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nfotiu · 02-20-2014, 10:52 AM

I think this is being overblown a bit. If they'd been playing nhl hockey for 2 weeks, people would have hurt themselves too.

I don't see any way good coming out of nhl players not playing, especially if you are a Canadian fan. I am guessing AHL players with NHL contracts would be excluded too, so we'd be looking at a pool of players playing in Europe and semi pro NA leagues against the best of the KHL. They may get a miracle medal once in a while, but it would be pretty much back to the old Olympic hockey days where we didn't have much to cheer for.

It doesn't seem like a summer world cup would work anymore either. There isn't the intense international rivalry like there was during the cold war. Canada/US is pretty much the biggest rivalry, and I don't see many Americans caring to watch hockey during the summer. It would be pretty hard to build it without any tradition. The Olympics brings that tradition and makes it a lot easier for people in a lot of countries to be passionate about it.

02-20-2014, 10:52 AM	#41
nfotiu Franchise Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Exp:	I think this is being overblown a bit. If they'd been playing nhl hockey for 2 weeks, people would have hurt themselves too. I don't see any way good coming out of nhl players not playing, especially if you are a Canadian fan. I am guessing AHL players with NHL contracts would be excluded too, so we'd be looking at a pool of players playing in Europe and semi pro NA leagues against the best of the KHL. They may get a miracle medal once in a while, but it would be pretty much back to the old Olympic hockey days where we didn't have much to cheer for. It doesn't seem like a summer world cup would work anymore either. There isn't the intense international rivalry like there was during the cold war. Canada/US is pretty much the biggest rivalry, and I don't see many Americans caring to watch hockey during the summer. It would be pretty hard to build it without any tradition. The Olympics brings that tradition and makes it a lot easier for people in a lot of countries to be passionate about it.