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

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

The NHL players who are upset about losing out on an opportunity to "grow the game" need to give their head a shake. They could have gone to the Olympics in exchange for extending the CBA. How much is their precious 2020 lockout going to "grow the game"?

So well said. Thanks.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by polak

Only here is that viewed as weird. Country trumps Club in every single place in the world besides Canada (and I'm guessing the states).

Ovechkin has had this ingrained in him since he was a child.

In soccer, not necessarily. And that's the world's biggest sport.
Many retire early from National duty, to focus on club. Very common actually.

Additionally should be noted, that the IOC bends to FIFA.

[BigFlameDog]

I wouldn't go to any global event in South Korea with that nut job to the North wanting to constantly make noise....

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by polak

Only here is that viewed as weird. Country trumps Club in every single place in the world besides Canada (and I'm guessing the states).

Ovechkin has had this ingrained in him since he was a child.

Well, here is were he plays. Point stands that he would most likely piss off fans and team mates if they are once again one of the cup favorites.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Zevo

Well, here is were he plays. Point stands that he would most likely piss off fans and team mates if they are once again one of the cup favorites.

I actually think it would be worse for middle of the pack teams. Could you imagine this season if the Oilers primed to finally make the playoffs after 10 years had to deal with McDavid leaving them for a few weeks and risking injury that would sink their playoff hopes? At least with the Caps they will probably be a good enough team to be able to withstand Ovechkin being overseas for a few weeks. Teams battling for a wildcard spot where every single point may count may not be so fortunate. Maybe the Jets finally are in position to make the playoffs and Sheifele, Wheeler, Laine, and Ehlers want to go to the Olympics. Would cripple that team and obviously teams will have to draw a line in the sand.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

I think you're missing the point. This has nothing to do with other people's wants. I'm saying they may choose to do that. Laugh at the Lazar example but he's the exact type of player this decision may affect. As a RFA coming off a crappy year, he won't have any leverage in contract talks and could potentially make more money playing in the KHL/Suiss leagues on a one year deal. Getting more money, regular playing time to help him develop, and a huge opportunity to compete in the Olympics that would likely never otherwise come could outweigh his desire to sign his qualifying offer and be in/out of the lineup next year.

Lazar is just a random example but regardless how you spin it, playing overseas next year on a one year deal just got more enticing.

"Hi, I scored two points last season and was sat for more than half of my team's games. I'm still going to get a seven figure contract from my NHL team, but please, Mr. Russian Oligarch, pay me more. I don't actually care about you, I just want to use you to stick it to my current employer for refusing to send other players to go play in a tournament I will never sniff."

I got your point, dude. It's just not a significant risk. Only the KHL can pay the kind of salaries the NHL does, and even then, only for a very small number of players. They aren't going to bother on mid level players.

Also, I like how you completely glossed over my part about Hockey Canada's awkward position in your scenario.

[GreenLantern2814]

Personally, I'm blaming Kim Jong Un for this.

Pyeongchang is two and a half hours from the border of North Korea. The NHL owners were concerned about losing a star player to an injury. Set aside all the growing the game stuff, nationalism, the desire to see awesome hockey etc - it would take longer to drive to Edmonton than it would to drive from the Olympic host city to a rogue nuclear state.

They'll never come out and say it, but that has to have weighed heavy on the minds of decision makers. And I don't know that I'd risk $500M+ worth of star players when it's impossible to guarantee that fat bowl cut keeps to his own sandbox.

[FlamesAddiction]

I like the idea of making it a junior competition or putting in an age limit (kind of like they do for Olympic soccer). I think for soccer, players need to be under 23.

In the end though, I think NHL players will be going. Right now the NHL is just playing hardball so that they get something in return.

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Personally, I'm blaming Kim Jong Un for this.

Pyeongchang is two and a half hours from the border of North Korea. The NHL owners were concerned about losing a star player to an injury. Set aside all the growing the game stuff, nationalism, the desire to see awesome hockey etc - it would take longer to drive to Edmonton than it would to drive from the Olympic host city to a rogue nuclear state.

They'll never come out and say it, but that has to have weighed heavy on the minds of decision makers. And I don't know that I'd risk $500M+ worth of star players when it's impossible to guarantee that fat bowl cut keeps to his own sandbox.

In that case shouldn't all Olympians and foreigners be in evacuated b4 kimmy turns all of SK into a nuclear firestorm?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by jeffman

In that case shouldn't all Olympians and foreigners be in evacuated b4 kimmy turns all of SK into a nuclear firestorm?

Not necessarily - I just see it as an element of unnecessary risk that wasn't present at the other Olympics. Even Salt Lake 2002, five months after 9/11, wasn't at risk for a nuclear attack.

They were worried about an injury to a star derailing a season. Killing the hundred best NHL players is not so far outside the realm of possibility that it doesn't merit consideration, and as such I think that played a bigger role than the powers that be will ever admit.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Killing the hundred best NHL players is not so far outside the realm of possibility that it doesn't merit consideration, and as such I think that played a bigger role than the powers that be will ever admit.

Actually, it very much is.

What do you suppose happens to North Korea if it nukes the Olympics? The entire rest of the world turns it into a barren wasteland. They like sabre rattling, but they aren't going to do something so stupid as that as it would guarantee their doom.

Pyongchang is more likely to be wiped out by an asteroid.

[Phaneufenstein]

Originally Posted by getbak

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

So you'll be cheering for Kazakhstan is what you're saying....

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9503
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9191

[GirlySports]

Its club over country in soccer for sure. World Cups are nice but weekly 'derbys' are fanatical. Flames vs Oilers x 1000. They cant even sit together!

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

So you'll be cheering for Kazakhstan is what you're saying....

http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9503
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=9191

[Weitz]

Unfortunately this is step 1 on the way to NHL Lockout 2020.

Will it last the whole season again?!? Only time will tell!

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Unfortunately this is step 1 on the way to NHL Lockout 2020.

Will it last the whole season again?!? Only time will tell!

No, it's about step 50. And there is no chance on earth the Olympic question would ever cause a cancelled season.

Don Fehr is revving up a 2019 labour war as his legacy project. Personally, I think he's going to be promising his membership that he can break the cap and linkage. And given his history, he's not going to relent unless the players either break the way the NHLPA did in 2005 or the players tell him to stop grandstanding and start negotiating the way the MLBPA did in 2002.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No, it's about step 50. And there is no chance on earth the Olympic question would ever cause a cancelled season.

Don Fehr is revving up a 2019 labour war as his legacy project. Personally, I think he's going to be promising his membership that he can break the cap and linkage. And given his history, he's not going to relent unless the players either break the way the NHLPA did in 2005 or the players tell him to stop grandstanding and start negotiating the way the MLBPA did in 2002.

You don't think massive disappointment among the NHLPA would illicit ill will when it comes to CBA negotiations?

Alone it won't cancel a season but it's another thing the players will put in their pocket.

[polak]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Its club over country in soccer for sure. World Cups are nice but weekly 'derbys' are fanatical. Flames vs Oilers x 1000. They cant even sit together!

Except club play stops for Country and every athlete that isn't close to retiring plays for country when requested?

They'll play for club and retire from international duty once they're older to lighten the load (they get paid by club) but lets not act like any player would be in anyway okay with not getting to play in the World Cup because their club wouldn't let them (in some crazy hypothetical scenario).

[dino7c]

The PA is pissed, hopefully McDavid holds out for a max contract that will show the NHL

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Weitz

You don't think massive disappointment among the NHLPA would illicit ill will when it comes to CBA negotiations?

Alone it won't cancel a season but it's another thing the players will put in their pocket.

So?

Let them stand up and demand that they want to go to the 2022 games and beyond. The NHL will reply with "what are you willing to give up?"

The very same question that the NHL has been asking the union for the last several years. Maybe once the players are losing their paycheques they will finally tell Don Fehr to do his job and answer that question.