Quote:
Originally Posted by Resolute 14
Ovechkin could. Most could not. And any player who leaves their team without approval would find themselves suspended immediately.
And Polak, you're being dramatic at the expense of logic, again. The IIHF needs the NHL a hell of a lot more than the NHL needs the IIHF.
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I think almost any player that is good enough to make the top lines of these Olympic teams would be able to find work as they please. Again, it only takes 3 or 4 big names to leave en masse before it's all over ESPN that the NHL can no longer retain top talent.
If the NHL doesn't go to the Olympics, that leaves one tournament that uses NHL players? If they lose NHL'ers at the Olympics the IIHF can't lose much from shaking the tree at that point. Convince some of the bigger nations to hold the fort with the IIHF with the benefit of keeping their best players in the domestic league and you might be able to convince the NHL to change their mind. Especially if they actually hold the fort for a few years and the NHL starts losing real talent to the other leagues.