Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
Don't kid yourself. It's not just the American owners. None of them enjoy the shutdown, the compacted schedule, the risk of injury and the lack of rights. And all of this without any compensation.
I'm with you guys on the emotional argument. I want to see them remain in the Olympics. But these desires are rooted in our fandom, and none of us are going to stop following the NHL if NHLers stop going to the Olympics. None of us are going to turn away from a World Cup either.
The NHL going to the Olympics is what is best for the Olympics, the IIHF and perhaps the sport itself. It is not, however, what is best for the NHL as a business. The IOC and IIHF, if it wants to see the league go to Pyeongchang, is going to have to negotiate something that closes that business gap enough that the league will be willing to go.
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Can you please explain how the Olympics can be the best thing for the sport, but not the NHL? Bettman does everything in his power to have expansion teams in the US to build the popularity amongst markets that currently don't have regular hockey coverage. The Olympics is doing that for free.
If the sport of hockey grows than of course the best league in hockey will grow. These owners will just be dead by the time that happens and would rather get paid for the next two weeks.