If the NHL does NOT participate in 2022

[johnko]

I think USA and Canada will be so fed up at not having a shot at gold they will send the NHLers out of frustration.

 

[vorky]

Okay? Any comment or are we just regurgitating something that is far besides the point?

The NHL is an entity that sells hockey, they are not the shepherd of the sport in general. If you expect them to be so, then you'll find yourself confused when they make decisions that are largely in their own interest.

It's not a difficult point to grasp.

They are talking about growing the game internationally, not me.

the game =/= the NHL

 

[Juicy Pop]

I think USA and Canada will be so fed up at not having a shot at gold they will send the NHLers out of frustration.

Who will make that call? The NHL front office isn't going to suddenly decide that millions of dollars and two weeks of prime air time are worth pissing into the wind just because the US looks like hot garbage on the ice.

They are talking about growing the game internationally, not me.

the game =/= the NHL

Right, and that's a nuanced sentiment.

They care about growing the game insofar as that general interest can only benefit the NHL, but they aren't going to do something that is financially inept to accomplish that end.

They've run studies on the impact, retro/prospective, that Olympic participation has on their bottom line and the results, as far as I'm aware, are not compelling.

 

[vorky]

Who will make that call? The NHL front office isn't going to suddenly decide that millions of dollars and two weeks of prime air time are worth pissing into the wind just because the US looks like hot garbage on the ice.



Right, and that's a nuanced sentiment.

They care about growing the game insofar as that general interest can only benefit the NHL, but they aren't going to do something that is financially inept to accomplish that end.

They've studies on the impact that Olympic participation has on their bottom line and the results, as far as I'm aware, are not compelling.

And that is what was said earlier, the NHL see only $$$, but refuse to accept that there are people/organisations outside America. And these people/organisations see it differently. And one league can not force the rest of the world its conditions. And it is not only about Olympics, but everything I wrote in that post.

The NHL bussiness would not be ruined if there was a two week break every 4th year. But it definitelly would grow the game globally.

 

[Rangers in 7]

The Olympic Games for hockey this year have been pathetic. Watching a bunch of scrubs and has beens compete for gold medals has made it hard to watch. The NHL is missing a chance to be the centerpiece of the Olympics by not competing. They try to throw it down our throats that they want to grow the brand and then do shit like this.

 

[Juicy Pop]

And that is what was said earlier, the NHL see only $$$, but refuse to accept that there are people/organisations outside America. And these people/organisations see it differently. And one league can not force the rest of the world its conditions. And it is not only about Olympics, but everything I wrote in that post.

The NHL bussiness would not be ruined if there was a two week break every 4th year. But it definitelly would grow the game globally.

Why do you expect them to kowtow to a competitor? Yes, the IOC and the Olympics are a direct competitor given that the event interrupts the NHL schedule during a time in which they are one of two major leagues in session in the US.

Two weeks of relatively unopposed air time in the US is far more significant than you give credit for.

[...]

As I've said, they have publicly stated that they have done impact studies on Olympic participation. If they decide to not participate, then it's quite reasonable to assume that whatever growth occurs is not significant enough to warrant the investment necessary to cover the IOC's prior commitment.

 

[Natey]

While I love the pride of sending our best versus their best..... I can also 100% say that I enjoyed the Men's tournament 100%. The parity was insane. 8-goals was the highest goal differential of any game and neither of those teams even made the medal rounds. So many close games between countries you'd never expect to see keep it close. A 'underdog' in the finals, even if 'underdog' isn't as big as it would be with NHLers.

I enjoyed the tournament. If NHLer's can come back in the next Winter Olympics, I won't be upset. But I also won't be angry to see another tournament like this with so much parity.

I enjoy the World Championships during the NHL Playoffs as well, I just hate how it starts as a tournament with a lot of parity and generally loses that as players become available after the tournament has started. Also a huge fan of Spengler Cup hockey.

 

[vorky]

Why do you expect them to kowtow to a competitor? Yes, the IOC and the Olympics are a direct competitor given that the event interrupts the NHL schedule during a time in which they are one of two major leagues in session in the US.

Two weeks of relatively unopposed air time in the US is far more significant than you give credit for.

[...]

As I've said, they have publicly stated that they have done impact studies on Olympic participation. If they decide to not participate, then it's quite reasonable to assume that whatever growth occurs is not significant enough to warrant the investment necessary to cover the IOC's prior commitment.

I have never used the bold term.

The NHL is mixing "the growing the game internationally" with "growing the NHL internationally." You always hear from NHL officials "the growing the game internationally." Stop using this term if you do not want to grow the game internationally.

The Olympics, the IOC, does not care about any sport league´s bussiness. Why should the IOC care about the NHL´s?

According to my knowledge, the NHL is more profitable today than in 1998 when starting to participate at Games. Definitelly the Olympics has not ruined the NHL´s bussiness.

 

[Juicy Pop]

I have never used the bold term.

The NHL is mixing "the growing the game internationally" with "growing the NHL internationally." You always hear from NHL officials "the growing the game internationally." Stop using this term if you do not want to grow the game internationally.

The Olympics, the IOC, does not care about any sport league´s bussiness. Why should the IOC care about the NHL´s?

According to my knowledge, the NHL is more profitable today than in 1998 when starting to participate at Games. Definitelly the Olympics has not ruined the NHL´s bussiness.

They do want the game to grow internationally, though. It's just a nuanced issue that is complicated by finance.

If the NHL doesn't believe that the Olympic games are worth the required investment to cover insurance and associated costs, in addition to the two week opportunity cost, then they won't do it. It doesn't mean that they don't care about growth, just that this event isn't worth the cost to achieve it.

Do you really not understand that?

 

[vorky]

They do want the game to grow internationally, though. It's just a nuanced issue that is complicated by finance.

If the NHL doesn't believe that the Olympic games are worth the required investment to cover insurance and associated costs, in addition to the two week opportunity cost, then they won't do it.

Do you really not understand that?

What you described is the growing the NHL internationally. I talk about growing the game internationally. This includes that all "players" sacrifice something in favor of the growing the game. And then it is up to "the players" (aka leagues) to impose this in their league´s bussiness. If they are not able to do that, like NHL, it is just their problem.

 

[edog37]

And that is what was said earlier, the NHL see only $$$, but refuse to accept that there are people/organisations outside America. And these people/organisations see it differently. And one league can not force the rest of the world its conditions. And it is not only about Olympics, but everything I wrote in that post.

The NHL bussiness would not be ruined if there was a two week break every 4th year. But it definitelly would grow the game globally.

NHL stars are under contract to play for their respective teams. Those teams pay the freight & are not compensated by international bodies. The fans in the cities where said players are under contract would not take too kindly if one of the stars suffered a career ending injury due to some meaningless tournament held every four years. The Stanley Cup is the pinnacle of hockey.

 

[edog37]

Because they wouldn't put into place conditions that no other Olympic sport has? That's all on the NHL owners just being greedy.

Who pays the players their salaries again?

 

[Zybalto]

Olympic hockey was a joke this year.

I didn't watch a single game and no one I know gives a damn either. We are all still watching the NHL though.

The IOC blew it big time here. This is the only worldwide premier event they have and they screw themselves over quibbling about percentages on the very large pie they are going to get?

They shouldnt have started trouble, they should have caved when the NHL threatened to leave and now they look like fools.

The NHL is doing just fine.

 

[Jaska]

Good point. Football players command multible values compared to hockey players, yet I have never seen a team or a league opposing WC participation. And IOC is are boy scouts compared to FIFA.

 

[Jack Butler]

Even if you had an U20 tournament there still would be players in the NHL who wouldn’t be released by the stingy owners.

Yes, especially if the U20 player is the expected franchise player the team is building around. The players union would have to make this issue part of the next CBA.

Moving WJC to Olympics is horrible idea IMO. If player is born in a "wrong" year, he would most likely never be in the Olympics just because of that. Very rarely we see three-year-underaged in the team (none in this year's WJC) and not much 2000s either. These would be overaged by the next tournament.

U21 might be better. A 4 year window of opportuniity from age 17-20.

U21 might work for the NHL also. allowing them to showcase the young talent at the Olympics, while not having to shut down the league for 3 weeks. I believe Bettman mentioned that the owners see no advantage to shutting down in the middle of the season. Perhaps the shutdown is the biggest issue.

 

[NewtJorden]

I vote amateurs only

 

[Rob]

Amateurs only would be a huge advantage for the US. NCAA is the best amateur league in the world by far.

 

[stampedingviking]

It has nothing to do with me being a stereotypical American, whatever the hell that is. Hockey is a sport, yet the NHL packages and sells it as an entertainment product.

If you're going to criticize decisions made by the NHL, then you need to approach it from the perspective of a business making decisions that are within their best financial interest. I don't love the fact that NHL players didn't get to participate this year, but I would have made the same call if it were my decision to make.

No rational individual would commit to a venture when their prospective studies keep telling them that the benefit is speculative. If you say that you would, then you're admittedly not a rational person or are simply dishonest.

You don't have to like the result, but you should be able to understand the logic behind the decision.

Purely the $$$.

 

[Juicy Pop]

Basically

 

[stampedingviking]

The Olympic Games for hockey this year have been pathetic. Watching a bunch of scrubs and has beens compete for gold medals has made it hard to watch. The NHL is missing a chance to be the centerpiece of the Olympics by not competing. They try to throw it down our throats that they want to grow the brand and then do **** like this.

Actually, the games, whilst being played by a lower standard of player, have been exciting because most teams aren't being steamrollered by the Canadians. Maybe they have been "pathetic" from a Canada not winning gold viewpoint.

 

[stampedingviking]

Olympic hockey was a joke this year.

I didn't watch a single game and no one I know gives a damn either. We are all still watching the NHL though.

The IOC blew it big time here. This is the only worldwide premier event they have and they screw themselves over quibbling about percentages on the very large pie they are going to get?

They shouldnt have started trouble, they should have caved when the NHL threatened to leave and now they look like fools.

The NHL is doing just fine.

How the hell would you know what it was like if you couldn't even be bothered to watch any of it?

Bully for you watching a national championship when the most important INTERNATIONAL tournament was taking place.

The IOC haven't blown anything, the rest of the world was watching, just like they would any other Olympics.

 

[stampedingviking]

Yes, especially if the U20 player is the expected franchise player the team is building around. The players union would have to make this issue part of the next CBA.

U21 might be better. A 4 year window of opportuniity from age 17-20.

U21 might work for the NHL also. allowing them to showcase the young talent at the Olympics, while not having to shut down the league for 3 weeks. I believe Bettman mentioned that the owners see no advantage to shutting down in the middle of the season. Perhaps the shutdown is the biggest issue.

Then why shut down for the meaningless All Stars game?

 

[Rangers in 7]

Actually, the games, whilst being played by a lower standard of player, have been exciting because most teams aren't being steamrollered by the Canadians. Maybe they have been "pathetic" from a Canada not winning gold viewpoint.

no its pathetic that players who are at the top of their games and the best the sport has to offer can't represent their countries for a chance to win a gold medal....that includes Canada, but it also includes the US, Sweden, Russia, Czech, Finland.

 

[Jack Butler]

Then why shut down for the meaningless All Stars game?

I'll venture a guess and say the All-star game is a chance for NHL brass to have a mid-season party of sorts. They get to rub shoulders and do a mid-season evaluation. The league only shuts down for the weekend. I don't know if it makes or loses money and I'm not sure if it even matters.

 

[Dempsey]

Poll options 1, 2 and 4 would all produce the same rosters IMO.