Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
I too remember the Canada Cup - and loved it.
However, this statement perfectly summarizes the debate IMO. Yes, a Canada Cup/World Cup tournament is equally as awesome among hockey fans, but the Olympics have that, AND they bring everyone else into the fold.
There simply is no comparison: Olympics = everything a World Cup/Canada Cup can be PLUS it's the Olympics (meaning millions of other people are also watching)
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There have actually been three issues raised here around an end to NHL participation in the Olympics:
Will top players abandon the NHL to play in the Olympics? I don't think this will happen. Ovechkin's threat was because the Olympics are in the Russia. Who's going to walk out on their NHL team to play in an Olympics in France or Norway?
Will there be any comparable best-on-best tournament for hockey fans to enjoy? I believe a World Cup would actually be a better-quality hockey tournament for hockey fans to watch.
Will the sport of hockey lose exposure to potential new fans? Yes, I think it would. But I do find it interesting how a great many hockey fans in Canada sneer at Bettman's attempts to grow the NHL in the U.S. sunbelt. Most of the people who tune in to Olympic hockey aren't any more likely to become NHL fans than that proverbial Nascar fan in Atlanta.