[News] NHL not sending its players to the Olympics

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

True, but there are people complaining up north right now, guaranteed.

Pretty sure they were wanting team Canada to be referred to as ‘McCanada’ for the Olympics… honestly a blessing it got canceled!

[TheIronMaiden]

I guess I don't really care, but hard not to feel bad for the players who really wanted to go.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I guess I don't really care, but hard not to feel bad for the players who really wanted to go.

I dont really care either but I also really dont feel bad for the players.

I think the romanticized 'idea' of playing in the Olympics is very different than the reality with which we're being presented.

Its one thing to travel to exotic locations with your buddies and your family to compete in a great tournament and have a really good shot at winning and have a great time, enjoy the Olympic atmosphere, etc.

But this is not that. At all. Not even close and I'd hope that the players would understand that.

Frankly...it seems like this Olympics for hockey players would be a grim and miserable affair.

[Wormius]

I don’t get why professional NHL players even care. They’ve already proven themselves by making it to the NHL, same with NBA players. Why not give the opportunity to amateur players instead
- granted those selected would probably end up in the NHL eventually anyway.

[jaydub74]

Has there been any word on if Canada will still send a team, and if so what players will go? I assume if they send a team, it'll be comprised of AHL, KHL, and other European league players?

[gunnner]

I doubt the NHL'ers attend with everything going on Covid wise

[CaptainCrunch]

I still remember when the Olympics were about amateur sport, and we sent amateur players, of course the Russian pro's would smoke us. But I don't watch the Olympics for a superstar tournament.

[Hack&Lube]

China has the political power and money now to just simply pull a Tokyo 2020 and stand down the games for a year. They could also put some distance between themselves and the boycotts they are currently facing.

Hockey-wise it would also give them a chance to spend another year developing their national team which is currently an embarrassment they and the IOC were trying to avoid.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

China has the political power and money now to just simply pull a Tokyo 2020 and stand down the games for a year. They could also put some distance between themselves and the boycotts they are currently facing.

Hockey-wise it would also give them a chance to spend another year developing their national team which is currently an embarrassment they and the IOC were trying to avoid.

What boycotts? There is nothing to see here. They do have that option but you know how it is.The Chinese people do not know anything about any problems or possible games postponement. Chinese Government Pride, no obstacles, perfect society, no disruptions. Remember this is a country that replaced a nine year old singer to have a pretty girl lip synch her.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I still remember when the Olympics were about amateur sport, and we sent amateur players, of course the Russian pro's would smoke us. But I don't watch the Olympics for a superstar tournament.

I’m too young to really understand what the Canada Cup or even World Cup really were, but why did we stop doing tournaments such as this? I always see the highlights of Lemieux playing with Gretzky in the late 80s? Was that not an equivalent of world best on best?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by MrMike

I’m too young to really understand what the Canada Cup or even World Cup really were, but why did we stop doing tournaments such as this? I always see the highlights of Lemieux playing with Gretzky in the late 80s? Was that not an equivalent of world best on best?

They decided that the Olympics would be better. And to continue a World Cup would take away from the Olympics.

I also think there has always been problems with the World Cup, 1996, 2004 and 2016. Have never quite gotten it all together. 1996 was a rebranding. Remember the Canada Cup was an invitational tournament by Hockey Canada and Alan Eagleson.

[Itse]

North Americans have, IMO, always had trouble understanding international sports. In NA the leagues rule supreme and international games are a sideshow, and at times it really shows.

I think an international top level hockey tournament would benefit from making it a joint effort with the IIHF.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by jaydub74

Has there been any word on if Canada will still send a team, and if so what players will go? I assume if they send a team, it'll be comprised of AHL, KHL, and other European league players?

Canada should offer spots to the Canadians like Spencer Foo, Brandon Yip, and Cliff Pu just to really mess with China.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I still remember when the Olympics were about amateur sport, and we sent amateur players, of course the Russian pro's would smoke us. But I don't watch the Olympics for a superstar tournament.

I think this is something that really depends on your age, and why it's probably hard for those of us who are older (+45) to understand why the players are so dead set on going to the Olympics.

For those of us who are older -- which is virtually every owner and league governor -- I think the general attitude is that NHL participation was a fun diversion for a few years, but it's okay to return to the way things were with dedicated national teams and players choosing to hold off for a year or two before turning pro in order to play in the Olympics.


For those who are under 35 -- which is the majority of the players -- they don't really have any memory of a pre-NHL Olympic tournament -- the last one was 1994. For them, NHL participation is the way it's always been and 2018 (and now 2022) are the outliers.


For the people in positions of power at the League, a return to "normal" means no NHL participation in the Olympics. For the players, it's the opposite. That's why it's so hard for either side to understand the other on this issue.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

People seem to not get it, the NHL cannot get out or say the players cannot go. That would be a CBA violation. The NHLPA can decide the players are not going.

Aged well.

[Goriders]

I’d personally rather see a full NHL season completed if possible. It’s chaotic enough right now minus the Olympic break and potential issues it could generate for teams.

[transplant99]

For a second straight year, the Spengler Cup has been cancelled due to the pandemic situation in Davos.

This is the sixth time since 1923 that the tournament has been cancelled, it was previously sidelined in 1939, 1940, 1949, 1956 and 2020. A COVID-19 outbreak from hosts HC Davos led to the event being cancelled just a day before the tournament was set to begin.

Hockey Canada had withdrawn from the Spengler Cup back on Dec. 20th, citing a desire to maintain the health and safety of participating players, coaches and staff amid the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Canada won the last edition of the tournament, which was held in 2019, and holds the most overall championships with 16

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nhl...?ocid=msedgntp

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Aged well.

It did, the two mutually agreed not to go so not sure what your point is except to show that even during the holidays you are an ass on here. Some things never change.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What boycotts? There is nothing to see here. They do have that option but you know how it is.The Chinese people do not know anything about any problems or possible games postponement. Chinese Government Pride, no obstacles, perfect society, no disruptions. Remember this is a country that replaced a nine year old singer to have a pretty girl lip synch her.

I had to look it up

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...ics2008.china1

[sureLoss]

The IOC will not allow any players under NHL contract to attend the Olympics.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1475185801982054403