Could the players revolt? (MOD: if no NHL participation in Pyeongchang)

[Rob]

It is looking less and less likely that the NHL will participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Some of the Russians like Ovechkin have said they will play for their country regardless. What happens if all the star players made a pact to go over against the wishes of the NHL? Do you think it is possible? What could the punishment consist of for those players?

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[Confucius]

Breach of contract, NHL could suit them. Like to see Ovi go just so he could continue sucking even when up against Canadian University students. Maybe that's why he'd want to go he may look good playing against them.

 

[bobholly39]

I think teams will cater to them if players insist on going.

ie: Ovi says he'll go, no matter what. Could Capitals or NHL make a big fuss about it, with legal implications? 100% yup. But it would be a HUGE PR nightmare for them as fans are 100% in support of players. So they're more likely to accommodate the player and work it out, then create a fuss over it and try to prevent/sue them.


That being said - I see Ovi being the exception to the rule. If he truly goes without official NHL participation - majority wouldn't follow him. I can't see many Canadians doing that (Crosby, Price, Toews, Doughty...none of those guys).

 

[Confucius]

I think teams will cater to them if players insist on going.

ie: Ovi says he'll go, no matter what. Could Capitals or NHL make a big fuss about it, with legal implications? 100% yup. But it would be a HUGE PR nightmare for them as fans are 100% in support of players. So they're more likely to accommodate the player and work it out, then create a fuss over it and try to prevent/sue them.


That being said - I see Ovi being the exception to the rule. If he truly goes without official NHL participation - majority wouldn't follow him. I can't see many Canadians doing that (Crosby, Price, Toews, Doughty...none of those guys).

As I speculated why would he go if the best wasn't there? It would be the biggest tainted medal ever, would he really be proud of that?

 

[Xokkeu]

Very few NHL players are going to just leave their teams to go play. Maybe the Russians but that's about it

 

[bobholly39]

As I speculated why would he go if the best wasn't there? It would be the biggest tainted medal ever, would he really be proud of that?

He wants to represent his country at the Olympics. That's it. He's a competitor I'm sure he prefers that other nhl players go too but he's ready to go solo if he needs to.

Tainted medal? I think that's a big stretch.

 

[Confucius]

He wants to represent his country at the Olympics. That's it. He's a competitor I'm sure he prefers that other nhl players go too but he's ready to go solo if he needs to.

Tainted medal? I think that's a big stretch.

If he won a medal playing against university students even though it's an Olympic medal, I would think he wouldn't take much pride in that. But maybe I'm wrong,

 

[Xokkeu]

He wants to represent his country at the Olympics. That's it. He's a competitor I'm sure he prefers that other nhl players go too but he's ready to go solo if he needs to.

Tainted medal? I think that's a big stretch.

It will be tainted in confucius's mind, which is obviously all that matters.

 

[Confucius]

It will be tainted in confucius's mind, which is obviously all that matters.

I will say it would be funny as hell if he lost..... Again

 

[McRpro]

I think teams will cater to them if players insist on going.

ie: Ovi says he'll go, no matter what. Could Capitals or NHL make a big fuss about it, with legal implications? 100% yup. But it would be a HUGE PR nightmare for them as fans are 100% in support of players. So they're more likely to accommodate the player and work it out, then create a fuss over it and try to prevent/sue them.

They are? I sure wouldn't want my teams best players leaving the team for a few weeks in the middle of a playoff race.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Breach of contract, NHL could suit them. Like to see Ovi go just so he could continue sucking even when up against Canadian University students. Maybe that's why he'd want to go he may look good playing against them.

IF a bunch of NHL players would really say "We want to go and we are going no matter what", it would be counterproductive for the NHL to sue them. The NHL needs good advertisement, not to pass for the bad guys who want to prevent players from going at the Olympics.

That said, I really don't think that a bunch of top players will do that. Probably Ovechkin and maybe a couple others, but not a great deal of them.

If he won a medal playing against university students even though it's an Olympic medal, I would think he wouldn't take much pride in that. But maybe I'm wrong,

Confucius is not aware that there's pro players outside of the NHL?

It will be tainted in confucius's mind, which is obviously all that matters.

 

[Rob]

If he won a medal playing against university students even though it's an Olympic medal, I would think he wouldn't take much pride in that. But maybe I'm wrong,

It won't be university students. The IOC isn't going to turn it into an amateur tournament just because the NHL isn't participating. KHL and players from the other Euro leagues will be going for sure.

 

[baronsforever]

It will make a lot of difference how long the NHL waits to declare their intent. If it is soon you will see guys not resign and look for opportunities in europe or KHL to make themselves available. There were a lot of interesting stories like that for 1992 and 1994 which were very competitive fun tournaments to follow.

 

[jj cale]

As I speculated why would he go if the best wasn't there? It would be the biggest tainted medal ever, would he really be proud of that?

That is what I don't get, what possible value is any medal in that thing going to be worth if the rest of the NHL doesn't go?

I don't see the point of him doing this.

What does he tell himself after winning anyway?............." hey, we are the best of the teams of leftovers, woo hoo!!"

Odd attitude he is carrying about this IMO.

 

[jj cale]

It won't be university students. The IOC isn't going to turn it into an amateur tournament just because the NHL isn't participating. KHL and players from the other Euro leagues will be going for sure.

And it will still be ****.

 

[jj cale]

It will be tainted in confucius's mind, which is obviously all that matters.

He is right though.

What would you call it if not 2nd/3rd rate?

Without the NHL players that tournament means next to nothing.

It's like taking Usain bolt and the next 4 best sprinters out of the olympics and trying to pass off the winner of the rest who go as the best in the world.

Do you think any real satisfaction and pride can be taken from that?

You think the world cup was a farce, what will you call that? double the farce easily.

 

[BruinLVGA]

That is what I don't get, what possible value is any medal in that thing going to be worth if the rest of the NHL doesn't go?

I don't see the point of him doing this.

What does he tell himself after winning anyway?............." hey, we are the best of the teams of leftovers, woo hoo!!"

Odd attitude he is carrying about this IMO.

You don't see the point of representing your own nation? The pride in wearing the jersey that represents all of your fellow countrymen?

I have played a team sport and got to play international in that (not nations, but at clubs level). It is a great feeling when you hear your anthem play and you know you are representing something much bigger than your own self.

 

[jj cale]

You don't see the point of representing your own nation? The pride in wearing the jersey that represents all of your fellow countrymen?

I have played a team sport and got to play international in that (not nations, but at clubs level). It is a great feeling when you hear your anthem play and you know you are representing something much bigger than your own self.

I see the point of representing your own nation, I don't see the point of going to the olympics if you are not tested against the best possible competition.

Do you?

I mean, that is the whole point of the olympics.

 

[BruinLVGA]

I see the point of representing your own nation, I don't see the point of going to the olympics if you are not tested against the best possible competition.

Do you?

I mean, that is the whole point of the olympics.

The Olympics is the competition with the longest ever heritage & with the greatest prestige, where folks compete against all the nations of the whole world for the sake of the sport. It is known & respected by pretty much every living soul that live in civilized society. Hence, it is a privilege to be an Olympian; probably the highest honor there is in sport. THIS is the whole point of going to the Olympics.

 

[Section337]

The following should be the first salvo in their revolt - We will pay for our own travel and insurance. Until I hear that, I won't believe it will happen.

 

[jj cale]

The Olympics is the competition with the longest ever heritage & with the greatest prestige, where folks compete against all the nations of the whole world for the sake of the sport. It is known & respected by pretty much every living soul that live in civilized society. Hence, it is a privilege to be an Olympian; probably the highest honor there is in sport. THIS is the whole point of going to the Olympics.

Well count me out as one of the herd that thinks so highly of the olympics that it is given a free pass even when the competition is watered down to where the gold medal means jack ****. And that is what the hockey gold will mean if the NHL players are not there en masse.

Go ahead and be proud to wear the colors, just don't tell me that hockey gold will mean much of anything if it is anything less then the best in the world competing for the medal.

Besides, with the amount of corruption that the I.O.C has been involved in over the years if it is indeed respected by every living soul on the planet then I would say the entire planet is more then a little naive and dare I say it, daft.

But that is beside the point.Bottom line, you want to crown a gold medalist in any sport in the olympics then the best have to be there competing.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Well count me out as one of the herd that thinks so highly of the olympics that it is given a free pass even when the competition is watered down to where the gold medal means jack ****. And that is what the hockey gold will mean if the NHL players are not there en masse.

Go ahead and be proud to wear the colors, just don't tell me that hockey gold will mean much of anything if it is anything less then the best in the world competing for the medal.

Besides, with the amount of corruption that the I.O.C has been involved in over the years if it is indeed respected by every living soul on the planet then I would say the entire planet is more then a little naive and dare I say it, daft.

But that is beside the point.Bottom line, you want to crown a gold medalist in any sport in the olympics then the best have to be there competing.

You're out. Cool by me.

And by the way, who is corrupted in a committee organizing a competition has zero bearing on the athletes competing with each other. And when you talk about corruption... Ask yourself if you think that Bettman & Co are cleaner than those you call out. Who is being naive here?...

 

[Xokkeu]

It's still an Olympic medal. People value that. Russians Finns and Americans en masse will care more about the medal than who was on the ice.

 

[jj cale]

You're out. Cool by me.

And by the way, who is corrupted in a committee organizing a competition has zero bearing on the athletes competing with each other. And when you talk about corruption... Ask yourself if you think that Bettman & Co are cleaner than those you call out. Who is being naive here?...

I have not seen any corruption charges being leveled at bettmans feet yet but if you want to put a guy with a so far clean record in with the shenanigans that the I.O.C have been involved in just because you don't like that he is the messenger man for the nhl owners not wanting to go to the precious olympics or organizing a gimmicky world cup then there is nothing i can do to stop you.


It does not change a thing in regards to the value of an olympic gold medal in hockey if the best players are not competing.

I don't see any naivete there.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Ovechkin isn't the only one who will go to the next Olympics. Kuznetsov said recently "We're going there.". I don't know if by saying "we" he was including someone other than Ovechkin, but I'm sure a few other Russian NHL players will follow them.

They won't be playing against college kids, this isn't "Miracle on Ice" anymore. There are pro players of every citizenship outside of NA, even Canadians. The Olympics will be disputed between the pros from the European leagues + KHL guys + some Russian NHL players.