[News] NHL players will not participate in 2018 Olympics?

[Vulcan]

The reason the Olympics was originally limited to amateurs was to keep the great unwashed from competing. It was an elitist organization for the rich and privileged. Well the organization still is and is a great money maker for the privileged few. Amateurism is a sham and pretty much always has been.

If the NHL won't go, the Russians will just send their players from the KHL, ditto for the Swedes and Finns and Czechs and their leagues. We'll have Boyd and any other pro rejects playing in Europe with maybe the odd junior hot shot and will be in trouble to qualify.

The Americans will be in better shape than Canada by taking a college team groomed for the tournament.

Having said all of that, I don't really care except the Russians or the Swedes or whoever wins will be bragging they're the best.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by strombad

I just don't see how the NHL is going to go from not wanting to send it's players to agreeing to format a whole new CBA, new development structure and a loan system just so players can go.

Out of curiosity, why do you prefer Olympic hockey without the NHL?
The NHL is the best league in the world, so is can't see why someone would prefer the Olympics without the best players in the world competing against each other.

Without the NHL it just becomes a watered down product that is hardly relevant or worth watching. It would become even less important than the World Juniors.

I enjoy watching the AHL more than the NHL too. I think younger up and coming players have more to play for and it translates into am more entertaining game. This also translates to the Olympics, I loved it when we had an actual National team program.

And my idea wouldn't affect the NHL so it wouldn't have anything to do with the CBA. The NHL lending players would be no different than Cundari being lent to Chicago or a player being lent to a European Club.

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by The Swedish Flame

Not to mention that any/all other international tournaments pale in comparison to the Olympics. The World Championship, for example, is mostly a mixture of some of the best players outside the NHL and the losers who couldn't make the Stanley Cup playoffs. Right now I'd be perfectly happy trading all our other medals for the hockey gold at the Olympics. It's the only one that really matters.

I'm also amused by the idea that only "amateurs" would go if the NHL barred players from going. Players in the KHL, SHL, DEL, SM-Liiga aren't exactly playing pro bono...

I think the feeling is more like ALL pro athletes not competing not just the nhl.

[strombad]

Interesting. I think the AHL is a vastly inferior product, and I'd prefer to watch the best in the world at every opportunity, but to each their own.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by strombad

Interesting. I think the AHL is a vastly inferior product, and I'd prefer to watch the best in the world at every opportunity, but to each their own.

I am not saying the quality of play is better. I am saying I enjoy the games more. In the NHL you have players that are complacent and don't appear to give it their ll every night. Where is in the AHL the majority of these guys know if they don't go all out all the time they may never get a chance. I find that passion of the players and their competetive nature is what makes it more entertaining. You also don't seem to have the egos.

[strombad]

That's fair for a stance of NHL vs AHL but it wouldn't translate that same way to the Olympics. The Olympics are a much more rare event with more at stake than anything in the AHL or NHL regular season.

Your problem with the NHL is the potential for floaters, but that's not an issue in Olympic hockey, so by eliminating the NHL all you're doing is lowering the quality of hockey.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by strombad

That's fair for a stance of NHL vs AHL but it wouldn't translate that same way to the Olympics. The Olympics are a much more rare event with more at stake than anything in the AHL or NHL regular season.

Your problem with the NHL is the potential for floaters, but that's not an issue in Olympic hockey, so by eliminating the NHL all you're doing is lowering the quality of hockey.

I enjoyed the 92 and 94 Olympics more than any since the NHLers joined. So it is more than just that. I just seemed more special before I guess.

[GreenLantern2814]

If they don't go to the Olympics, I would hope at the very least we get some sort of best on best event held in September every two years, alternating between Europe and North America. We could have actual host cities, and a proper World Cup sort of display.

I hope they keep going, that said... despite all the baggage, the Olympics are always cool.

[stone hands]

no nhlers in the olympics would probably make me not watch them at all, as selfish as that sounds

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by stone hands

no nhlers in the olympics would probably make me not watch them at all, as selfish as that sounds

Really? I don't doubt you, but I felt this way in Vancouver, that the only thing I was really into was the hockey tournament (it was as hipster as I got) but I a) didn't realize how into bobsledding I could get and b) realized nobody produces content anywhere near as compelling as the Olympics in February. Every show worth a damn is on hiatus. Game of Thrones doesn't premiere until April. Look outside and tell me you want to spend more than 5 minutes there.

The Olympics have us by the balls.

[BigTuna]

They should not be going. If you read into it, the NHl is making no money from this at all. They are shutting down their league for a month. No other league would do this.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by strombad

Would that make the NHL the only professional association that doesn't allow it's players to attend the Olympics?

The NBA would never go if they had to shutdown their season at the midway point for a month.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

There will always be a lot of chest thumping from the NHL about it because they like to hold it over the players' and (apparently) fans' heads.

But what would happen if NHL players were no longer allowed to compete in the Olympics is that some players would go AWOL from their NHL teams, and all of the players, broadcasters, sponsors, and fans would be furious with the NHL.

Not gonna happen.

That would not happen. NHL players aren't going to walk away from their contracts and risk that.

Forget about Ovechkin's silly threat from 4 years ago. No Korean players play in the NHL.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

The NBA would never go if they had to shutdown their season at the midway point for a month.

Not really the point, I was asking if that would make the NHL the only one.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by strombad

Not really the point, I was asking if that would make the NHL the only one.

It is though. The fact the Olympic occurs during the season is the issue.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The reason the owners don't want to go is they don't make any money off it. People will say increased exposure, but thats entirely speculative that it really adds to an owners bottom line. If the owners saw a direct, defined amount of money out of this they'd have no issue with it. But since they don't and it affects the product that does make them money, they'll never be for it.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

That would not happen. NHL players aren't going to walk away from their contracts and risk that.

Forget about Ovechkin's silly threat from 4 years ago. No Korean players play in the NHL.

It would be pointless too. If an NHL player leaves goes AWOL they get suspended. The IIHF honours all NHL suspensions so te suspended player would be ineligible for the games.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

That would not happen. NHL players aren't going to walk away from their contracts and risk that.

Forget about Ovechkin's silly threat from 4 years ago. No Korean players play in the NHL.

It's not just host-country players.

There would no doubt be European players that would take a season off if necessary to play at home and participate in the Olympics.

Expecting players to forego this, simply because the NHL doesn't get any revenue from it, is ridiculous and short-sighted.

Having the best players at the Olympics is the best way to promote the game worldwide.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by BigTuna

It is though. The fact the Olympic occurs during the season is the issue.

You're telling me the point of my question?

[-TC-]

I'm on the fence...

On one hand the Olympics is about sending your best to compete with the other countries best, on the other hand, I believe that the Olympics are no place for professionals.

Hockey, basketball, baseball...whatever. I don't know that pros belong.

It's a tough call.