The moment that the 2014 Winter Olympics officially came to a close, one could sense that the Sochi games might be the last one for the NHL, at least for the time being.

As rumors over the course of the 2016-17 regular season heightened, it appeared less and less likely that the NHL would be involved in sending its best players to Pyeongchang, South Korea next winter. On Monday, after days, weeks, months and a few years of speculation, the league made that rumor a reality when they officially announced they would not participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Is it the right decision, though? There are many thoughts that I have on this, and quite frankly I see both sides of the argument.

On one hand, there’s the missed opportunity argument, particularly from an exposure standpoint. Unlike the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Cup Final or any significant regular season event like the Winter Classic, the Olympics are a TV ratings gold mine. The gold medal game in the hockey tournament is no different.

In 2010, the epic US-Canada final in Vancouver was the highest-rated hockey game since the Miracle on Ice took place 30 years prior to Sidney Crosby scoring his golden goal against the Americans. Eight years prior to 2010 in the first US-Canada gold medal game – this one in Salt Lake City – the event drew a 10.1 rating and 17 share, good for fourth highest in Olympic history.

Not only would the game benefit from the exposure in and of itself thanks to NBC holding the rights to both the Olympics and the NHL, but the star power in the current and future pool of hockey talents cannot be any higher. From current stars like Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Patrick Kane to elite young studs such as Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, the added Olympic exposure would’ve been a win-win for the league and the players that would be participating in 2018, much like it was during the first five games featuring NHL talent.

Another US-Canada gold medal game in the Olympics with McDavid and Matthews may happen someday, but this would have been a perfect opportunity to put the top overall picks in the last two entry drafts in front of a world audience. From a local storyline standpoint, potentially seeing Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand showcase their talents on Team Canada would have been a sight to see in and of itself, especially after their display at this year’s World Cup of Hockey.

It’s a point that the players kept hammering. Their interest in participating in the games was well documented leading up to the NHL’s decision on Monday.

“The two Olympics I have been able to play in have been some of the best times I’ve had playing hockey. Representing my country in a way – doing what I do for a living. It was exhilarating,” David Backes said about his time playing for Team USA in the Vancouver and Sochi games. “It was one of the most proud moments I’ve had playing the game.”

“I think it would be disappointing. I think guys want to go,” Bergeron said last month about Olympic participation. “I think it’s the biggest sporting event in the world, [and] as an athlete, you want to participate.”

Those sentiments by Backes, Bergeron and countless other hockey players who spoke out about the Olympics like Jakub Voracek were reiterated in the disappointment the NHLPA shared in a statement hours following the announcement.

NHLPA statement on NHL’s 2018 Olympic Winter Games decision: https://t.co/9AAoDywFpF pic.twitter.com/WatIQHIDkL

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 3, 2017

From a fan standpoint, it’s also pretty disappointing. Yet from a business standpoint, I can understand the owners’ concerns. Playing with a condensed schedule for a second straight year and taking a week or two out of the regular season would have caused another scheduling headache for one. For the players, it avoids the hassle of trying to recuperate and heal their bodies when they return home from several time zones away before getting back into the grind of the playoff push beginning in late February.

There may be a few players who defect from their respective hockey clubs to participate in the games in Pyeongchang, which begin in a little under 10 months. That may add fuel to the fire if there’s any discussion of the league returning to the Beijing Olympics in 2022.

This may be a big loss for the players interested in participating next year, but in the short-term a good majority of athletes won’t have to worry about returning home on short rest to resume play in the regular season.

This may be a big win for the owners in the short-term, but they may regret it in the long run. There are very few venues as big as the Olympics to showcase the best talents in the world. Sorry, owners, the World Cup of Hockey is nowhere near the prestige as the global phenomenon known as the Olympics.

The NHL is missing that opportunity this year. Whether other European leagues like the KHL or Swedish Elite League follow suit is anyone’s guess.

They may be opting out for now, but the NHL would be wise to return to the Olympics in 2022. That may be something the players bargain for in the next CBA. Whether or not the owners comply is anyone’s guess. Let’s at least hope that Olympic participation is not the determining factor in avoiding yet another lockout.