"Prognosis is not really good" on NHL players going to 2018 Olympics

[OffsideSpecialist]

I don't even watch hockey until the medal rounds in the Olympics. I love the opportunity to watch sports that I don't usually. No sense in watching hockey when I do for the four years in between.

[polak]

Im shocked some people don't like Olympic hockey. Games like the Gold Medal Game in 2010 are best hockey you can see. Period.

[OffsideSpecialist]

nm

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't follow amateur hockey, curling, figure skating or the bobsled any other time, why should I care once every 4 years?

You don't have to.
But millions of people care about all of those sports (and more) every 4 years AND during the years between the Olympic Games.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by polak

Im shocked some people don't like Olympic hockey. Games like the Gold Medal Game in 2010 are best hockey you can see. Period.

Who said they don't watch Olympic hockey?

Olympic hockey is huge when the best players are competing but I have zero interest in watching players I don't know.

Hockey may not be the most watched(snowboarding,other skate sports) Olympic sport but it creates lots of discussion,

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Do you watch the Summer Olympics?

Nah. I do think the Summer Olympics are more popular overall though.

I do think the Summer Olympics have a lot more basic competitions than the Winter Olympics. Like even if you don't follow running, jumping and lifting in between Olympics, you can still relate because we all do those things in some capacity. Whereas if you don't follow Curling, you can pretty much only relate on the level of whether your home country is winning or not.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by polak

Im shocked some people don't like Olympic hockey. Games like the Gold Medal Game in 2010 are best hockey you can see. Period.

Best hockey I'd seen since the '87 Canada Cup.

[albertGQ]

Those that say the NHL will benefit in the Asian market by going to the Olympics, has the NHL gotten any benefit by going to Nagano and Turin? I don't think it really did anything for NHL exposure over there.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Those that say the NHL will benefit in the Asian market by going to the Olympics, has the NHL gotten any benefit by going to Nagano and Turin? I don't think it really did anything for NHL exposure over there.

Do you have a stats or something on that? I mean if something was developing, I probably wouldn't know.

It's not something that would be visible to your average fan outside of Asia, and I wouldn't expect hockey to be a major sport there this quickly, even in a best case scenario.

[albertGQ]

Well Turin was over 10 years ago and Nagano was over 18 years ago. Even if it was slowly simmering, you'd hear something at least.

Is there any NHL coverage there? Even games on tape delay?

I haven't heard of anything.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Itse

Do you have a stats or something on that? I mean if something was developing, I probably wouldn't know.

It's not something that would be visible to your average fan outside of Asia, and I wouldn't expect hockey to be a major sport there this quickly, even in a best case scenario.

Sometimes, shoving things down people's throats doesnt make them love it more.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Has the prognosis of NHL players ever been reported as good 2 years out of an Olympic Games in recent memory. Seemes like this is just par for the course as the IOC and NHL negotiate.

[Locke]

So one could say its....

*puts on sunglasses*

"Prognosis Negative?"

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vulcan]

I don't know all the facts but I'm under the impression that the IOC is about as corrupt as the FIFA. As it is they're getting NHL players for free in that the league and the players make nothing out of this while the IOC lines their pockets. Now they want the NHL to pay for the privilege, I don't think so.

https://www.gn.apc.org/blog/meet-ioc...ndrew-jennings

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Locke

Sometimes, shoving things down people's throats doesnt make them love it more.

I think you completely missed my point?

I mean, does someone here actually know anything about the popularity of hockey/NHL in Asia, and whether it's growing or about the same, or if it has something to do with the visibility of the olympics?

It's kind of pointless to argue that "it did nothing" if we don't actually know whether or not it had an effect.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Has the prognosis of NHL players ever been reported as good 2 years out of an Olympic Games in recent memory. Seemes like this is just par for the course as the IOC and NHL negotiate.

It was never a question with Salt Lake nor Vancouver.

But when the games are held 16 time zones away from NA, there is a whole other level of logistics that need to be dealt with.

Add into it that the WC has been ressurected, there is way way less incentive to go overseas.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by Locke

So the NHL would be taking all the risk sending their players and then they'd also have to pay for the Insurance and Transport? See ya IOC.

Thats a raw deal, I wouldnt do that. Time to stay home. Send the Oilers.

LOL the Oilers would still finish last even with every nation sending sub par rosters.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Has the prognosis of NHL players ever been reported as good 2 years out of an Olympic Games in recent memory. Seemes like this is just par for the course as the IOC and NHL negotiate.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

I think the only Olympics where there wasn't any doubt about the NHL attending were Salt Lake and Vancouver, and even then, there was posturing about who would pay for what.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Those that say the NHL will benefit in the Asian market by going to the Olympics, has the NHL gotten any benefit by going to Nagano and Turin? I don't think it really did anything for NHL exposure over there.

Yeah there's that Japanese hockey prodigy. Not sure about Turin though

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Itse

Do you have a stats or something on that? I mean if something was developing, I probably wouldn't know.

It's not something that would be visible to your average fan outside of Asia, and I wouldn't expect hockey to be a major sport there this quickly, even in a best case scenario.

It's been approximately one generation since the Nagano olympics, and we have seen some small strides. Yutaka Futafuji played for the King's farm team a few years ago, the Blue Jackets and Blackhawks invited Japanese players to camp a year or two ago, and we have that young Itoguchi fellow.

If there was any time to build momentum for hockey in Asia, the 2018 Olympics is a good opportunity. Korea has been pushing their hockey program so that they won't be too embarrassed in 2018, which includes sending select players to train in Sweden/Finland and bringing in foreign pros like former Abbotsford Heat player, Mike Testwuide, to play for their national team at the WCs.

Not to mention the impact that the new Chinese KHL team will have.