Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
It's an honour yes and the players are always going for free.
They should not have to give up something for that honour.
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They're not playing for the NHL for free, they're playing for themselves and their country for free. They're asking the NHL to disrupt their schedule so the players can take some time off to do something else. Not to mention the potentially significant financial risk; a serious injury to a player can impact a team's playoff chances or chance to win a cup. EDIT: There's also a fringe benefit of exposure for the NHL, so that should all enter into the negotiation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Being a Calgary Flame and a professional is still priority #1.
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I wouldn't make assumptions about a player's motivations. Most players will play for multiple teams during their careers, but most players don't switch nationalities, and the opportunity to play for a gold medal may be just as meaningful or even moreso for some players.