[News] NHL players will not participate in 2018 Olympics?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by landshark

I see your points, but the NHL wants out of ALL future olympics - not just the ones in inconvenient timezones. The World Cup would satisfy my desire to see the best playing the best, but non-hockey fans will not see one moment of it. Being part of something much larger (the Olympics), non fans might just bump into hockey accidentally.

Maybe, maybe not. I watch a lot of World Cup, but very little soccer otherwise. It would take time, but the NHL would be wanting to grow a hockey World Cup into a definite brand.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Easy solution ...

Let players wear a small patch with their NHL logo somewhere on the jersey. Similar to All-Star unis.

I'm sure Snider wouldn't mind going to the Olympics if it meant Voracek scoring a couple of goals with a Flyers emblem on his jersey in front of a TV audience of 1 billion.

Yes, yes, I know 'the IOC would never allow it'. But time to think outside the box.

IOC won't allow athletes wear something on them honouring dead athletes so they won't allow that.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

IOC won't allow athletes wear something on them honouring dead athletes so they won't allow that.

He already said that:

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Yes, yes, I know 'the IOC would never allow it'. But time to think outside the box.

I think the key point was to think outside of the box. I could see some sort of patch in the conversation with IOC if it's the difference between the NHL going or not going. It's unlikely, but it's a good alternative thought.

[Resolute 14]

The IOC is much like the NHL, actually. If you want your brand covered on the Olympic stage, be prepared to pay for it.

[landshark]

Would Canada stand to see Russia winning all of the future Olympics? Because we KNOW that KHL will continue to allow it's players in...

O god... I guess that means the NHL castoffs that are playing in the KHL would have the maple leaf on their chest come Olympic season... Are you ready to have Cheechoo as your top winger? Oh dear...

And I like the outside of the box idea - don't think it's workable, but it's a good avenue to explore certainly.

[btimbit]

Steve Yzerman defends NHL olympics involvment

He went further on this point when he was asked if the NHL’s participation is good for the league. There has been plenty of speculation that this Olympic Games will be it because in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea won’t be worth it.

“My opinion is yes, absolutely,” he said. “I think this is fantastic for our league. We go back to the last year, and even beyond that, how much attention this draws, how much conversation this draws. Not only in Canada, but around the world. It promotes our league. It promotes our players. I believe it’s good for our game. I believe it’s good for the NHL.

“It’s once every four years. I’m hopeful we can continue and go to Korea. I understand there are challenges for our league and things we’d like to improve upon with the NHL’s relationship with the IIHF, the IOC."

More
http://olympics.cbc.ca/blogs/author/...-olympics.html

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Easy solution ...

Let players wear a small patch with their NHL logo somewhere on the jersey. Similar to All-Star unis.

I'm sure Snider wouldn't mind going to the Olympics if it meant Voracek scoring a couple of goals with a Flyers emblem on his jersey in front of a TV audience of 1 billion.

Yes, yes, I know 'the IOC would never allow it'. But time to think outside the box.

There is no way that is going to happen. The countries aren't even allowed to use the logos of their respective governing bodies for ice hockey on their jerseys, let alone NHL logos.

I say it is time to bring back the World Cup of Hockey.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by landshark

Would Canada stand to see Russia winning all of the future Olympics? Because we KNOW that KHL will continue to allow it's players in...

O god... I guess that means the NHL castoffs that are playing in the KHL would have the maple leaf on their chest come Olympic season... Are you ready to have Cheechoo as your top winger? Oh dear...

Canada has always cared about the best on best tournaments. There's a reason why the World Championship is viewed as second rate, and why Hockey Canada was willing to boycott two Olympic Games entirely. Without NHLers, the Olympics would fall in stature to the level of the WCs or Spengler Cup. The World Cup is what would matter.

Personally, I prefer to see the best at the Olympics as well as a World Cup. But the truth is, the Olympic hockey tournament was a second rate event prior to 1998, and it would return to that stature come 2018 if the NHL doesn't go.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Canada has always cared about the best on best tournaments. There's a reason why the World Championship is viewed as second rate, and why Hockey Canada was willing to boycott two Olympic Games entirely. Without NHLers, the Olympics would fall in stature to the level of the WCs or Spengler Cup. The World Cup is what would matter.

Personally, I prefer to see the best at the Olympics as well as a World Cup. But the truth is, the Olympic hockey tournament was a second rate event prior to 1998, and it would return to that stature come 2018 if the NHL doesn't go.

Yup. Actually if the NHLers don't go, Olympic hockey will be worse than pre-1998. At least back then people hasd't seen what having NHLers there was like so they could seperate the two universes. Once you give anyone something, it's hard to take it away. Like healthcare!

The Olympics needs us way more than we need them. The IOC doesn't take our threats of pulling out seriously because we never do it. They call our bluff every time.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Easy solution ...

Let players wear a small patch with their NHL logo somewhere on the jersey. Similar to All-Star unis.

I'm sure Snider wouldn't mind going to the Olympics if it meant Voracek scoring a couple of goals with a Flyers emblem on his jersey in front of a TV audience of 1 billion.

Yes, yes, I know 'the IOC would never allow it'. But time to think outside the box.

Easiest solution is to allow NHL to use some of the footage and thing like that, which they are currently not allowed to do. IIRC this is the type of things they want.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

There is no way that is going to happen. The countries aren't even allowed to use the logos of their respective governing bodies for ice hockey on their jerseys, let alone NHL logos.

I say it is time to bring back the World Cup of Hockey.

If it comes down to Olympics or World Cup of Hockey: Olympics 10 out of 10.

Why? -> Much bigger event, WORLDWIDE, growth is better. World cup of hockey is only viewed by the hockey fans.

[Laner99]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Not just that, but the condensed schedule because of the Olympics also attributes to more injuries.

Quite frankly if the players are going to go they should be compensated.

That is crazy talk. The players aren’t forced to go, they are asked by their country and say yes or no knowing full well there is a risk of injury while playing. If a player is worried about injury or feels he needs to be compensated to go to the Olympics he should just flat out not go.

These guys make enough money without having to be paid to play in the olympics. This type of thinking infuriates me.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Laner99

That is crazy talk. The players aren’t forced to go, they are asked by their country and say yes or no knowing full well there is a risk of injury while playing. If a player is worried about injury or feels he needs to be compensated to go to the Olympics he should just flat out not go.

These guys make enough money without having to be paid to play in the olympics. This type of thinking infuriates me.

I guess I worded it poorly.

The league should be compensated for shutting their operations down and letting the players they have under contract go and risk injury.

[Locke]

If you dont want to see a 'Best on Best' tournament then go and watch the Spengler Cup.

[FlamesAddiction]

They should make it like soccer. Have an age limit of 23 with one or two veteran spots per team.

I think it would be a much more interesting tournament and the NHL season could conceivably carry on.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

They should make it like soccer. Have an age limit of 23 with one or two veteran spots per team.

I think it would be a much more interesting tournament and the NHL season could conceivably carry on.

So...the World Juniors with Sidney Crosby and Carey Price?

[TKB]

The Olympics is all about having the best of the best compete at there respected sport. Taking NHL players out of the Olympics is taking the best players in the world out of the Olympics, how does that make any sense?

[Locke]

Okay, thats enough of that.

I dont want one more person to pitifully attempt to tell me "What the Olympics is about" or 'supposed to be about' or even is 'purportedly about.'

What it used to be about and whats its about now are completely irrelevant, any and all history, pedigree or tradition has been washed away.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Locke

So...the World Juniors with Sidney Crosby and Carey Price?

I don't imagine that NHL teams would release their best players to play in the Olympics if the season still carried on. I would also think that only a select few junior aged players would be good enough to make the team.

It would probably be a few players between the ages of 18 and 19, the majority being 20-23 who are fringe NHLers, free agents, AHLers, university players or players who play in Europe.

I think that as long as the playing field is even, it would still be a great tournament.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think that as long as the playing field is even, it would still be a great tournament.

Maybe, but the hockey wouldn't be nearly as good.

And there wouldn't be even close to the hype or attention to it, which I think is the point.