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

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I actually don't blame the NHL and the owners here. They only get an intangible "eyes on the sport" for two weeks every four years. They have to take a two week break, something no other sport does, have to pay all the costs, get no tangible association with the Olympics etc.

I enjoy the Olympic hockey but there very little real measurable benefit for the NHL here and the IOC obviously don't care so why would the NHL bend over when they are simultaneously trying to build their own international best on best tourney?

It sucks we, as fans, get screwed here too but we are just collateral damage. The NHL isn't trying to screw us, they just aren't going to make bad business decisions to placate us.

Even then hockey is just a blip in the winter olympics program. Figure Skating is the marque event worldwide.

[CSharp]

I'm OK with that as long as every one of the elite hockey countries send in their amateur squads with no NHL pro hockey players. It should've been like this forever. I kind of got tired of watching NHL playoff style hockey in the Olympics where the only teams winning are the same old teams - Canada, US, Russia, Sweden, and Finland. Let the young kids have their glory every 4 years. Some of them might not even see a Stanley Cup ever in their career. So, let the best of the amateurs have their moments and if they ever become pros, they'll have their moments of fame and money.

[EldrickOnIce]

The WJC should be now and should always have been moved to February in Olympic years. Be fantastic Olympic hockey.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I'm pretty indifferent to this decision. I'm old enough to remember no NHL players at the Olympics, so this decision just isn't really bothering me. If anything, this could potentially increase how much we care about the potential World Cup. Back in 87 and 96, the Canada Cup and World Cup I remember and cared about the most, there was no other best on best so I was clamoring for it with those tournaments

Also, as long as the Flames are going well, I don't actually love the break in the NHL season during Olympic years.

Tweak and improve the WC format and cadence, and I will be fine with the NHL not going back to the Olympics ever, and I'll still enjoy the Olympics just as much as I do now.

[BurningSteel]

So whats the alternative then? Bunch of WJ players or those pushed out of the nhl ie Glenx et al??

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

Agreed, and the world Cup will never be as good or have the same prestige.

The Canada Cup was way better than ANY Olympics ever played.

It could easily be that again as long as the NHL stays away from Olympic participation for any real length of time.

Its unfortunate that this has taken place, but considering the ridiculous stance the IOC/IIHF have had towards the NHL, easy decision for them.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by polak

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

It was prime time programming on ESPN.

So the millions of hockey fans certainly could tell you.

[The Yen Man]

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.

Yah, I don't think the NHL would even allow that. You either let them go in the first place, or impose consistent suspensions as a collective group for all teams to those who go without your permission. Can you imagine a cup contender team losing 10 of their top players to the Olympics for 2 weeks? Like the NHL would ever let that happen.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by polak

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

Why should I care?

[ComixZone]

I barely cared about Olympic hockey with NHL players, so this makes it all the more "meh" to me.

I'm on the side of the NHL in this case. The IOC and the NHLPA did nothing to make this worthwhile for the NHL, so why do it?

[Yrebmi]

I am just not an Olympic hockey fan.

Calgary playoff rounds >>> Canadian Olympic games

[Bourque's Twin]

Bettman's job is to make the owners and NHL money. The Olympics doesn't directly do that. The World Cup does.

They hope that the World Cup shifts the control of the best international play from the Olympics to the NHL. Therefore, the NHL can make lots of money.

I, on the other hand, feel that the Olympics have such a rich history and winning it means a lot more to the players than winning the "World Cup", a tournament invented by the NHL.

I'm not going to watch any of the World Cup. It's such a gimmick. The players didn't even want to pass around the trophy.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I'm pretty indifferent to this decision. I'm old enough to remember no NHL players at the Olympics, so this decision just isn't really bothering me. If anything, this could potentially increase how much we care about the potential World Cup. Back in 87 and 96, the Canada Cup and World Cup I remember and cared about the most, there was no other best on best so I was clamoring for it with those tournaments

Also, as long as the Flames are going well, I don't actually love the break in the NHL season during Olympic years.

Tweak and improve the WC format and cadence, and I will be fine with the NHL not going back to the Olympics ever, and I'll still enjoy the Olympics just as much as I do now.

You didn't care about the 1991 Canada Cup?

[EldrickOnIce]

2010 gold metal game was the most watched television event broadcast in Canadian history, so a few people must be interested.

https://www.nhl.com/news/olympic-fin...years/c-519476

2014 almost as many viewers
https://sec.theglobeandmail.com/spor...8/?service=amp

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Bettman's job is to make the owners and NHL money. The Olympics doesn't directly do that. The World Cup does.

They hope that the World Cup shifts the control of the best international play from the Olympics to the NHL. Therefore, the NHL can make lots of money.

I, on the other hand, feel that the Olympics have such a rich history and winning it means a lot more to the players than winning the "World Cup", a tournament invented by the NHL.

I'm not going to watch any of the World Cup. It's such a gimmick. The players didn't even want to pass around the trophy.

There have been 22 Winter Olympic games contested.

The NHL has been part of 5 of them.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by transplant99

It was prime time programming on ESPN.

So the millions of hockey fans certainly could tell you.

In fairness to Polak, I am not sure he was even a twinkle in his dad's eye at the time of the last Canada Cup (91)

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I'm pretty indifferent to this decision. I'm old enough to remember no NHL players at the Olympics, so this decision just isn't really bothering me. If anything, this could potentially increase how much we care about the potential World Cup. Back in 87 and 96, the Canada Cup and World Cup I remember and cared about the most, there was no other best on best so I was clamoring for it with those tournaments

Also, as long as the Flames are going well, I don't actually love the break in the NHL season during Olympic years.

Tweak and improve the WC format and cadence, and I will be fine with the NHL not going back to the Olympics ever, and I'll still enjoy the Olympics just as much as I do now.

'96 was not the Canada Cup.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

'96 was not the Canada Cup.

Same thing...different name.


Thats whats kind of humorous here. The NHL has been to 5 Olympic games and people are freaking out that its so much better than the Canada/World Cup.

The NHL was involved in 5 Canada/World Cups.

1987 CC was the best hockey I think that ever has been and ever will be played.

The 1996 iteration was terrible...but that was due to the fact that everyone knew there would be NHL representation going to Nagano which changed everything.

Now we have come full circle and I would expect to see the World Cup to once again become the huge tournament of best on best it once was...but it wont happen right away.

[polak]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

In fairness to Polak, I am not sure he was even a twinkle in his dad's eye at the time of the last Canada Cup (91)

I was 37.

[Northendzone]

I have to admit that the number of posters on this board who say they don't care about Olympic hockey/ or the somewhat contrived cup is moderately shocking to me.


To me, the Olympics is awesome because it is best on best, last fall's World Cup a little less so.

The Olympics was great when it was in Salt Lake City and Vancouver because of the time, it was not as much fun getting up at 4am to watch from Russia, though.