[News] NHL and NHLPA announce agreement with IIHF on player participation at 2022 Olympics

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by fleury

Sounds like the NHL couldn't ignore the publicity from playing in the largest populated country in the world. Frankly, I don't get it. Most of Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Africa, etc., aren't worth bothering building the game in. The climate is warm and it'll never pick up. What's the point really? Plus in this case there's the social stigma of China not having a good human rights record.

I think the “growth of the game” is more about an international and North American TV audience seeing a lot of coverage of NHL stars, as opposed to the host country in particular.

That said, there are a whole lot of cities in China that are more temperate/colder than many places the NHL plays right now.

[Jimdon]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think the “growth of the game” is more about an international and North American TV audience seeing a lot of coverage of NHL stars, as opposed to the host country in particular.

Disagree completely. It's all about penetrating the Chinese market for the $$$.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jimdon

Disagree completely. It's all about penetrating the Chinese market for the $$$.

Why not both? Outside of Canada, there is still lots of room for interest in the NHL to grow.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by fleury

Sounds like the NHL couldn't ignore the publicity from playing in the largest populated country in the world. Frankly, I don't get it. Most of Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Africa, etc., aren't worth bothering building the game in. The climate is warm and it'll never pick up. What's the point really? Plus in this case there's the social stigma of China not having a good human rights record.

It's important to keep in mind that the CBA now contains a clause that states the NHL will participate in the Olympics so long as a mutually agreeable solution can be made with the IIHF. That wasn't in place previously, so it was easier for the league to unilaterally opt-out.


I think people are still looking at this from the perspective of things that led to Olympic participation in the 90s in the first place, which was all about building the game and generating more money. The players who make up the bulk of the PA today don't have that same perspective.

Today's players grew up with NHLers at the Olympics as the normal thing, and likely grew up dreaming of playing in the Olympics. Because of that, there doesn't need to be a solid business reason for the NHL to go to the Olympics. They want to go to the Olympics because in their minds, the NHL has always gone to the Olympics. They don't really need any more incentive than that.

[The Yen Man]

I agree. I actually don't think a lot of NHL owners want their players playing in the Olympics. It sounds more like it's a players thing at this point, as I'm guessing a lot of the elite guys want to go. I'm sure the ego boost of being on an Olympic team is pretty big for these guys. It just further validates that you're amongst the best in the league.

Remember when Ovechkin threatened to go rogue and play in Korea? The motivation to play in the tournament for a lot players is real, especially for the European players I would imagine.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I agree. I actually don't think a lot of NHL owners want their players playing in the Olympics. It sounds more like it's a players thing at this point, as I'm guessing a lot of the elite guys want to go. I'm sure the ego boost of being on an Olympic team is pretty big for these guys. It just further validates that you're amongst the best in the league.

Remember when Ovechkin threatened to go rogue and play in Korea? The motivation to play in the tournament for a lot players is real, especially for the European players I would imagine.

Especially players of smaller countries. In fact, this past weekend, the final three teams qualified for the tournament and NHLers were there.

Latvia, Slovakia and Denmark qualified. Ehlers led Denmark to their first Olympic appearance in 76 years.


Girgenson for Latvia. Teams that didn't make it, Zuccarello for Norway, Kopitar for Slovenia. Roussell, Bellemare and De Costa for France

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1433793153040109612

https://twitter.com/user/status/1433797359125794828

[sleepingmoose]

Official now:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1433807362746421248

[Toonage]

Hopefully the times are like the Flames 2nd game in China rather than their 1st. In other words I hope we can watch at 7 in the morning rather than 1 in the morning

[Mr.Coffee]

Obviously it’s fun and better and more interesting when there are NHL players, on the other hand it would have been nice to see the NHL and NHLPA do something in the interest of what’s “right” and not exclusively for the money. Watching a boycott would have been awesome.

[Itse]

Why the f does something I like have to happen right now when it's connected to effing genociders.

I hate this.

[VictoryJuice]

China doesn’t deserve these games. NHL players should be vocal about not going in my opinion. China literally has concentration camps

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Hopefully the times are like the Flames 2nd game in China rather than their 1st. In other words I hope we can watch at 7 in the morning rather than 1 in the morning

Checking the schedule, it looks like all of the hockey games will have start times of either 12:10, 16:40, or 19:10 China time. There's currently a 14 hour time difference between Calgary and Beijing, but I believe it will be 15 hours in February.

If my math is correct, that means the start times will be: 9:10pm, 1:40am, or 4:10am in Calgary.


The actual game schedule hasn't been announced yet, but I suspect Canada and the USA will play in the 12:10 time slot as much as possible. It looks like Canada's group for the Preliminary round is the USA, Germany, and China.

[Moneyhands23]

I won't be watching these Olympics or celebrating any medals. I feel any athletes that go are selfish and care nothing for the spirit of the games.

I have no idea how communist China gets these games. The Olympics are pretty much dead to me as it's all about money and corruption in my opinion

[Monahammer]

China is more of an Ethnic-autocracy nowadays than it is a Communist state. Though they have recently been purging billionaires though more for power centralization reasons than actual communist reasons. Also I think there are elements of appeasing the lower classes there without really fixing the structural issues.

Anyways, loosely communist. The big problems aren't really with their communism, more with their ideas of cultural supremacy of the han chinese.

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by fleury

Sounds like the NHL couldn't ignore the publicity from playing in the largest populated country in the world. Frankly, I don't get it. Most of Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Australia, Africa, etc., aren't worth bothering building the game in. The climate is warm and it'll never pick up. What's the point really? Plus in this case there's the social stigma of China not having a good human rights record.

That's what people said about California, Texas, and Florida? Natural ice isn't a pre-req for enjoying or playing hockey anymore.

With you 100% re: the human rights stuff.

[djsFlames]

China is awful.

Best on best world tournaments are fun.

Mixed reaction here.

China has been in its fourth wave for a while from what I've heard. The first vaccine they mass dispersed was only half effective apparently, so they've been eyeballs deep in cases despite them. Have no idea what the conditions will be like at that time but they're ahead of north america on that front.

I'll only be pirating any footage of the games, if I do. No love for the IOC or host county.

[sureLoss]

Looks like for the first time ever NHLers can be part of the opening ceremonies:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1433831092730040320

[VladtheImpaler]

I have no respect for people that kowtow for a buck - see NBA. Should not be going there.

[You Need a Thneed]

I hope the announcement of them going is simply to make the pain of a boycott greater.