[News] NHL players will not participate in 2018 Olympics? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 09:36 PM

I fear that if the NHL doesn't send its players then many European players will go back to playing in Europe, or do what Kovalchuk did and "retire" so they can go back and play in their home country's and then play in the games. This is only about the owners being selfish. Because I can almost guarantee that if you surveyed the players they would want to go and represent their countries

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 09:37 PM

Its only every four years and not like the season is interrupted every year

PIMking · 02-07-2014, 09:38 PM

If I were an owner I would be more worried of my player being hurt rather than profits lost because of the break.

More I think about it the less I care who plays honestly

sureLoss · 02-07-2014, 09:43 PM

NHL and the owners probably would prefer the return of the World Cup.

Table 5 · 02-07-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

The Olympics are supposed to be a celebration of amateur sport. NHL players are far from that.

No country will spend billions of dollars to put on a show for a bunch of mid-level athletes. The Olympics are way beyond their amateur ways...and honestly I'm glad. It's for the best of the best...putting financial restrictions on it would be silly.

Why are people so against athletes making money anyway? Do they not realize that most Olympic athletes are barely getting by as is? If somebody trains half their life for a sport, they should be rewarded for it if they are good enough. You don't work for free, why should they not be allowed to live from their passion?

PIMking · 02-07-2014, 09:54 PM

Well 'merica pays it's athletes money for medals. I know many others do too

gargamel · 02-07-2014, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by $ven27

If true I can only imagine how Stamkos feels.

Not to mention soon-to-be-pro amateurs like Gaudreau who would never have an opportunity to be selected.

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIMking

Well 'merica pays it's athletes money for medals. I know many others do too

Does Canada? I don't see anything wrong with it

Beatle17 · 02-07-2014, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

Professionals love their country too

I tried seeing both sides but I have to agree with the owners and NHL about not playing. The players are paid to play hockey in the NHL. The teams invest hundreds of milliions of dollars in their business and if a star player gets injured it effects their business.

If the players love it so much then they should waive their pay and play for their countries national teams for the season. If they get hurt in that scenario then the rest of their contracts should be voided also.

And in regards to the other sports sending their best players, the basketball competition sucks - who wants to see the US pound the other countries, soccer does not send their national teams they send their teams comprised of players under 23 years old, tennis is just another tournament and baseball is a joke. Start a World Cup of Hockey that doesn't interfere with the leagues the players are in and you still see the best on best hockey.

MarchHare · 02-07-2014, 10:07 PM

The Olympics haven't featured amateur athletes for decades. Do you think Usain Bolt is an "amateur" sprinter?

I want to watch the very best athletes in the world compete at their respective sports. I don't care if some of those athletes also happen to be paid millions for it.

Beatle17 · 02-07-2014, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

The Olympics haven't featured amateur athletes for decades. Do you think Usain Bolt is an "amateur" sprinter?

I want to watch the very best athletes in the world compete at their respective sports. I don't care if some of those athletes also happen to be paid millions for it.

I don't have a problem with athletes getting paid millions of dollars either, but they aren't paid to play in the Olympics they are paid to play in the NHL. Usain Bolt and athletes like him are paid to run/jump/swim etc., there really isn't a "league" for them to play in (except the Golden League Championships in Europe for track).

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beatle17

I tried seeing both sides but I have to agree with the owners and NHL about not playing. The players are paid to play hockey in the NHL. The teams invest hundreds of milliions of dollars in their business and if a star player gets injured it effects their business.

If the players love it so much then they should waive their pay and play for their countries national teams for the season. If they get hurt in that scenario then the rest of their contracts should be voided also.

And in regards to the other sports sending their best players, the basketball competition sucks - who wants to see the US pound the other countries, soccer does not send their national teams they send their teams comprised of players under 23 years old, tennis is just another tournament and baseball is a joke. Start a World Cup of Hockey that doesn't interfere with the leagues the players are in and you still see the best on best hockey.

I don't think that the whole world cup thing would work though. It would have to be in the off season, and other countries other than Canada and the US would have to buy in. If these caountires are all ready sending their best players to the Olympics why would they send their best player too the world cup as well. It would only really benefit Canada and the US though

strombad · 02-07-2014, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarchHare

The Olympics haven't featured amateur athletes for decades. Do you think Usain Bolt is an "amateur" sprinter?

I want to watch the very best athletes in the world compete at their respective sports. I don't care if some of those athletes also happen to be paid millions for it.

I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that amateur simply refers to athletes that do not receive paycheques for participation. Prize money and endorsements are different.

But again, I'm not even remotely positive, so someone can clarify.

Beatle17 · 02-07-2014, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesfan1297

I don't think that the whole world cup thing would work though. It would have to be in the off season, and other countries other than Canada and the US would have to buy in. If these caountires are all ready sending their best players to the Olympics why would they send their best player too the world cup as well. It would only really benefit Canada and the US though

I think it would work. If it was held in late September or early October before training camp the teams would come and play. The other countries all sent their best players to the Canada Cups dating all of the way back to '76 and some of the best alltime hockey was played in those tourneys.

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strombad

I believe (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that amateur simply refers to athletes that do not receive paycheques for participation. Prize money and endorsements are different.

But again, I'm not even remotely positive, so someone can clarify.

1.a person who engages in a pursuit, esp. a sport, on an unpaid basis.

ranchlandsselling · 02-07-2014, 10:38 PM

Meh, I can understand the injury standpoint. Anything else is just grandstanding to cover up not wanting to say "I don't want my player getting injured" because it sounds bad.

I look forward to the Olympic hockey the second it ends in the current year.

getbak · 02-07-2014, 10:48 PM

Ed Snider is 81 years-old. Who knows where he'll be in 4 years.

On one hand, I grew up in the era when there was a national team that played year-round and built towards the Olympics, and I kind of miss those days.

Also, if there was a time to stop participating, 2018 would be the time. 2018 will be in Korea and the five bids for 2022 are from Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Norway, and China. None of those nations are hockey powers (there have been a few Ukrainian NHLers and Ukraine and Kazakhstan both have one team in the KHL), nor are they likely to significantly grow interest in the game there by participating.

On the other hand, by 2018, there will be kids in the NHL who weren't born the last time the NHL didn't participate...actually, there already are. Sean Monahan was born in late 1994, so he's never seen an Olympics that the NHL didn't participate in.

Guys who are my age, who grew up during the Cold War had no expectations of playing in the Olympics. If it was something you did, it was because the timing worked out for year between Junior and the NHL. Now, kids grow up with it as something they expect to have the chance to do.

It's one of those things that will get discussed and debated right up until the summer or fall of 2017, but it will still likely happen.

Mr.Coffee · 02-07-2014, 10:58 PM

Looking back over the last few years, as a fan what are my best memories?

February NHL or Crosby's golden goal and the electricity and liveliness and amazing moment as a Canadian that was? Would it be less of a moment if NHLers were not present? Yeah, probably.

In fact that moment is something I'll never forget and bore my little girl with stories about. NHL in Feb? Great, sorta. It's just more like something to do but doesn't have half the magic of the best players playing Olympic hockey.

I legitimately have no idea where you're coming from if you would rather have NHL hockey over Olympic hockey with NHL players.

flamesfan1297 · 02-07-2014, 11:13 PM

Agreed with Mr.Coffee Olympic hockey with NHL players is way more exciting to watch than February NHL hockey

PIMking · 02-07-2014, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Looking back over the last few years, as a fan what are my best memories?

February NHL or Crosby's golden goal and the electricity and liveliness and amazing moment as a Canadian that was? Would it be less of a moment if NHLers were not present? Yeah, probably.

In fact that moment is something I'll never forget and bore my little girl with stories about. NHL in Feb? Great, sorta. It's just more like something to do but doesn't have half the magic of the best players playing Olympic hockey.

I legitimately have no idea where you're coming from if you would rather have NHL hockey over Olympic hockey with NHL players.

one of the greatest things in Olympic Hockey history was the miracle on ice