Olympics: NHL participation in the 2022 Olympics

[Boonk]

Most people want to play for the team that pay them the best money. Or does anyone think people grew up playing with Kunlun? Or how much of a gimmick is a new team like Vegas Golden Knights?
Last World Cup was way more entertaining than the crappy Olympics in 2014 that had like 3 games that were good. But I doubt people in the gold world have this complaints about the Ryder Cup and their "gimmick" Team Europe.

You do realize that players participate for both club and country through all sports right? No different in ice hockey. Pretty sure that's why guys like Kopitar and Zucc still play for their countries and not a gimmick euro all star team at international events.

The Ryder cup has been a thing in golf since the 1920s and is a prestigious event on the golf calendar every year, the WCoH isn't and wasn't that. It's not even remotely the same thing as a comparison, and even golfers play for their countries at other international events.

Vegas and Seattle are NHL clubs...they pay players from other places to play for them in that club league just like...every other NHL team... the same for Kunlun in the KHL..

 

[Jahara]

How do people in the "gold" world feel about team Europe minus the good countries when it takes on team USA over an arbitrary age in what is presented as an international tournament?

It meant the golf world. Not sure what "arbitrary age" is supposed to mean.

You do realize that players participate for both club and country through all sports right? No different in ice hockey. Pretty sure that's why guys like Kopitar and Zucc still play for their countries and not a gimmick euro all star team at international events.

The Ryder cup has been a thing in golf since the 1920s and is a prestigious event on the golf calendar every year, the WCoH isn't and wasn't that. It's not even remotely the same thing as a comparison, and even golfers play for their countries at other international events.

Vegas and Seattle are NHL clubs...they pay players from other places to play for them in that club league just like...every other NHL team... the same for Kunlun in the KHL..

And it is ok to represent some dull franchise far away in Russia for the money? Or start a new team based on the market potential? But try to gather a Team Europe once and you get this overreactions. So silly.

Canada Cup/World Cup has been a thing since the 70's and is a prestigious event too. Ryder Cup started to mix the other team in the 70's ´, just like the World Cup tried once. Golfers usually represent themselves since it is a individual sport. They have a World Cup but it not near the level as the majors.

 

[JackSlater]

It meant the golf world. Not sure what "arbitrary age" is supposed to mean.

It is in reference to the exclusively American team at the NHL's 2016 tournament having an arbitrary age limit that several other teams didn't have.

 

[Siludin]

NHL will buckle - they want the exposure.

 

[Boonk]

It meant the golf world. Not sure what "arbitrary age" is supposed to mean.



And it is ok to represent some dull franchise far away in Russia for the money? Or start a new team based on the market potential? But try to gather a Team Europe once and you get this overreactions. So silly.

Canada Cup/World Cup has been a thing since the 70's and is a prestigious event too. Ryder Cup started to mix the other team in the 70's ´, just like the World Cup tried once. Golfers usually represent themselves since it is a individual sport. They have a World Cup but it not near the level as the majors.

Since they paid their way into that club league for membership...yes! Sports leagues all around the world do this all the time, not sure what's so surprising about that. Club leagues and international play are entirely their own separate things. Players can play for both the club that pays them and the country they were born/reside in...

The previous renditions of the World/Canada Cup used REAL international teams, not gimmick Euro/NA U23 all star teams. The Ryder Cup and the WCoH are not the same thing, regardless of how much you try and compare the two.

 

[Jahara]

It is in reference to the exclusively American team at the NHL's 2016 tournament having an arbitrary age limit that several other teams didn't have.

Yeah, the U23 Team was wrong since it hampered other teams, mainly USA. On the other hand they was the most entertaining team.

Since they paid their way into that club league for membership...yes! Sports leagues all around the world do this all the time, not sure what's so surprising about that. Club leagues and international play are entirely their own separate things. Players can play for both the club that pays them and the country they were born/reside in...

The previous renditions of the World/Canada Cup used REAL international teams, not gimmick Euro/NA U23 all star teams. The Ryder Cup and the WCoH are not the same thing, regardless of how much you try and compare the two.

And people complain that World Cup is just a cash grab. Thank God for the NHL were you pay your way forwards.

75 % of the teams were real and the other teams raised the level. Ryder Cup is just like World Cup big international tournaments that is organized in a different way to some others.

 

[JackSlater]

The insurance issue has been mentioned before and certainly could pose a problem.

 

[Faterson]

No it would not. But the last Olympics in 2018 was terrible for real. Nonsense tournament.

And the NHL is to blame for that.

 

[JETZZZ]

Yeah, the U23 Team was wrong since it hampered other teams, mainly USA. On the other hand they was the most entertaining team.


And people complain that World Cup is just a cash grab. Thank God for the NHL were you pay your way forwards.

75 % of the teams were real and the other teams raised the level. Ryder Cup is just like World Cup big international tournaments that is organized in a different way to some others.

Imagine if Canada got to see Crosby play with McDavid (Which might never happen now) or Eichel/Mathews/Gaudreau/Kane all suit up for USA.

I guarantee that would have been wayyyyyyy more entertaining.

 

[um]

It always keep fascinating me this thing with hockey people. They can run hundreds of nonsense tournaments without the best players and people accepts that crap. But trying something new in a World Cup once and you get this overreactions. Or did anyone miss a top team like Germany...

I love watching USA and Canada at full strength. We never got that in 2016.

Imagine the 2010 Gold Medal game with no Crosby, Toews and Doughty for team Canada. Then subtract Kane, Erik Johnson, Kessel, Bobby Ryan and Jack Johnson for team USA. That's 4 superstars removed from the game.

Age restrictions in a best on best international hockey tournament is the worst idea ever... It was awful and all credibility was lost.

 

[Burke the Legend]

The insurance issue has been mentioned before and certainly could pose a problem.

The IOC/IIHF likes to take in the revenue but won't pay the costs. They are 5 star mooches. Maybe they can get the dictatorship in Beijing to cover the bill.

 

[JackSlater]

The IOC/IIHF likes to take in the revenue but won't pay the costs. They are 5 star mooches. Maybe they can get the dictatorship in Beijing to cover the bill.

The IIHF claimed that it was willing to pay insurance fees in 2018 but the NHL publicly refused, which seems kind of weird if the issue is now covid insurance. Not sure that the IIHF makes much if any money from the Olympic tournament. The IOC is obviously a greasy organization so yeah, expect the worst there and you'll never be disappointed.

I don't think that 99.9% of the people in China will be aware (or care) that the best players aren't there if the NHL isn't there. I would enjoy the Chinese government throwing that money away though, even if it's a drop in the bucket.

 

[garbageteam]

The IIHF claimed that it was willing to pay insurance fees in 2018 but the NHL publicly refused, which seems kind of weird if the issue is now covid insurance. Not sure that the IIHF makes much if any money from the Olympic tournament. The IOC is obviously a greasy organization so yeah, expect the worst there and you'll never be disappointed.

I don't think that 99.9% of the people in China will be aware (or care) that the best players aren't there if the NHL isn't there. I would enjoy the Chinese government throwing that money away though, even if it's a drop in the bucket.

Do TV viewership numbers not count much for revenues? Genuinely curious. I'd think 2018 had fewer eyeballs on the hockey tournament than even 2014, and certainly way way less than 2010.

 

[Pasha71]

Do TV viewership numbers not count much for revenues? Genuinely curious. I'd think 2018 had fewer eyeballs on the hockey tournament than even 2014, and certainly way way less than 2010.

TV viewership in North America is going to suck just as much as it did in 2018 due to time differences. I will probably watch the games even in the middle of the night, but I did so in 2018 as well.

 

[Czechboy]

Sorry no link but Voracek was quoted recently as saying he'd love to go but he thinks it is a longshot. He's obviously not an insider or anything like that but that was his 2 cents.

I'm highly skeptical it will happen personally due to the pandemic possible going up again... I'm obviously not an insider or anything so that is my 2 cents.lol

 

[Rabid Ranger]

It's unlikely to happen because the NHL doesn't really want it to happen.

 

[Rob]

It's unlikely to happen because the NHL doesn't really want it to happen.

Perfectly said.

 

[majormajor]

I think the NHL does want Olympic participation. Just on their terms as much as possible, so they won't telegraph their eagerness. They barely have any presence in China and they want to develop that market. If they have 1/100 the proportion of hockey fans in China as they have in Ontario, then they'll have the same number of fans in Ontario and China. That's a lot of money at stake.

As for the covid insurance question, if they can't figure out who will pay then it's possible the outcome is like the qualifiers. Players will be allowed to go and there will be a break in the schedule for it. In effect I think most will still go. They want to play for their countries. Beijing will have the virus under control, and even if it is spreading the chances of a vaccinated athlete getting sick enough to miss NHL games because of it are very, very small, less than one tenth of one percent.

 

[moropanov]

Nhl should not go to China. If IIHF changed Belarus worlds to other location then China is not possible option to play in China is 100 times worse than Belarus..

 

[heksagon]

Hockey as a sport (and hockey fans) needs an international best on best tournament. It's been way too long, and if 2022 doesn't happen, it will be at least 12 years without a true best on best tournament. I know that if it happens, the are not the only ones at fault, but I would still be very pissed at NHL and IOC for thinking money first.

Starving the sport of best on best competition is not how to grow it. Hockey is already getting too expensive, and if they let the international competition fizzle out, it might start the slow regression of the sport. International competitions might not feel as important as to some fans, but they are usually very important to hockey internationally, especially outside NA. At least a real World Cup with no gimmick teams would be needed.

Finland's best generation they'll ever have not getting a change to play a best on best tournament on their prime would be criminal, among other things.

The good thing is though, long term it would probably be smart for the NHL money wise too to let the players go. Growing the sport in China and outside NA is key. At the moment almost third of NHL players come from outside NA, and it brings them a lot of international appeal and money. I hope they do the smart thing.

 

[Swervin81]

It's unlikely to happen because the NHL doesn't really want it to happen.

Correct. My question though is this: Why did the NHL release a damn schedule with the Olympic break in it already before they knew whether or not they were going? Instead of having a reasonable deadline in July or just not releasing anything until yes/no to olympics is confirmed, they've decided to basically throw front office travel bookers and season ticket holders into a state of chaos while dragging their feet and playing the world's stupidest game of will they/won't they.

 

[Burke the Legend]

Hockey as a sport (and hockey fans) needs an international best on best tournament. It's been way too long, and if 2022 doesn't happen, it will be at least 12 years without a true best on best tournament. I know that if it happens, the are not the only ones at fault, but I would still be very pissed at NHL and IOC for thinking money first.

Starving the sport of best on best competition is not how to grow it. Hockey is already getting too expensive, and if they let the international competition fizzle out, it might start the slow regression of the sport. International competitions might not feel as important as to some fans, but they are usually very important to hockey internationally, especially outside NA. At least a real World Cup with no gimmick teams would be needed.

Finland's best generation they'll ever have not getting a change to play a best on best tournament on their prime would be criminal, among other things.

The good thing is though, long term it would probably be smart for the NHL money wise too to let the players go. Growing the sport in China and outside NA is key. At the moment almost third of NHL players come from outside NA, and it brings them a lot of international appeal and money. I hope they do the smart thing.

Why does best on best have to be at olympics though? It's not for soccer or baseball.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Correct. My question though is this: Why did the NHL release a damn schedule with the Olympic break in it already before they knew whether or not they were going? Instead of having a reasonable deadline in July or just not releasing anything until yes/no to olympics is confirmed, they've decided to basically throw front office travel bookers and season ticket holders into a state of chaos while dragging their feet and playing the world's stupidest game of will they/won't they.

Well, I think they had to at least go through the motions. Also, I think the NHL would probably move forward (albeit begrudgingly) if all of their boxes were checked. The IOC isn't playing ball though and that provides the NHL with built in excuses to waiver.

 

[Gold Standard]

Why does best on best have to be at olympics though? It's not for soccer or baseball.

There should be both NHL Olympics and a non-gimmicky World Cup. I prefer both, but if one had to go, and it looks as though it's the Olympics that has to go, then give me a no gimmick World Cup.

 

[JETZZZ]

Why does best on best have to be at olympics though? It's not for soccer or baseball.

Because if the NHL was serious about the World Cup, we would have had it every 4th season since 1996.

Id be down with pulling hockey from the Olympics altogether, if it meant that the playoffs/World Championships no longer overlapped and every NHL player (not injured/resting at least) was available every year. If that happened, many more North American arenas would be available to host it once and a while (not just Europe every single time).