olympics.