Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
It isn't compensation, per se, but Hockey Canada had to take insurance out on these guys. Tavares' salary for the rest of the season will come out of that policy, not the Islanders.
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True, but what if he never recovers to the level he was currently playing at? If he doesn't get back to a player who is possibly top 3 in the league they have received no benefit and have committed millions of dollars to then they have been screwed by a tournament. There are many players who have never recovered from knee injuries to achieve their previous levels of play.
We know players get hurt all the time and he could have gotten hurt playing for the Islanders, but the big difference in that scenario is he gets hurt where he earns his living and the company (Islanders) are prepared for that. What they aren't prepared for is losing the asset for no benefit to their bottom line. If the Canadian (or any other) National team wants to sign these guys to contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars, then great. I have never heard any player say they grew up dreaming of playing for the Olympic hockey team. It is a nice perk that they get from having the ability to play in the league they actually dream of playing in, the NHL.