[News] NHL will not participate in 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

[The Yen Man]

Lol, I want to see a line of Nigel Dawes, Dustin Boyd, and Mason Raymond playing for Team Canada.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Insurance costs, travel costs, NHL access to Olympic video rights, the ability of the NHL to associate itself directly to the Olympics, and possibly even some direct monetary compensation.

IOC said no to every single one and from the sounds of it basically refused to even negotiate.

Also the NHLPA gave the NHL no reason to go. Simply extending the CBA probably would have been good enough. The Olympics is to the benefit of the players, not the NHL, but the NHLPA refused to negotiate with the NHL.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Why are people still talking like the players have the option to go anyhow? They don't. You think Bettman comes out now with this if he didn't know if the players could still play?

I bet they leave it in the hands of the teams.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

Lol, I want to see a line of Nigel Dawes, Dustin Boyd, and Mason Raymond playing for Team Canada.

Oh its going to be soooo bush league. It might even be better!

So bad its good?

[Redliner]

Despite the NHL being the pinnacle of the sport of hockey, there are still some who consider it the ultimate honour to be able to represent their country and I think it sucks that the NHL is taking that opportunity away. Sure, I understand the reasons, but I also know how I would feel if I was a player in that position. I know that the legal intricacies of the situation will most likely make it impossible, but I would love to see a player (or players) give the league a giant middle finger and go play anyway.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by getbak

I'm looking forward to cheering on Dustin Boyd and Nigel Dawes one more time.

Don't forget Hnat Domenichelli...

[polak]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Canada Cup / World Cup used to be the premier best-on-best tournament in hockey. Then the NHL went to the Olympics, and the Olympics became the premier best-on-best tournament. One of the reasons fans were lukewarm on the World Cup this time around was because they believed the Olympics was still the big tournament. Now they've been disabused of that belief.

If you like best-on-best international hockey, you'll be getting it again with the World Cup.

I wonder is a single American (who didn't play in it) could tell you what the Canada Cup was.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I bet they leave it in the hands of the teams.

But the teams (owners) are the ones that aren't letting them go in the first place. Who do you think Gary Bettman represents?

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Redliner

Despite the NHL being the pinnacle of the sport of hockey, there are still some who consider it the ultimate honour to be able to represent their country and I think it sucks that the NHL is taking that opportunity away. Sure, I understand the reasons, but I also know how I would feel if I was a player in that position. I know that the legal intricacies of the situation will most likely make it impossible, but I would love to see a player (or players) give the league a giant middle finger and go play anyway.

I'd be pissed if Johnny and/or Mony ditched the Flames for the Olympics, while the NHL continued play.

I would be fine with an U-20 type World Junior line up for Olympic hockey. Similar to the soccer set up.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Canada Cup / World Cup used to be the premier best-on-best tournament in hockey. Then the NHL went to the Olympics, and the Olympics became the premier best-on-best tournament. One of the reasons fans were lukewarm on the World Cup this time around was because they believed the Olympics was still the big tournament. Now they've been disabused of that belief.

If you like best-on-best international hockey, you'll be getting it again with the World Cup.

I dislike the gimmick of the N/A team and Europe.


I would be happy with a Canada Cup again.

[CroFlames]

I'm mostly interested to see if Ovi goes now. I have a feeling he won't.

If it's a tournament without NHLers he will dominate, and then what is the point? It won't have the same appeal to even him.

[dino7c]

World cup wasn't best on best

[Joborule]

FIFA doesn't have their players play in the Olympics, at least not to a grand scale. There's limit and exceptions so only certain players are allowed to go. I believe the age limit is 23 for one of them.

People crapping on the NHL seem to forget that the NHL is a business and they have no obligation to go the Olympics if it's not in their best interest. Saying they don't care about the fans is an ignorant statement. If people really want to see the best players take on each other in an international format, the NHL got the World Cup for you.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by dino7c

World cup wasn't best on best

How do you figure? (Not the last iteration, the Canada Cups of the late 80's were glorious).

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

But the teams (owners) are the ones that aren't letting them go in the first place. Who do you think Gary Bettman represents?

Yah but if the IIHF and IOC says they will welcome players that still come, teams won't want to be punished by the league if some of their players still go.

Thus it will be up to the teams.

[sketchyt]

Not joking... what's the chances of Micki Dupont going? Spengler Cup vet...

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Fire

Also the NHLPA gave the NHL no reason to go. Simply extending the CBA probably would have been good enough. The Olympics is to the benefit of the players, not the NHL, but the NHLPA refused to negotiate with the NHL.

Exactly! I don't understand people blaming the league or Bettman for not going to the Olympics and say the players really want to go. If all the league want is to extend the CBA and NHLPA won't even negotiate, then this is on them not the owners.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Yah but if the IIHF and IOC says they will welcome players that still come, teams won't want to be punished by the league if some of their players still go.

Thus it will be up to the teams.

The IIHF is never going to say that, the financial repercussions of the lawsuits that would follow would bankrupt them.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm mostly interested to see if Ovi goes now. I have a feeling he won't.

If it's a tournament without NHLers he will dominate, and then what is the point? It won't have the same appeal to even him.

I don't know....he'll FINALLY have his Olympics Gold

[Coach]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Why are people still talking like the players have the option to go anyhow? They don't. You think Bettman comes out now with this if he didn't know if the players could still play?

Are they going to physically stop them?