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If the Olympics are a go, leafs may be in trouble - NHL not going

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1. As far as I know the Chinese authorities have not confirmed or allowed infected to be medically evacuated. So players being held for almost a month is still a concern.

2. The league would NEVER play without players, or coaches, or other staff because teams would riot.

I wouldn't even put any thought towards the Olympics as far as I can tell until China approves evacuations of infected there's not a chance they'll go. No one is being detained for 3-5 weeks, not a chance.
 
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Brown Dog said:
I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't really give a damn about NHLers in the Olympics. I won't lose any sleep over them not going (though obviously the circumstances are terrible).
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I’m with you 100%. It’s a total disruption and waste of time
 
I think the rumbles about teams might play games while players are in Olympics is a tool being use from the League, owners or even the PA to set the seed for players not going to the Olympics.
 
In a COVID-free world:
I’d rather the NHLPA and NHL create another world cup of hockey or whatever they did in 2016 instead of the Olympics. Team North America might not be as exhilarating as before, but I’d rather the league do it like 2016
 
Olympics not withstanding why would anyone in their right mind ever consider going to China for any reason. China has proven that no Canadian citizen is safe there
 
Notsince67 said:
Fired for what? There already is a deal in place between the league and the players association.
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For placing their own self serving interest over the interest of the team that actually pays them.
That being said I know the team cannot fire them. I’m just saying what I think should be allowed to happen
 


I don't think it's looking likely they go now.

Make up games during that time. I don't know obviously just a guess but seems friedman figures it's a no go. He was on TV tonight too saying it'll be announced probably this week.
 
Racer88 said:
For placing their own self serving interest over the interest of the team that actually pays them.
That being said I know the team cannot fire them. I’m just saying what I think should be allowed to happen
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The Teams paying them are the ones that have granted the permission to let them go.
I don't think you know how this whole thing works.
 
Olympic hockey doesn't excite me all that much to begin with but since this is in China, I couldn't be happier if NHL players don't go.

:5:
 
ACC1224 said:
The Teams paying them are the ones that have granted the permission to let them go.
I don't think you know how this whole thing works.
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While somewhat true, it was negotiated in the most recent CBA that the players are in fact the ones to make the call... essentially, they players are permitted to go by default and the owners have no way to stop them without some other factors playing in. In this case, with the rules put in place by the Chinese gov't and the IOC and IIHF being completly powerless against them, it was a long shot even without the Omicron variant in play. But Betman (who speaks for the owners) said multiple times, it's up to the players if they go to China or not.
 
Gary Nylund said:
Olympic hockey doesn't excite me all that much to begin with but since this is in China, I couldn't be happier if NHL players don't go.

:5:
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Olympic hockey doesn't exite anyone I don't think, but this was going to be a best-on-best tournament played on NA sized ice... so it was going to be the best hockey we have seen since 2010 imo. Just happens that this best-on-best was going to be a part of the Olympics.
 
wingman75 said:
Olympic hockey doesn't exite anyone I don't think, but this was going to be a best-on-best tournament played on NA sized ice... so it was going to be the best hockey we have seen since 2010 imo. Just happens that this best-on-best was going to be a part of the Olympics.
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It probably excites some people, for me though it can never compare what it was like back in the day when we were playing against players from behind the iron curtain who we knew nothing about. There was the whole good vs evil thing plus the style of hockey the Russian played was so different from ours so that was another layer of intrigue that no longer exists, bottom line is that international play is about 100 times less intriguing than it once was. And then of course there's the format - one game is like a lottery so the bragging rights aren't even worth much IMO, the Canada Cup where at least the final was a 3 game series was at least somewhat better in that regard.

The players want to win a gold medal and I get that, I'd probably feel the same if I was a player but as a fan, the whole thing is a big bowl of meh soup.
 
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ACC1224 said:
The Teams paying them are the ones that have granted the permission to let them go.
I don't think you know how this whole thing works.
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I absolutely know how it works I just don’t think it’s right for a couple of players on each team to put their own desire ahead of the team needs just to pump their ego and say they went to the olympics.
Even without COVID I think the olympics for professional hockey players is a total wast of time and a major disruption to a season.
The Leafs are finally starting to look like a team that could be a contender and that could be put at risk if one or two of our stars went and got injured in a selfish quest like the olympics
 
Racer88 said:
I absolutely know how it works I just don’t think it’s right for a couple of players on each team to put their own desire ahead of the team needs just to pump their ego and say they went to the olympics.
Even without COVID I think the olympics for professional hockey players is a total wast of time and a major disruption to a season.
The Leafs are finally starting to look like a team that could be a contender and that could be put at risk if one or two of our stars went and got injured in a selfish quest like the olympics
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No one is going to quit the NHL and go. If the PA decides against it the players won't go. Not sure what your concern is.
 
ACC1224 said:
No one is going to quit the NHL and go. If the PA decides against it the players won't go. Not sure what your concern is.
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IIRC Ovechkin threatened to go to the Olympics a few years back even if the NHL said no, would be funny if he went this time and was the only NHL player there.
 
I hope it happens. It would be fun to see 5 call-ups on every team for a stretch. Test every teams real depth.

Who knows, a couple of Replacements-like style storylines could emerge.
 
ACC1224 said:
No one is going to quit the NHL and go. If the PA decides against it the players won't go. Not sure what your concern is.
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No real concern just voicing my opinion based on a hypothetical……..lack of hockey boredom is setting in.
 
banks said:
I hope it happens. It would be fun to see 5 call-ups on every team for a stretch. Test every teams real depth.

Who knows, a couple of Replacements-like style storylines could emerge.
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That would be interesting indeed. The dream would be to see all that, plus the Leafs deciding as a team to skip the Olympics saying publicly that winning the cup is the priority. The fans would be over the moon at that news and the team could then take over 1st overall while all the other stars are in China and ride that wave all the way to the cup finals.
 
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