Olympics: NHL participation in the 2022 Olympics

[BigBadBoar]

I don't mind these things but here are some of the arguments...

Always in Canada in sold out arena's full of Canadians
Canada doesn't have to travel (pretty sure half the teams at the last World Cup were in Europe and then had to fly over to play Canada in Canada - that is one heck of a road trip).
Only Canadian Refs
August is when Euro Leagues are getting going with training camps (the Euro NHL stars are still in Europe for the most part).

Something tells me if the Russians brought back the Isvestia cup and invited all the world's best with these premises:

Canada/US will be in a pool with Swiss and Germany - all these games will be played in Toronto.
Russia/Czechs/Finns and Swedes in Moscow

Once round robin is done... Canada/US (let's assume they win that pool) have to fly to Moscow to a sold out arena full of Russians/Euros and all the refs are Russians from the KHL.

No way in hell would the NHL or Canada agree to this. But that is the World Cup format.lol

The venue doesn't matter much. World Championships are almost always in Europe, and Canada wins quite often. Was the amazing 2015 WCH in Czechia loaded against Canada? It was taking place in front of passionate and great Czech crowd, the Canadians themselves liked it a lot, and Canada won gold and the end.

Most of the top teams players are always NHL based players, who are living in the NA, coming back from holiday in Europe is the same thing like coming back from summer vacation for the US/Canadian players. When the team Canada is travelling to the World Championship, they have much less time before the tournament starts, and they are still good. In today's world, travelling across the Atlantic one week or so before the tournament starts is absolutely no factor.

I believe the NHL refs are professionals who really have no need to push Canada just because they are Canadians. But if this is a problem, I think that bringing a few European refs for such tournament would be the smallest problem regarding the organization of such tournament.

The real problem with the World Cup (Canada Cup before) was that it was taking place in September - not the best time for top hockey for many reasons. But this was nothing unfair, it was just not convenient time for hockey as such.
Plus, the gimmick teams killed the 2016 edition.

 

[Yakushev72]

I'm confident that we'll see NHLers at the 2026 Olympics. The NHL has already agreed to go barring situations as we see this year (cue the conspiracy theories!) and I cannot see the players letting them off the hook when a whole generation of them never had a chance at the Olympics. I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL pull out again at some point after that. In fact, I would be surprised if the NHL didn't pull out of the Olympics at some point after 2026.

That's a bedtime story that has almost no chance of coming true. It has never been about what the players want to do, it is what they can force the owners to do through bargaining tactics. The pro-participation group among the players is not so much the group that will be playing as it is the other 95% who want a 3-week beach vacation with their families in the middle of the season. As salaries continue to go up and up to the point where the average mediocre player is making $7 to $8 million a year, it is going to be harder and harder to bargain for the kind of benefits that, from the owner's standpoint, really F up the season continuity. Hey, they have outrageously expensive tickets to sell.

 

[Yakushev72]

That's the problem.. you are probaly correct.

They will host a bullshit world cup in August and announce it.

What they won't do is announce when the next one is after that. I think you've already pointed out the ridiculous timeline of World Cups - 11 years apart, 8 years apart.lol Whatever it is.

I feel like it's workable... I really do. I actually don't think it'd be hard to figure out.

One thing I'd like back is a Euro Championship. Start it a month earlier when Euro season ends so those players don't have month long training camps before it even begins (and then several get cut anyways once the NHL players come).

Surely the NHL can make a winter break once every 4 years for a World Cup that uses rankings? I'm fine with each and every single one taking place in Canadian towns and border towns like the Jr's. I'm even fine with NHL refs. But consistent and every 4 years in mid season. February.

No gimmick teams but if you have to have one ... Only exception I would allow is Team Canada 2. Isvestia used to have 2 Russias/Soviets. If nothing else, I'd love to read all the complaints about who is missing if neither Team Canada won.lol I'd also enjoy the Team C and D posts before it began.

IIHF would still get their money from their annual tourney. NHL would profit from World Cup instead of ASG every 4 years. Tonnes of Euro's flying to Vegas or wherever to watch the tourney. No one (but me) watches EHT. The Champions League is so bad that I don't even watch it. Every single best on best in hockey is comprimised. It's almost amazing. We can't even get a fair U18.lol Canada wins Hlinka's, US wins U18's. Always at a time when one country can't send players.

But some direction. You quoted 2012 and that problem is still here today. NHL and Olympics doesn't work. World Cup doesn't work. World Championships are my fav tourney but they are not a real world championship (admittedly, if Czechs win one again I will be running down the street naked). Only sport with no solution. Just sucks because it should be real easy to do! And yes, I blame Bettman and the NHL owners. They give no f***s about it. But the IIHF should realize this and adjust to it for the greater good. Make a profit from Euro's, take a smaller cut from World Cup and they are still making the same money. Eg. they conceded on the U20's and they are always in Canada or beside Canada with the odd Euro tourney tossed in.

If the Tampa Bay Lightning proposed to host all 7 games of a Stanley Cup final series, using only referees who actually reside in the metropolitan area where the Lightning plays: (1) would that be the optimum competitive situation that could be arranged, and (2) would the opposing team be in favor of it?

 

[Rob]

Yes, a world championship in September would be ideal.

 

[JackSlater]

Since we're finally being honest...

How much did Canada pay to put the TSN camera there?

You missed the point. TSN itself owns the WJC. The tournament is played to give TSN something to air. Canada wins and the fans are happy, but sometimes they throw in a loss so that the viewing audience doesn't know what to expect. The TSN camera playing a big role in 2020 was just a little twist to keep people on their toes.

That's a bedtime story that has almost no chance of coming true. It has never been about what the players want to do, it is what they can force the owners to do through bargaining tactics. The pro-participation group among the players is not so much the group that will be playing as it is the other 95% who want a 3-week beach vacation with their families in the middle of the season. As salaries continue to go up and up to the point where the average mediocre player is making $7 to $8 million a year, it is going to be harder and harder to bargain for the kind of benefits that, from the owner's standpoint, really F up the season continuity. Hey, they have outrageously expensive tickets to sell.

Your hypothetical doesn't apply to 2026 - the owners have already agreed to it, again barring bizarre situations like covid. We can expect the young players in particular to push for it. After that who knows.

 

[Faterson]

Dmitri Kurbatov believes February should always be the break for Olympic Winter Games and also for World Championships that should only be held in non-Olympic years. But to make this successful from the sporting view it would need an NHL break every year.

And there damn well should be such a break for a top-level international tourney every year.

Hockey is a winter sport. February is the most natural month for the climax of an international hockey season.

If the NHL's "millionaires and billionaires" want to hand out the Stanley Cup on Miami Beach every July, they should by all means do that.

But they should stop sabotaging the international sporting calendar.

 

[Shockmaster]

And there damn well should be such a break for a top-level international tourney every year.

Hockey is a winter sport. February is the most natural month for the climax of an international hockey season.

If the NHL's "millionaires and billionaires" want to hand out the Stanley Cup on Miami Beach every July, they should by all means do that.

But they should stop sabotaging the international sporting calendar.

The NHL doesn't owe the "international sporting calendar" jack.

 

[Faterson]

The NHL doesn't owe the "international sporting calendar" jack.

And that is precisely the issue: its overbearing, disgusting arrogance.

 

[Shockmaster]

And that is precisely the issue: its overbearing, disgusting arrogance.

Yes, it's arrogant of the Olympics to expect the NHL to bend over backwards for them.

 

[Deplorable Lenny]

We haven't had a best-on-best tournament for almost a decade now. All because of the NHL.

I would argue that the Stanley cup payoffs is the best on best as all the world's top players have a chance to make the playoffs and win the cup every single year (except of course 2005)

Also there was the world cup a few years back.

I don't think a 2 week tournie in China or korea would have change the dial on potential hockey interest going forward.

Personally I am totally fine with the NHL never going to the Olympics again unless for some reason the NHL convinces the IOC to let them play in the summer games or play the winter Olympics the summer before or after the games.

Breaking up the season for 3 weeks is stupid and I see why the owners hate it

 

[vorky]

And there damn well should be such a break for a top-level international tourney every year.

Hockey is a winter sport. February is the most natural month for the climax of an international hockey season.

If the NHL's "millionaires and billionaires" want to hand out the Stanley Cup on Miami Beach every July, they should by all means do that.

But they should stop sabotaging the international sporting calendar.

I agree with every word you wrote here.

Of course, Kurbatov proposed it because the international schedule is disrupting the KHL calendar, you know Kurbatov worked for KHL at the time. But, the international schedule is also disrupting all European leagues, the biggest victim is the Champions Hockey League. I do not understand, if ruling out political motives, why the biggest opponents of that proposal were the hockey officials from Czech Rep, Sweden, Finland.

 

[vorky]

"I think NHL makes a mistake, that they always put their commercial benefits above the most prestigious sporting event. This is such a North American snobbery, mixed with greed, and moreover covered with concern for the health of hockey players“ said Dmitry Chernyshenko. . He is the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, former President of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee and former KHL President.

 

[Jahara]

Yes, it's arrogant of the Olympics to expect the NHL to bend over backwards for them.

And then every other sport does "bend over backwards" when they are having their best athletes around for the Olympics. Terrible way of thinking.

NHL really must stop this clownery and hurting the sport when they are just thinking of themselves. Selfish nuts. But it is maybe even more sad seeing fans defending their attitude and greed. Pathetic.

 

[cowboy82nd]

And the culprit is the same as the one who has just destroyed yet another Olympic tournament: the NHL.

The NHL is NOT to blame. If you want the best players playing against the best players, the ONLY people you can blame is the players. If you want to play in the Olympics so bad, don't sign an NHL contract during this time. Nobody is forcing the players to play in the NHL.

 

[Shockmaster]

And then every other sport does "bend over backwards" when they are having their best athletes around for the Olympics. Terrible way of thinking.

NHL really must stop this clownery and hurting the sport when they are just thinking of themselves. Selfish nuts. But it is maybe even more sad seeing fans defending their attitude and greed. Pathetic.

And how many other sports have to interrupt their own season for the Olympics? You think the NBA would do that? That's incredibly naive thinking on your part.

There's also no tangible evidence that the Olympics benefit the NHL in any way. The league is under no obligation to pause its season for 3 weeks to send their better players away - especially in this instance where if any of them catch COVID they'd be stuck in China for 3-5 weeks.

Honestly, the people who still think the NHL should be sending its players to the Olympics are the ones who come off as self-centered and greedy. "I want what I want and I don't care about the circumstances surrounding these Olympics!"

 

[JackSlater]

And then every other sport does "bend over backwards" when they are having their best athletes around for the Olympics. Terrible way of thinking.

NHL really must stop this clownery and hurting the sport when they are just thinking of themselves. Selfish nuts. But it is maybe even more sad seeing fans defending their attitude and greed. Pathetic.

I loved all of those Olympic soccer tournaments featuring all of the world's best soccer players. The sport would be in a lot of trouble without the Olympics, that's for sure.

 

[Lambo]

The NHL is NOT to blame. If you want the best players playing against the best players, the ONLY people you can blame is the players. If you want to play in the Olympics so bad, don't sign an NHL contract during this time. Nobody is forcing the players to play in the NHL.

The problem is that hockey is a marginal sport that is exceptionally popular in North America, especially in Canada. This creates a disparity where a league financially dominates everything. And that is what causes the great imbalance in hockey. Like in no other team sport. In almost all other theme sports such as Football (soccer), handball, volleyball, basketball etc. these conditions do not exist. In addition, international matches and country comparisons have the highest priority for the rest of the world. It's just different in North America.

 

[Dicky113]

"I think NHL makes a mistake, that they always put their commercial benefits above the most prestigious sporting event. This is such a North American snobbery, mixed with greed, and moreover covered with concern for the health of hockey players“ said Dmitry Chernyshenko. . He is the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, former President of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee and former KHL President.

Next we will be getting human rights advice from Putin!

 

[Lambo]

Next we will be getting human rights advice from Putin!

Next we will be getting human rights advice from Putin!

Even so, what this Chernyshenko said is not wrong in substance. But with regard to human rights? Is the US the great role model?

 

[Jahara]

The NHL is NOT to blame. If you want the best players playing against the best players, the ONLY people you can blame is the players. If you want to play in the Olympics so bad, don't sign an NHL contract during this time. Nobody is forcing the players to play in the NHL.

NHL:ers has played the Olympics five times before and could have done it times time to. The league should cooperate more to make it happen and listen to what the players and the fans want. Sounds simple but that is how it is.

And how many other sports have to interrupt their own season for the Olympics? You think the NBA would do that? That's incredibly naive thinking on your part.

There's also no tangible evidence that the Olympics benefit the NHL in any way. The league is under no obligation to pause its season for 3 weeks to send their better players away - especially in this instance where if any of them catch COVID they'd be stuck in China for 3-5 weeks.

Honestly, the people who still think the NHL should be sending its players to the Olympics are the ones who come off as self-centered and greedy. "I want what I want and I don't care about the circumstances surrounding these Olympics!"

There are several sports with breaks during their regular season to let their players be available for their national teams. SHL and KHL does it for the Olympics and handball teams for their Euro and World Championships. Just look and learn from Europe.

And who cares if the NHL benefits from it or not. Greedy NHL bosses SHOULD NOT be setting the agenda. Hockey loses much credibility with all these nonsense tournaments and people just accepts it. Maybe it is time to see what is best for everyone and not just yourself. It is called being unselfish.

I loved all of those Olympic soccer tournaments featuring all of the world's best soccer players. The sport would be in a lot of trouble without the Olympics, that's for sure.

Crappy comparison and the mens Olympics football is just a nonsense tournament, just like the Ice Hockey World Championship. But the womens tournament is good since the best players is around. And the leagues even pauses play to make it happen. Easy.

 

[vorky]

And how many other sports have to interrupt their own season for the Olympics? You think the NBA would do that? That's incredibly naive thinking on your part.

There's also no tangible evidence that the Olympics benefit the NHL in any way. The league is under no obligation to pause its season for 3 weeks to send their better players away - especially in this instance where if any of them catch COVID they'd be stuck in China for 3-5 weeks.

Honestly, the people who still think the NHL should be sending its players to the Olympics are the ones who come off as self-centered and greedy. "I want what I want and I don't care about the circumstances surrounding these Olympics!"

For example all soccer leagues interrupt their season multiple-times a year to accomodate FIFA/regional qualifiers. They will interrupt their season for 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in unusual date. If I know, soccer leagues shortened their season to accomodate EURO etc.

If I care enough, I would find the same examples in volleyball, handball etc

 

[JackSlater]

Crappy comparison and the mens Olympics football is just a nonsense tournament, just like the Ice Hockey World Championship. But the womens tournament is good since the best players is around. And the leagues even pauses play to make it happen. Easy.

That's the point - soccer has a garbage Olympic tournament for the men. Not every sport just does whatever it can to have its best in the Olympics and not every sport is harmed by keeping players out of the Olympics. The Olympic hockey tournament was "a nonsense tournament" for most of its history. People can want the best players in the Olympics without pretending about what the Olympic tournament is.

 

[Czechboy]

The NHL is NOT to blame. If you want the best players playing against the best players, the ONLY people you can blame is the players. If you want to play in the Olympics so bad, don't sign an NHL contract during this time. Nobody is forcing the players to play in the NHL.

So if Connor and Sid want to go to to the Olympics they should terminate their NHL contracts and play in the KHL?

 

[wetcoast]

"I think NHL makes a mistake, that they always put their commercial benefits above the most prestigious sporting event. This is such a North American snobbery, mixed with greed, and moreover covered with concern for the health of hockey players“ said Dmitry Chernyshenko. . He is the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, former President of the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee and former KHL President.

This is simply politics and not a reasonable take.

There is a pandemic going on and the problem for the NHL of ramifications if a player tests positive in China and the NHL is like any other entity looking after their interests firsts, all this altruistic noise is simply that noise.

 

[Shockmaster]

NHL:ers has played the Olympics five times before and could have done it times time to. The league should cooperate more to make it happen and listen to what the players and the fans want. Sounds simple but that is how it is.

The players are employees of the league. They're under valid contracts to play for the NHL and not anywhere else.

There are several sports with breaks during their regular season to let their players be available for their national teams. SHL and KHL does it for the Olympics and handball teams for their Euro and World Championships. Just look and learn from Europe.

And that is where the cultural divide comes in between Europe and North America, because no other major North American sport would interrupt their season to send their best players over to a foreign nation to participate in games and risk injury.

And who cares if the NHL benefits from it or not. Greedy NHL bosses SHOULD NOT be setting the agenda. Hockey loses much credibility with all these nonsense tournaments and people just accepts it. Maybe it is time to see what is best for everyone and not just yourself. It is called being unselfish.

I can't even begin to describe how incredibly naive you are if you think the NHL and league owners should think this way.