NexusRift Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I've been checking on updates regarding NHL hockey players to the Sochi winter Olympics here; http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=422846 Still some snags and I'm sure snags will ensue for future winter olympics and NHL players. I understand the deal with sending pro players to this event. You want your best to attend and showcase the talent of the sport. It's good for hockey to be sure, and it's also a money grab for everyone involved. It's just good business to do this for the NHL, the Olympics Organization, sponsors, TV, etc. The crap deal is that unlike other pro team sports in North America that partake in the Olympics, the NHL season is interrupted mid season by it. And I don't think I need to go into other issues revolved around this. I believe many of you already know the issues. It seems, at least regarding the upcoming Sochi Olympics, that the issue of travel has been brought up. If the Olympics are held on North American soil, as 2002 and 2010 were, this wouldn't be an issue. I presume this was brought up in the past when they went to Nagano, Japan in '98, but that was the 1st time ever pro hockey players went. Come hell or high water, they were going to be there. I'm excited for the Sochi Olympics and the appearance of NHL players representing their respective countries. I believe it's gonna happen for 2014. Okay I'm rambling again................. If it no longer becomes viable to send NHL players, then why not keep the World Junior teams together and send them. Of course there'd be things to work out with the CHL, NHL farm teams, and whatever league the young players are from, but they would have just come off playing the World Junior Championships. That tourney lasts from late December to early January, then the Winter Olympics begin in early Feb. To me, this can only be a positive move and would bring our young prospects to another level. I think this would be a win-win scenario. Whadda'ya' think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bob Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I'm ok with non NHL in the Olympics. I liked it when it was the one time every 4 years that players who aren't normally in the spot light can compete for their country. They didn't make the bigs, it's their one shot at glory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
250Integra Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Did you forget they were in Italy in 2006? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 If NHL players don't to olympics, they need to bring back the world cup of hockey and have that every 2-4 years. WIth NHL players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drouin Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 If NHL players don't to olympics, they need to bring back the world cup of hockey and have that every 2-4 years. WIth NHL players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James van Riemsdyk Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 http://sports.yahoo....-214335953.html 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bob Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 If NHL players don't to olympics, they need to bring back the world cup of hockey and have that every 2-4 years. WIth NHL players. I loved the world cup, even more so when it was called The Canada Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NexusRift Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 Did you forget they were in Italy in 2006? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mountain Dew Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 So when the Olympics are not played in North America it's OK to not allow NHL players? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NexusRift Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 So when the Olympics are not played in North America it's OK to not allow NHL players? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spliced Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 One problem is while Canada may be fine sending their WJ team other teams don't have stacked rosters every year. A team like Slovakia can put together a pretty good Olympic team that can give the best teams a run for their money. But they don't produce enough hockey players for their junior teams to be as powerful since they have such a small age range to pick from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NexusRift Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 One problem is while Canada may be fine sending their WJ team other teams don't have stacked rosters every year. A team like Slovakia can put together a pretty good Olympic team that can give the best teams a run for their money. But they don't produce enough hockey players for their junior teams to be as powerful since they have such a small age range to pick from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayStation Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Ask former players and I'll gurantee the Olympics were one of the highlights of their careers. The Olympics is the stage for the best in the world to compete, if the NHL doesnt go, its a shame. Russia would forsure be the main powerhouse if the NHL stops going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spliced Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 I hear ya', but I don't think that's much of an argument anymore. As we all know, in women's hockey that may ring true. It's usually Canada, the USA, and everybody else in women's hockey. Slowly but surely though, other hockey nations are catching up to the talent level of the women's Canadian and American teams There were glimpses of such during the 2013 Women's World Hockey Championship. The evolution of parody in women's hockey is happening now and in time other countries will compete with the Canadian and American women. Of course we know among men's hockey that teams selected from the NHL are the best for whatever country. Though we Canadians like to think we're tops in the talent pool, (We usually are the envy!), other countries have caught up to us in the regard of a level paying field. A powerhouse we may be, but evolution has played its role. Borje Salming joining the Leafs in the early '70's started it all. It was slow in coming, but you can't argue that elite teams from European nations are now just as competitive as any elite North American team. Sweden, Finland, Russia and Czechoslovakia can field a men's hockey team that can win it all. The Swiss, Germans and Norwegians aren't far behind. I believe this rings true for junior age players as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkeeterHansen Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Ask former players and I'll gurantee the Olympics were one of the highlights of their careers. The Olympics is the stage for the best in the world to compete, if the NHL doesnt go, its a shame. Russia would forsure be the main powerhouse if the NHL stops going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Algur Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 One problem is while Canada may be fine sending their WJ team other teams don't have stacked rosters every year. A team like Slovakia can put together a pretty good Olympic team that can give the best teams a run for their money. But they don't produce enough hockey players for their junior teams to be as powerful since they have such a small age range to pick from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spliced Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 Actually, I think not sending NHL players will work to Canada's disadvantage. Canada and the US are typically the only countries whose teams are made up of entirely NHL players. The KHL will likely still send players so that benefits Russia as well as other eastern European countries that often have players in the KHL including Slovakia. It will also benefit European countries whose players typically play more together and have developed chemistry, in the past Canada has been able to over come this problem with sheer talent but without NHL players that will be alot harder. I don't think Canada's CHL players or NHL washouts will have a chance against KHLers in Russia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayStation Posted May 14, 2013 Share Posted May 14, 2013 This is the thing. With all the Russian players saying they're going to go whether the NHL says they can or not, means if the NHL decides not to allow its players to go then the Russians will absolutely dominate. Could you imagine having to send our best Canadian college/junior/young NHL players to the Olympics to play the likes of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Radulov etc.? Absolute slaughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NexusRift Posted May 14, 2013 Author Share Posted May 14, 2013 This is the thing. With all the Russian players saying they're going to go whether the NHL says they can or not, means if the NHL decides not to allow its players to go then the Russians will absolutely dominate. Could you imagine having to send our best Canadian college/junior/young NHL players to the Olympics to play the likes of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Radulov etc.? Absolute slaughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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