[News] NHL not sending its players to the Olympics

[dissentowner]

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.

I think the NHL and NHLPA put out those messages to put pressure on China to lessen quarantine restrictions on travel back. I still think some players are deadset on going and we will see some participate while others stay home.

[chemgear]

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.

McJesus to be freed from Edmonton only to be held hostage for 3 years.

[browna]

Originally Posted by chemgear

McJesus to be freed from Edmonton only to be held hostage for 3 years.

He may ask for asylum there.

I know Hockey Canada has a ghost squad probably ready to go, but I think there should be a few spots available via some marketing, Molson Canadian etc, where if you get the golden ticket (like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory), meet the eligibility requirements such as being able to skate at at least a beer league level, and can pass protocols for the COA and IOC, you go as part of the team (emergency forward or something).

[transplant99]

I was tweeting back and forth with Kevin Paul Dupont yesterday and asked if the NHL needed the PA to agree to pull out of Beijing and was told that they do not. He made it pretty clear that if they act unilaterally it will be seen as done in bad faith and not was agreed to in the MOU of last year, but they could do it if they chose to.

Its far more likely that the NHL advises players not to go and pulls support for the games to go on, but wont stop anyone who chooses too. The PA would also be on board with this Im guessing and would also advise against going.

They aren't going, especially with their NHL teams playing games for 3 weeks while they are gone.

Right call.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by 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.

There won't be a gun to anyone's head. Most of the replacements are likely already living a bit of a compromised life in Europe away from their families.

I don't think most of the euro leagues have breaks, but presumably it's just not a big deal that teams lose a few players?

[sureLoss]

The decision to not go is all but official. Has been for a few days.

The only details for the NHL and NHLPA to work out is what happens if players still go with or without their teams permissions and what the protocols are if they are injured or put into quarantine while there.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The decision to not go is all but official. Has been for a few days.

The only details for the NHL and NHLPA to work out is what happens if players still go with or without their teams permissions and what the protocols are if they are injured or put into quarantine while there.

Oh yeah, because you know the Russian NHLers are going.

May as well send McDavid for Canada. That guy contracts the plague around this time every year anyways so whats the harm?

[GirlySports]

I would imagine the all-star game is in doubt too? It would be weird to fly everyone to Vegas now.

Winter Classic is probably OK.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1473314468251713543

[MrMike]

That would make a ton of sense to postpone the Olympics a year just list the summer games.

[CroFlames]

I’m simply asking and not inciting anything, but was there this much uproar on human rights abuses in 2008? It’s not like China was a model of human rights back then either.

I simply have no memory of those Olympics.

[Icantwhisper]

The uproar seems more around NHLer's possibly missing games after the Olympics because of COVID restrictions than human rights

[Erick Estrada]

Athletes have been working hard to prepare for these Olympics for months. Not sure if posphoning less than two months away is fair to a lot of the athletes as long as they are still comfortable competing. The NHL not participating isn't a big deal in the big picture.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Athletes have been working hard to prepare for these Olympics for months. Not sure if posphoning less than two months away is fair to a lot of the athletes as long as they are still comfortable competing.

So explain to me how these athletes are any different than other normal people who don't want to lose their ability to work and be in public. If the rule is the general public has to stay home, avoid family gatherings etc., then the athletes should just accept it and stay home too.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

So explain to me how these athletes are any different than other normal people who don't want to lose their ability to work and be in public. If the rule is the general public has to stay home, avoid family gatherings etc., then the athletes should just accept it and stay home too.

That's not the rule, though.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I’m simply asking and not inciting anything, but was there this much uproar on human rights abuses in 2008? It’s not like China was a model of human rights back then either.

I simply have no memory of those Olympics.

I don't recall this type of talk.

But I feel like China has rammed up its despot level to 11. That is totally anecdotal on my part and doesn't mean China's record in 2008 didn't warrant the same discussion, I just don't remember it.

[SutterBrother]

Theo should go. Since he knows Covid isn't real. Frankly, all the anti-vax players should go. It's a great opportunity for them to demonstrate how right they are, and how everyone else is so wrong.

Put your money where your mouths are, you stupid rubes.

[CliffFletcher]

There was still widespread belief in 2008 that economic integration and cultural dialogue with the West would make China less authoritarian. That the emerging Chinese middle class would demand the kinds of freedoms and democratic institutions that their counterparts elsewhere in the world enjoyed. That expectation proved wrong. Also, the Uyghur thing hadn’t gotten into full swing yet in 2008.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

Theo should go. Since he knows Covid isn't real. Frankly, all the anti-vax players should go. It's a great opportunity for them to demonstrate how right they are, and how everyone else is so wrong.

Put your money where your mouths are, you stupid rubes.

Normally I'm not a proponent of this kind of punitive behaviour but I might make an exception in this case.

"Introducing your 2022 Anti-Vax Games! Where the only spectators are Hospital Staff making them unavailable to heal your stupidity!"

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I’m simply asking and not inciting anything, but was there this much uproar on human rights abuses in 2008? It’s not like China was a model of human rights back then either.

I simply have no memory of those Olympics.

2008 was before China started the Uighur genocide, they only opened the concentration camps in 2017. So while they were still pretty bad back then, things are much worse now