[News] NHL not sending its players to the Olympics

[bluejays]

It's starting to look like common sense is prevailing and players may be leery of going over, but I would be pretty shocked if they don't go. These are guys who suck it up and don't really generally have a voice of their own - most go with group think and the popular choice for top athletes is to go for the Olympics. So I'm pretty surprised that all this has potentially shifted behind the scenes in a relatively quick order.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I can see China delaying the Olympic's, Unlike Japan they will not have one without full fans and nobody is going to travel to Beijing 7 weeks from now.

In terms of fans, China already decided long ago that nobody outside of China was going to be allowed to attend.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...rs/5918900001/

[chummer]

Originally Posted by fleury

It's starting to look like common sense is prevailing and players may be leery of going over, but I would be pretty shocked if they don't go. These are guys who suck it up and don't really generally have a voice of their own - most go with group think and the popular choice for top athletes is to go for the Olympics. So I'm pretty surprised that all this has potentially shifted behind the scenes in a relatively quick order.

It's been pretty much confirmed they're not going.

Prepare to be shocked

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by fleury

It's starting to look like common sense is prevailing and players may be leery of going over, but I would be pretty shocked if they don't go. These are guys who suck it up and don't really generally have a voice of their own - most go with group think and the popular choice for top athletes is to go for the Olympics. So I'm pretty surprised that all this has potentially shifted behind the scenes in a relatively quick order.

It’s the potentially 5-week quarantine. That, plus a variant that’s spreading like crazy? Spells bad news all around.

[GirlySports]

China ain't delaying nothing. Perfect society. No recorded cases of COVID.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Clifford Pu and the Foo Brothers may have a chance at Olympic glory now.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by fleury

It's starting to look like common sense is prevailing and players may be leery of going over, but I would be pretty shocked if they don't go. These are guys who suck it up and don't really generally have a voice of their own - most go with group think and the popular choice for top athletes is to go for the Olympics. So I'm pretty surprised that all this has potentially shifted behind the scenes in a relatively quick order.

What? Everything online suggests they are very close to officially announcing they won't be going.

[AT77]

Just send the World Junior boys and let em bring home two golds within few months for us.

[transplant99]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1472708320024743941

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Ya quick bowl before beer league. Frosted flakes actually. Although now I’m wondering about playing…….

I bet you played grrrrreat!

[nfotiu]

If the NHL players don't go, will they really have a hockey tournament? It seems like pretty bad optics to keep the millionaire players home and send a bunch of minor leaguers without financial resources to get help or get out of the country if they test positive there.

[Toonage]

I'd guess this year's Olympics will be like the last one. The Spengler Cup team, AHL guys perhaps, end up playing in place of the pros.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I'd guess this year's Olympics will be like the last one. The Spengler Cup team, AHL guys perhaps, end up playing in place of the pros.

Considering the Spengler Cup team just pulled out of that tournament, who knows what might happen for the Olympics.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by getbak

Considering the Spengler Cup team just pulled out of that tournament, who knows what might happen for the Olympics.

Yep, no idea what may happen between now and then. But my guess is Canada will have a team there. Just won't be the NHLers. The Spengler Cup team/coaches will come home, shift their attention towards the Olympics.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by jayswin

What? Everything online suggests they are very close to officially announcing they won't be going.

I know. And ultimately I’m going to be surprised they made the decision as the big names seemed to want to go. I personally hope they don’t because of China’s stance on human rights and such but it’s quite the turnaround from a week ago where many guys were publicly saying they wanted to go.

[GirlySports]

it would look really bad that you've cancelled cross border games in your own league but will fly players to China? That would buy in the narrative that there's no COVID in China, the players would be safer there.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

it would look really bad that you've cancelled cross border games in your own league but will fly players to China? That would buy in the narrative that there's no COVID in China, the players would be safer there.

to be fair they have only cancelled those games so players aren't stuck in another country for Christmas which is a mandated NHL holiday

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by fleury

I know. And ultimately I’m going to be surprised they made the decision as the big names seemed to want to go. I personally hope they don’t because of China’s stance on human rights and such but it’s quite the turnaround from a week ago where many guys were publicly saying they wanted to go.

Things have changed rapidly in just the last couple of weeks.

I’m sure they all want to go, and I’m sure it has nothing to do with human rights issues why they won’t.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Things have changed rapidly in just the last couple of weeks.

I’m sure they all want to go, and I’m sure it has nothing to do with human rights issues why they won’t.

You’re correct that it has nothing to do with human rights. It’s sad that it doesn’t, it should, but it doesn’t.

[Coach]

To say “I hope they don’t go because of human rights issues.” Does not mean the players/NHL reason has to be human rights issues. It can just mean you don’t want the Chinese olympics to be be good because of your personal issue with the government, regardless of why that happens.