[GDT] 2026 Olympics Game #3 - Canada vs. France

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

If the owners don't think that having the best players in the World playing in the biggest tournament in the world helps them in the long term then that's a foolish take.

Growing the game globally will make the owners more money in the long run, and being at the olympics is a big part of that.

Stuff like the world cup is great in North America, but it's not going to reach into the areas where hockey isn't already popular.

Pro ice hockey is already a saturated market, perhaps with the exception of Germany. You're never going to materially grow the game to more than what it is now: firmly an afterthought in most of the US, huge in Canada obviously, and big in the Nordic countries and Russia.

Asia is where the money is, and if you think you can take any decent slice of the pie away from the EPL and NBA, you're delusional.

So no, the owners with teams in contention status at least have more to lose than to gain.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

The owners, who tip in close to $100 million per year just to ice a team, never mind other operating costs, would certainly, and sensibly, say their assets are putting themselves at significant risk of injury with no benefit to the owners.

Not to mention fans who would prefer to win a stanley cup than a gold medal in a two horse race. Ask an Oilers fan how they feel if McDavid breaks a leg over there.

4 Nations provides similar challenges but at least you don't have to cross an ocean (in years Olympics are in Europe), and it adds to HRR, giving owners more cheddar in their pockets.

If that's the arguement then NHL players definitely shouldn't be allowed going to World cup every year. It's a pretty little known tournament outside super diehard fans that may watch that tournament. At least with the Olympics it's putting their assets on display on a Universally recognized tournament.

To your second point .. how would Oilers Fan boys feel about McDavid breaking his leg in the 4 Nation's tournament. I bet the same except who cares about the 4 nations more than Olympic gold?

So what everyone who is against watching the Olympics with Nhlers is there just should only be the nhl season and nothing more allowed? You cant argue for player safety to exclude them for the Olympics but say tournaments like the world cup or first nations would be safer.

I would even argue even an all star weekend could injure players. Players in the slap shot could tweak something, players in the fastest skaters don't wear helmets and could hit the boards it the slip. The hard line drawn at the Olympics just doesn't make sense.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

If that's the arguement then NHL players definitely shouldn't be allowed going to World cup every year. It's a pretty little known tournament outside super diehard fans that may watch that tournament. At least with the Olympics it's putting their assets on display on a Universally recognized tournament.

To your second point .. how would Oilers Fan boys feel about McDavid breaking his leg in the 4 Nation's tournament. I bet the same except who cares about the 4 nations more than Olympic gold?

So what everyone who is against watching the Olympics with Nhlers is there just should only be the nhl season and nothing more allowed? You cant argue for player safety to exclude them for the Olympics but say tournaments like the world cup or first nations would be safer.

I would even argue even an all star weekend could injure players. Players in the slap shot could tweak something, players in the fastest skaters don't wear helmets and could hit the boards it the slip. The hard line drawn at the Olympics just doesn't make sense.

NHL stars don't typically go to the World Championships, maybe a handful every year.

I'm not a big fan of 4 Nations either, I could take or leave international hockey. But I'm not from a hockey country. 4 Nations at least generates some income, but when split between 32 owners, it wouldn't be very much.

Obviously the players want to go and that's why they have gone, but I'm not sure there's much buy in from other stakeholders.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

If that's the arguement then NHL players definitely shouldn't be allowed going to World cup every year. It's a pretty little known tournament outside super diehard fans that may watch that tournament. At least with the Olympics it's putting their assets on display on a Universally recognized tournament.

To your second point .. how would Oilers Fan boys feel about McDavid breaking his leg in the 4 Nation's tournament. I bet the same except who cares about the 4 nations more than Olympic gold?

So what everyone who is against watching the Olympics with Nhlers is there just should only be the nhl season and nothing more allowed? You cant argue for player safety to exclude them for the Olympics but say tournaments like the world cup or first nations would be safer.

I would even argue even an all star weekend could injure players. Players in the slap shot could tweak something, players in the fastest skaters don't wear helmets and could hit the boards it the slip. The hard line drawn at the Olympics just doesn't make sense.

Well, the WCs are after the season, so most injuries would be resolved by the next season. But other than that, yeah. For an owner there would not be much difference between an injury in the Olympics versus an injury in game 59 of the regular season. So, I doubt it worries them that much. In fact, I think injuries are maybe more likely in the NHL than in the Olympics. There's more goons, more fights, etc.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

NHL stars don't typically go to the World Championships, maybe a handful every year.

I'm not a big fan of 4 Nations either, I could take or leave international hockey. But I'm not from a hockey country. 4 Nations at least generates some income, but when split between 32 owners, it wouldn't be very much.

Obviously the players want to go and that's why they have gone, but I'm not sure there's much buy in from other stakeholders.

European NHL stars definitely go to the Worlds. Sometimes even partway through the tournament. It's a huge deal.

[GirlySports]

Baseball made a decision in 2007. Suspend their season to petition the IOC to keep baseball in with pros or launch the WBC. They decided on the later and while it started with growing pains, its been a success.

The NHL had a world cup first. It might be the only team sport to throw away their own world cup to go the Olympics

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

European NHL stars definitely go to the Worlds. Sometimes even partway through the tournament. It's a huge deal.

Absolutely, and to suggest that North American players don't go is inaccurate. I mean for Canada last year, just off the top of my head, the following players went:

• Crosby
• Celebrini
• Fantilli
• Horvat
• Konecny
• Weegar
• Sanheim

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Absolutely, and to suggest that North American players don't go is inaccurate. I mean for Canada last year, just off the top of my head, the following players went:

• Crosby
• Celebrini
• Fantilli
• Horvat
• Konecny
• Weegar
• Sanheim

Last year more players than usual wanted to go to help their olympic cause...or in the case of Crosby be a leader for those players. Bedard turned them down and it factored into him not being named IMO.

Canada does have a tougher time than the Eurpoean teams getting their top talent to play most years. Its not as big a thing here, it just isnt.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Last year more players than usual wanted to go to help their olympic cause...or in the case of Crosby be a leader for those players. Bedard turned them down and it factored into him not being named IMO.

Canada does have a tougher time than the Eurpoean teams getting their top talent to play most years. Its not as big a thing here, it just isnt.

IIRC, Bedard chose not to go because he wanted to work on certain things skill wise in the off season.

And it appears to have been a wise choice, although I agree it may have affected Hockey Canada not picking him for the Olympics.

[dino7c]

Its going to be a hard sell to get Canadians to go this year

[getbak]

The Worlds are in Switzerland this year, so that is an appealing way to start your summer.

[Ped]

Reports that Pierre Crinon has been sent home by France.

After his encounter with Wilson on Sunday earned him an ejection, as fighting in the Olympics is prohibited, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound rearguard was called in by the French Ice Hockey Federation to review his overall conduct. Crinon appeared to taunt Wilson and possibly the crowd as he left the ice.


“Following the expulsion and Pierre Crinon’s attitude during the France-Canada match, Pierre-Yves Gerbeau, president of the FFHG and deputy head of the delegation, will summon the sanctioned player as early as tomorrow to shed full light on this incident, in the presence of the DTN and the staff,” Hockey France tweeted Sunday, as translated via Google Translate.
Crinon attended that interview with the FFHG, and the governing body decided to suspend his participation from the rest of the tournament. France plays Germany in a single-elimination playoff qualifying matchup on Tuesday.

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.co...wilson-canada/

[dino7c]

Lol France

[getbak]

Did Wilson have the first Gordie Howe hat trick in Olympic history?

[Ped]

Originally Posted by getbak

Did Wilson have the first Gordie Howe hat trick in Olympic history?

Looks like it is.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by getbak

Did Wilson have the first Gordie Howe hat trick in Olympic history?

Yes

[Doctorfever]

https://apple.news/ALh9KG9PbROOJYRImBn6hsA

France suspends player.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Doctorfever

https://apple.news/ALh9KG9PbROOJYRImBn6hsA

France suspends player.

I understand the Olympic spirit and all but I completely disagree with the suspension. He pretty much shoved Wilson down and annoyed him, but these types of things happen in a contact sport. He must be annoying his team behind the scenes for them to come down hard.

[dino7c]

Apparently it was because of the hand gestures after the scuffle...I mean they were lame but still...lol France, pretty french thing to do

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Apparently it was because of the hand gestures after the scuffle...I mean they were lame but still...lol France, pretty french thing to do

It is actually rather difficult to imagine a Frenchman getting worked up enough to fight without using hand gestures to express himself.

You've heard the old joke, I suppose?

Q. How do you teach a Frenchman to swim?
A. Throw him in the water and start a conversation.