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

[Racer88]

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.

They would get my vote

 

[keonsbitterness]

I wonder if the entire Olympics get postponed by a year.

 

[Anthrax442]

I still would like to have a proper hockey championship like a world cup separate from Olympics.

 

[Mess]

NHL won't attend Beijing Games

NHL players will not be participating in the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The league and NHL Players’ Association announced their decision on Wednesday as the number of games postponed by COVID-19 this season currently sitting at 50.

 

[zeke]

If X happens, "the Leafs may be in trouble".

Always.

 

[ACC1224]

NHL won't attend Beijing Games

NHL players will not be participating in the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The league and NHL Players’ Association announced their decision on Wednesday as the number of games postponed by COVID-19 this season currently sitting at 50.

Between this and the fortuitously timed shut down, the Leafs are going to be in a very good spot for an extended stretch run.

 

[Mess]

Between this and the fortuitously timed shut down, the Leafs are going to be in a very good spot for an extended stretch run.

Final 4 or Bust just like last year.

Expectations running high.

At least those pesky Olympics won't be getting in the way now.

 

[ACC1224]

Final 4 or Bust just like last year.

Expectations running high.

At least those pesky Olympics won't be getting in the way now.

No more excuses.

 

[ponder]

Eklund, as always, is just some random dude in his basement with zero connections, spouting BS. He’s got no more inside info than the average HFBoards poster, and his opinions are even less trustworthy, since making up clickbait garbage is literally his job.

The NHL isn’t going, and the players aren’t going.

 

[Gary Nylund]

No more excuses.

The 2019-2020 season called, they want their post back.

Eklund, as always, is just some random dude in his basement with zero connections, spouting BS. He’s got no more inside info than the average HFBoards poster, and his opinions are even less trustworthy, since making up clickbait garbage is literally his job.

The NHL isn’t going, and the players aren’t going.

Not even Ovechkin?

 

[ponder]

Not even Ovechkin?

Leading up to the 2018 Olympics, he was super vocal about going, whatever the consequences. But in the end, like all NHLers, he didn’t go. This time he hasn’t done anything of the sort, has just been saying “I hope the NHL goes”, not “I’m going regardless.” So I think it’s essentially a lock that he doesn’t go.

There are zero reputable sources saying “NHLers are going to break rank and go to the Olympics anyways.” Just Eklund, who is never right about anything. I’d put very good money on it being like 2018 - if any NHLers go at all, it’ll be guys who are getting regularly healthy scratched/sent to the AHL, and even they probably won’t go.

 

[justashadowof]

Western nations didn't really want the Beijing Winter Olympics to be a success anyways.

Undoubtedly more sports if not entire nations to follow.

Just checked on it: I didn't know this before but several nations have had a "diplomatic boycott" of these Olympics in action as of this month (source: wikipedia). Diplomatic boycott apparently means sending no dignitaries to represent yourself while still sending the athletes. Canada and the U.S. included in this.

 

[justashadowof]

Considering that many World Juniors' players have signed NHL contracts and are members of the NHLPA surely that tournament will be affected as well.

 

[Ciao]

Western nations didn't really want the Beijing Winter Olympics to be a success anyways.

Undoubtedly more sports if not entire nations to follow.

Just checked on it: I didn't know this before but several nations have had a "diplomatic boycott" of these Olympics in action as of this month (source: wikipedia). Diplomatic boycott apparently means sending no dignitaries to represent yourself while still sending the athletes. Canada and the U.S. included in this.

Canada and the US will still send Olympic hockey teams with non-NHL players. The games will go on.

Maybe a weakened field helps the Chinese men's Olympic hockey team, which the Chinese government would really love anyway.

No offence, but you're not very knowledgeable about this topic if you had not even known of the diplomatic boycott. It's been front and centre in the news this month.

 

[Ciao]

Considering that many World Juniors' players have signed NHL contracts and are members of the NHLPA surely that tournament will be affected as well.

The World Juniors in Alberta have no connection to the Winter Olympics in China.

If a problem comes up with the World Juniors, it would have nothing to with the NHL or the NHLPA.

 

[mikeyz]

Canada and the US will still send Olympic hockey teams with non-NHL players. The games will go on.

Maybe a weakened field helps the Chinese men's Olympic hockey team, which the Chinese government would really love anyway.

Ohhhhh come on, Are you telling me that Wang Gang couldn’t hang with Connor McDavid???

Edit: And for people who think I am joking or making fun of the China men’s hockey team, look at their roster. There’s a player on the hockey team named “Wang Gang”

 

[Ciao]

Ohhhhh come on, Are you telling me that Wang Gang couldn’t hang with Connor McDavid???

Edit: And for people who think I am joking or making fun of the China men’s hockey team, look at their roster. There’s a player on the hockey team named “Wang Gang”

Yeah, the IIHF held a special meeting to decide whether China could have its long-promised host-country Olympic qualification despite its lack of a competitive roster. They decided to let China play.

China's three scheduled Group A games are against the USA, Germany and Canada. If they even come close in any of those games it would be a huge success for their winter Olympic program.

As we've seen in all other sports, China really, really wants to win.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Leading up to the 2018 Olympics, he was super vocal about going, whatever the consequences. But in the end, like all NHLers, he didn’t go. This time he hasn’t done anything of the sort, has just been saying “I hope the NHL goes”, not “I’m going regardless.” So I think it’s essentially a lock that he doesn’t go.

There are zero reputable sources saying “NHLers are going to break rank and go to the Olympics anyways.” Just Eklund, who is never right about anything. I’d put very good money on it being like 2018 - if any NHLers go at all, it’ll be guys who are getting regularly healthy scratched/sent to the AHL, and even they probably won’t go.

Yeah I figured as much, it was a tongue in cheek comment on my part. Would be an awesome story if it happened though, hell I might even watch if it happened.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

League is much better off not goin, but I'll still mourn the fact that once again we won't have NHL'ers at the Games.

 

[Lauro]

The best players of the world missing the Olympics because of some regular season games ... Disgraceful. And very sad for hockey fans around the world.

 

[Stigma]

A conversation I haven't seen here yet (unless I missed it) is who Canada and the US may send to the Olympics.

Canada: Spooner? Conacher? Ray Ferraro's son?

US: is there a possibility Bracco goes? He's doing quite well in the German league.

 

[ACC1224]

The best players of the world missing the Olympics because of some regular season games ... Disgraceful. And very sad for hockey fans around the world.

IMO, that's just the convenient excuse.