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

[GirlySports]

These were the same arguments in 1998 when they went.
Cancelled World Cup to go to Olympics. Now cancelled Olympics to go to World Cup

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Locke

It doesnt matter.

World Cup, World Championships, Olympics, none of it matters.

The Olympics at the very least has done the best job of actually putting the best against the best, from a national perspective, so lets credit it for that at least.

But so long as you have the dilution of the sport, the revenue and the control between the NHL, the KHL, the IIHF and the IOC you're never going to get a true kickass competition.

There is a bigger problem to solve here, all other sports have over-arching Governing bodies. One.

I nominate myself for the president of IFAIH. I'm like, totally against corruption and stuff.

[The Yen Man]

To be honest, as much as it sucks to not see NHL guys in the Olympics, at the same time, I'm not too upset if the NHL is kind of sticking it to the Olympics. The IOC is so corrupt and so money driven, it's pretty disgusting to see.

[GirlySports]

Play in the summer games. Problem solved

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

To be honest, as much as it sucks to not see NHL guys in the Olympics, at the same time, I'm not too upset if the NHL is kind of sticking it to the Olympics. The IOC is so corrupt and so money driven, it's pretty disgusting to see.

This. As awesome of a spectacle that the Olympics are, it's hard to get past the corruption and greed that makes it all possible.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

To be honest, as much as it sucks to not see NHL guys in the Olympics, at the same time, I'm not too upset if the NHL is kind of sticking it to the Olympics. The IOC is so corrupt and so money driven, it's pretty disgusting to see.

As true as this is the NHL is super money driven too. Its 2 weeks out of 4 years.

[Itse]

I'm always kind of awed by how FIFA does it. They're probably one of the most corrupt and greedy international organizations in the world. Despite that, all their events are always top quality and the sport has just kept growing. By any standard FIFA has been doing a great job. The game itself is doing just great.

(I do think they might a bit on borrowed time though, as they've kept pushing the ethical issues further away into the sidelines, and there's a chance it creates some real blowback eventually.)

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Itse

I'm always kind of awed by how FIFA does it. They're probably one of the most corrupt and greedy international organizations in the world. Despite that, all their events are always top quality and the sport has just kept growing. By any standard FIFA has been doing a great job. The game itself is doing just great.

(I do think they might a bit on borrowed time though, as they've kept pushing the ethical issues further away into the sidelines, and there's a chance it creates some real blowback eventually.)

Yup, agree with everything here. Top notch events, horribly corrupt and evil organization.

The worst thing about their events thus far were the vuvuzelas, but I could forgive them for that.

[Vulcan]

The IIHF is a European invention that made up their own rules and rink size. It hasn't much to do with Canadian hockey and for years hated our brand of hockey as well as being corrupt. That we should be governed by them and need to use their rules in the Olympics, is a laugh. Lately they probably serve a purpose in negotiations with European players and their associations for transfers.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

The IIHF is a European invention that made up their own rules and rink size. It hasn't much to do with Canadian hockey and for years hated our brand of hockey as well as being corrupt. That we should be governed by them and need to use their rules in the Olympics, is a laugh. Lately they probably serve a purpose in negotiations with European players and their associations for transfers.

Why was the IIHF founded in Europe? Because in Europe we need international organizations to get stuff done. We're not North America which only has two hockey playing countries and everybody speaks English. (Well okay some speak French. But you get the point.) The creation of the IIHF has nothing to do with "hating Canada". It also has nothing to do with "having our own rules and rink size". In fact the European rules have traditionally been very loose on the size of the rink. Some common rules were needed, and in Europe the IIHF was the organization to start doing that work. In North America that job is essentially done by the NHL. That works for you because you only have one top level league, but it wouldn't work in Europe because we have many leagues.

Because North American hockey was for a long time kind of isolated from European hockey, there wasn't much need for a unified rule set. With two separate organizations developing their own rulebooks, it's natural that differences start to develop. But this is a result of the circumstances and lack of coordination, not a deliberate attempt to create two sets of rules.

The idea that the IIHF somehow "hates" Canadian hockey is silly. (Especially since, again, US and Canada are members.) Pretty much all countries have at some point brought in Canadian coaches to teach them that "hated style". Yes, there have always been people in Europe who prefer "the European style" (or usually more specifically the style they play in that country). But there's no major hate movement going on, and never has.

[CroFlames]

Do we have license to hate the sissy Europeans and their style of play though?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Do we have license to hate the sissy Europeans and their style of play though?

We expect nothing more of you

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

As true as this is the NHL is super money driven too. Its 2 weeks out of 4 years.

True, but at least the NHL doesn't seem to be so blatantly corrupt. I mean, I guess they could be behind closed doors, but it just seems like the IOC takes it to another level. For an organization that touts the "spirit of the game" and is all about promoting amateur sports, it sure has a lot of slimeballs running it.

[sureLoss]

News Update

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Bettman says NHL teams aren't interested in paying for the privilege of sending players to the Olympics.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
Paraphrasing him, if the IOC landscape on who assumes cost to send players to Olympics doesn't change, NHL participation is not expected.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Locke

Its really simple and Friedman really nailed it last night, the IOC gets all the revenue, everything, tickets, TV the whole smorg and in previous Olympics the cost of acquiring that revenue was footing the bill for the insurance and getting the athletes to the games and taking care of them when they got there.

The NHL gets zip, takes all the risks regarding injury and loses revenue by putting the season on hold for a few weeks.

Now the IOC wants the NHL to take their quadrennial kick to the nuts and also pay for the privilege at which point I'd be telling the IOC to pound sand.

Lets see what your TV deals look like when theres no NHL players and the NHL season is still going on. Lets see what your ticket revenues look like when you cant charge astronomical prices because it isnt a best-on-best tournament anymore its a glorified World Juniors.

I know that quoting yourself is the height of arrogance but in light of the Mackenzie release it appears that the NHL has just told the IOC to pound sand.

[nik-]

Couldn't Bettman and Rene Fasel just whip them out and measure them and move on with this already.

This dance is boring.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

As true as this is the NHL is super money driven too. Its 2 weeks out of 4 years.

Difference being, the NHL is suppose to be, in fact it's only reason for existence.

[Party Elephant]

TSN Headline:Bettman: Olympics hinges on money

You don't say???

[Red Menace]

I think this has more to do with the fact that the next 2 Winter Olympics are in Asia (how did that happen by the way??).
They are not hockey countries and are in a terrible time zone for the NA market.
This why the World Cup has been resurrected, the NHL knew they didn't really want to go to go half way around the world in the middle of the season. Maybe if the 2026 games are in a more attractive market they will re-consider.
Of course not having to share $$ with the IIHF or IOC is also a large factor.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

Couldn't Bettman and Rene Fasel just whip them out and measure them and move on with this already.

This dance is boring.

It's more the IOC at this point than Fasel. The NHL already made it clear it didn't think it was getting much value from the Olympics before the IOC decided it would no longer cover various transportation and insurance costs. From the NHL's perspective, a bad deal just got much worse. The IIHF is sort of caught up in the middle, but could no doubt help the process along by agreeing to pay those costs itself.