[News] NHL will not participate in 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

[dino7c]

players talk a big game...

go to the Olympics you are suspended for the rest of the season and nobody goes

you signed a contract for millions of dollars to play a kids game

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Further to my previous post, let's not forget that the terribly corrupt and greedy IOC made zero effort to try and get this deal done. The NHL didn't make this decision in a vacuum.

Why aren't we blaming the IOC then? They clearly care a lot less than the NHL and the owners about NHL participation, who just wanted some basic and understandable concessions to be made.

[cam_wmh]

Baseball is returning to the summer Olympics in 2020, yet appears the MLB & its membership won't be involved.

In a similar scenario, MLB is looking for concessions from the IOC, but doesn't appear to be receiving ears to it. MLB, just like the NHL, has their own world tournament, "World Baseball Classic".

Neither NHL or MLB world tourney's really grab their audiences.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jbo

I'm actually okay with this.

However, the OIC needs to ensure enforcement across the board. If you hold a professional contract in NHL, you should not be able to participate. Ovi and Malkin should not be able to just go play, and if they do, face lengthy suspensions from the NHL

They won't be going, it is the IIHF that has the say on that, not the IOC. The IIHF has always honoured NHL suspensions and wishes, they won't be participating.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by pepper24

Assuming this is a final decision for 2018 and the NHL is done with Olympics for future winter Olympic games, how does that change your view on Calgary hosting in 2026?

Recent Olympic games for me have mainly been to watch hockey and the NHL players involved. Not much interest in the other sports. Maybe a World Cup instead of Olympics every 4 years like soccer will change that.

A summer world cup with zero involvement of the NHL league outside of the players because they gimmick things up too. Just good old fashioned international hockey.

[Locke]

I dont blame the NHL at all. Its on the other side of the planet and they take all the risks, front all the costs and get none of the payoff.

This was a long time coming.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dino7c

players talk a big game...

go to the Olympics you are suspended for the rest of the season and nobody goes

you signed a contract for millions of dollars to play a kids game

They can't go, they won't be eligible to play. I suppose they can go and eat popcorn in the stands but they won't be playing hockey.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

And get suspended without pay? Not sure how many players are going to go against their own contracts. I suspect it won't be many at all.

Yup.

A guy like Ovechkin will go with his owner's blessing.

But the league (re: Bettman) will be putting pressure on any owners who haven't already spoken publicly about it to stand with the league's position - and most will.

Any player who leaves without permission will certainly be suspended without pay for the duration. For a $5 million player, that's going to be over a half million dollars. And in the worst case scenario where they suffer a major injury, the team would certainly have the option to walk away from their contracts entirely.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by nik-

If the NHL doesn't go, they've effectively done it for them. The majority of the time hockey has been in the Olympics it's been non-pro. There's hardly zero chance it doesn't happen again.

Still think it's zero chance. Having no pros would eliminate players from the KHL, European leagues, AHL, etc. It would just be beer leaguers and college players left. I doubt most countries would start up their own national teams like they did in the 80's.

[DJones]

I think it'll be alright.

Kind of excited to see a bunch of all star prospects be chosen.

[squiggs96]

If I'm an owner, I'd prefer my players don't go. My business is trying to win a Stanley Cup, and the Olympic break doesn't help that. It could hurt it, especially if one of my star players gets hurt. About 150 NHL players out of 700 went to the 2014 games. I don't think we should stop the league so 20% of the players go play, while 80% have to take a two week vacation waiting for them to get back.

As a fan I didn't like the condensed schedule during Olympic years. I also don't like the bye week and the all star game, but that's another thread.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Greedy bastards that can't move over once every four years for a couple weeks out of respect for the sport at the highest level. Hockey is bigger than the NHL you ####s.

The NHL is the sport at the highest level. If it wasn't, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[The Yen Man]

It sucks for us fans, but part of me is glad they're sticking it to the IOC. Have fun with your two bit tournament yah bunch of crooks. Hope the Olympics bombs hard for you guys.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Why is it a farce? Because the NHL does not wish to act as a charity for the benefit of one of the most corrupt organizations on the planet?

Please. The players want to go and most fans want them to go. If the NHL wasn't trying to push their competing product this wouldn't have gone as far as it has. I'm sure the players will be happy with their cut of the WC money that amounts to less than a game cheque though.

[Kickazzflames]

Dang.. super disappointing. Best hockey to watch for me:

-Flames Playoffs
-Olympics
-World Juniors
-Flames Regular Season
-Playoffs without Flames

I never got invested in the World Cup because it never really featured the "World", it was more of the NHL's best plus some gimmick teams for the fans to follow. Not going to lie, it was somewhat interesting to watch Team North America, but I never jumped off the couch in excitement for any of the goals.

If the NHL wants to replace the Olympics they got a long way to go to build a respected and prestigious tournament.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Baseball is returning to the summer Olympics in 2020, yet appears the MLB & its membership won't be involved.

In a similar scenario, MLB is looking for concessions from the IOC, but doesn't appear to be receiving ears to it. MLB, just like the NHL, has their own world tournament, "World Baseball Classic".

Neither NHL or MLB world tourney's really grab their audiences.

I loved the Canada Cup when they changed the name to World Cup and less to no games in the west I lost interest

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[Huntingwhale]

Great news. This is my big chance to finally make the team.

[btimbit]

Makes total sense from the leagues perspective, but sucks as a fan

[Johnny Makarov]

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

Please. The players want to go and most fans want them to go. If the NHL wasn't trying to push their competing product this wouldn't have gone as far as it has. I'm sure the players will be happy with their cut of the WC money that amounts to less than a game cheque though.

Sorry Nik, but you dodged the question. Why should the NHL act as a charity for the IOC's benefit?

We all want them to go, but for the NHL, this is a business decision, not an emotional one.

The owners dislike the Olympics because they feel they realize no benefit. The World Cup is a response to that complaint, not a cause of them abandoning the Olympics.