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.
There is a part of me that is somewhat excited to see Olympic hockey return to this level.
I've only ever known Olympic hockey with NHL players. I love it, but it could be really interesting to see what kind of teams countries can put together without NHL players. I'd love to see guys like Glen Metropolit and Curtis Glencross representing Canada.
The only thing that throws a wrench into an NHL-less Olympics is if the KHL allows players to go. Russia will be on a whole other level compared to the other competitive countries if the KHL is still involved.
The thought of Russia/Putin getting an easy sporting propaganda victory in a country they helped separate is nauseating.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Originally Posted by 1991 Canadian
There is a part of me that is somewhat excited to see Olympic hockey return to this level.
I've only ever known Olympic hockey with NHL players. I love it, but it could be really interesting to see what kind of teams countries can put together without NHL players. I'd love to see guys like Glen Metropolit and Curtis Glencross representing Canada.
The only thing that throws a wrench into an NHL-less Olympics is if the KHL allows players to go. Russia will be on a whole other level compared to the other competitive countries if the KHL is still involved.
The thought of Russia/Putin getting an easy sporting propaganda victory in a country they helped separate is nauseating.
Its been a LONG time but I remember.
The hockey was terrible.
I went to 3 games during the 88 Olys and not one of them held any sort of real intrigue. Though none i saw were in the medal round IIRC.
It was a foregone conclusion that the Soviets would win it however, as they were the one team that did send their best players under the guise of amateurs.
A big part of the appeal of the Canada Cup was that the Russians and Czechs were complete mysteries. We never saw them in the NHL and they just ran around dominating the amateur squads they usually played.
The only time they ever did play NHLers was during the World Championships, which was against players who just got eliminated from the playoffs whose hearts weren't really into it.
Then, once every four or five years, we'd get to see a real best-on-best tournament and Canada would show the world who really was the best.
We'll never get that again, whether it's a World Cup or an Olympics just because there's too much familiarity now. It's hard to hate the evil Russians when everyone knows Ovechkin and Malkin and those guys.
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Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
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I didn't, and have no memories of the event. I think 91 was just a weird time frame for me and my fandom. I still watched hockey and the Flames, but my passion simply wasn't as "fanatical" let's call it. Early teen years, probably distracted by other things, but in the late 80's I was consumed by hockey, and by the mid 90's in my late teen years and early adulthood it was back being an all consuming passion.
for the 30th time in last 12 months the NHL announces they will not participate in the Olympics.
And it still makes headlines.
I admit some the those thirty times it was only " the NHL will probably not participate.."
See if I'm not right .. they will make headlines by reconfirming this decision a few dozen times to boot. free advertising.
Huge risk and no reward. It is a business after all.
Tavares broke his leg at the 2014 Olymics, and the Isles lost him for the rest of the season.
Imagine if the Flames were in the heat of a division battle next year, and lost Gaudreau for the rest of the season and playoffs because he got hurt at the Olympics playing for the USA? We would be crushed, especially us Canadian Flames fans.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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Originally Posted by djsFlames
Why does there have to be something in it for the NHL?
It's the ####ing Olympics.
Because it's their players that they pay huge amounts of money too, but aren't allowed to even post a picture of those same players playing Olympic hockey..on their website?
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I'm okay with the NHL's decision. A little sad, but I can understand it.
The idea has to be to build up their World Cup to the Olympic standard. The players will definitely take more pride in it going forward, considering it'll be the one and only best on best tournament.
Location: Wondering when # became hashtag and not a number sign.
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This is a big reason owners are so hesitant to go.
From the Sochi Olympics;
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Four NHL players sustained season-ending injuries in Sochi: New York Islanders captain John Tavares, Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg, and Florida Panthers forwards Aleksander Barkov and Tomas Kopecky. (Zetterberg returned for two games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the Red Wings lost to the Boston Bruins in five games in the Eastern Conference First Round.)
At least three others missed NHL games because of injuries sustained in Sochi: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Paul Martin (18), Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin (eight) and New York Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello (four).
I'm okay with the NHL's decision. A little sad, but I can understand it.
The idea has to be to build up their World Cup to the Olympic standard. The players will definitely take more pride in it going forward, considering it'll be the one and only best on best tournament.
If they want to do that then they can't be lumping two continents into teams. Have a dozen individual countries compete. Best on best, no gimmicks.
d'oh my bad.
