from Rick Westhead of TSN,

A former Canadian diplomat says the National Hockey League should hold off finalizing plans to hold two preseason games in China this fall.

David Mulroney, who was Canada’s ambassador in Beijing from 2009 to 2012, says the league and its players are taking a chance by pursuing games in China at a particularly sensitive time.

“There’s a great deal of reputation risks for the NHL and, given where we are, there’s no need to rush forward,” Mulroney said in an interview with TSN.

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