Olympics: NHL participation in the 2022 Olympics

[vorky]

How is that comparison weak? Is it not the biggest event for soccer? All I am saying is I have no interest in it and wondering how and if it is my problem? Sure, it would be nice if it can be worked out for a best on best international tourney. But, the NHL is not willing to shut down season now to do so.
Again, not for North American fans. People here tune in out of a sense of patriotism. They see "USA" on the jersey so they watch. Once the tourney is over, most go back to not caring about hockey until the next Olympics. It does not translate to an increase interest in the NHL. Not sure why this is so hard to understand.


Embarrassing for who? Again, most North Americans really don't care.

 

[Hanji]

Again, not for North American fans. People here tune in out of a sense of patriotism. They see "USA" on the jersey so they watch. Once the tourney is over, most go back to not caring about hockey until the next Olympics. It does not translate to an increase interest in the NHL. Not sure why this is so hard to understand.
.

Americans watch the Olympics out of a sense of patriotism only for the niche sports.
These days, for a major sport like hockey, we watch the Olympics en masse to see the best players on the biggest stage.

Ratings verify this.
The 'NHL Olympics' demolishes the NHL in ratings/viewership. It likewise demolishes the non-NHL participation games (see Pyeongchang) in ratings/viewership

I fully understand the NHL's stance. Bettman and co. do what's in their own interest
It's just a shame their decisions often entail robbing this country of what the populace most wants to see from our game.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Americans watch the Olympics out of a sense of patriotism only for the niche sports.
These days, for a major sport like hockey, we watch the Olympics en masse to see the best players on the biggest stage.

Ratings verify this.
The 'NHL Olympics' demolishes the NHL in ratings/viewership. It likewise demolishes the non-NHL participation games (see Pyeongchang) in ratings/viewership

I fully understand the NHL's stance. Bettman and co. do what's in their own interest
It's just a shame their decisions often entail robbing this country of what the populace most wants to see from our game.

Yes, because the WHOLE country is watching the same game, so of course it is going to win the ratings war against the NHL. AND, if their games beat the cumulative NHL ratings throughout the country, then it further shows people are watching for a sense of patriotism. I am not talking about people on this site. I am talking about the people, and there are many, who ONLY watch hockey during the Olympics. It will demolish the non-nhl olympics because the Americans who do watch the NHL were watching the NHL over the Olympics.

 

[Jahara]

How is that comparison weak? Is it not the biggest event for soccer? All I am saying is I have no interest in it and wondering how and if it is my problem? Sure, it would be nice if it can be worked out for a best on best international tourney. But, the NHL is not willing to shut down season now to do so.
Again, not for North American fans. People here tune in out of a sense of patriotism. They see "USA" on the jersey so they watch. Once the tourney is over, most go back to not caring about hockey until the next Olympics. It does not translate to an increase interest in the NHL. Not sure why this is so hard to understand.


Embarrassing for who? Again, most North Americans really don't care.

If you are interested in a sport and follows the NHL you should have some kind of interest in having good international tournaments. If you do not care about football it is logical to care much about the World Cup then.

The north americans should revise their stance and think in a another way. I really do not see how you could prefer the dull regular season that much and not thinking a Olympic break every fourth year is a good thing. And I doubt many other sports care about how much it grows the interest for the sport or the league.

But luckily few other sports have the same issue with greedy leagues and pointless tournaments. Look and learn.

 

[patnyrnyg]

If you are interested in a sport and follows the NHL you should have some kind of interest in having good international tournaments. If you do not care about football it is logical to care much about the World Cup then.

The north americans should revise their stance and think in a another way. I really do not see how you could prefer the dull regular season that much and not thinking a Olympic break every fourth year is a good thing. And I doubt many other sports care about how much it grows the interest for the sport or the league.

But luckily few other sports have the same issue with greedy leagues and pointless tournaments. Look and learn.

Yes, we should revise our thinking. Absolutely. We should change our interests to make European fans happy, gotchya'. I guess the NHL should also change their calendar so the play-offs are done in time for the WC each year?

 

[SoundAndFury]

Yes, we should revise our thinking. Absolutely. We should change our interests to make European fans happy, gotchya'. I guess the NHL should also change their calendar so the play-offs are done in time for the WC each year?

Yeah, imagine how terrible it would be if WC became the actual best-on-best competition. Those Europoors would be happy, oh the humanity. So against your interests...

 

[patnyrnyg]

Yeah, imagine how terrible it would be if WC became the actual best-on-best competition. Those Europoors would be happy, oh the humanity. So against your interests...

Yeah, it would be cool. But, not going to happen. WC's are rarely on tv here. The interest is just not there. But, I will personally work on changing everyone's thinking.

 

[Hanji]

Yes, because the WHOLE country is watching the same game, so of course it is going to win the ratings war against the NHL. AND, if their games beat the cumulative NHL ratings throughout the country, then it further shows people are watching for a sense of patriotism. I am not talking about people on this site. I am talking about the people, and there are many, who ONLY watch hockey during the Olympics. It will demolish the non-nhl olympics because the Americans who do watch the NHL were watching the NHL over the Olympics.

Your opinion doesn't match up with the numbers. The figures below are easily verified with a quick google search.
Keep in mind, all these games were nationally broadcast. The entire nation had the opportunity to watch.

Most watched games in contemporary times
Olympics with NHLers: 27.6 million (USA v Canada, 2010)
Olympics without NHLers: 1.62 million (USA v Slovakia, 2018)
Stanley Cup Playoffs: 8.72 million (Blues v Bruins game 7, 2019)

Americans want to watch the best players on the best stage; which is NHLers at the Olympics.
Everything else is secondary by a significant margin.

The NHL is depriving our country of what we most want.

 

[Czechboy]

Yeah, it would be cool. But, not going to happen. WC's are rarely on tv here. The interest is just not there. But, I will personally work on changing everyone's thinking.

Where is 'here'?

 

[Jahara]

Yes, we should revise our thinking. Absolutely. We should change our interests to make European fans happy, gotchya'. I guess the NHL should also change their calendar so the play-offs are done in time for the WC each year?

Well, very much of the hockey in Europe has to adjust for the the interests of the NHL to make them happy.
No access to their best players for international games unless it is World Cup (who knows when they play) or the Olympics (if we are lucky).
And just releasing the best players to clubs for quite dull money compared to with a football club could get for a great talent.
And playing the Stanley Cup in the summer time.
And not caring much what is good for the sport.
And mostly care about themselves.

Everything to make the North Americans happy. Gotchya!

 

[member 305909]

You can blame the NHL for not going to Korea four years ago. That was disgraceful.

However, if you don't understand why the NHL isn't going this time I think it is a hopeless task trying to explain it to you.

 

[Boonk]

Your opinion doesn't match up with the numbers. The figures below are easily verified with a quick google search.
Keep in mind, all these games were nationally broadcast. The entire nation had the opportunity to watch.

Most watched games in contemporary times
Olympics with NHLers: 27.6 million (USA v Canada, 2010)
Olympics without NHLers: 1.62 million (USA v Slovakia, 2018)
Stanley Cup Playoffs: 8.72 million (Blues v Bruins game 7, 2019)

Americans want to watch the best players on the best stage; which is NHLers at the Olympics.
Everything else is secondary by a significant margin.

The NHL is depriving our country of what we most want.

That US team would've been the best they've ever iced. USA Hockey has been building up for this moment for almost 30 years, and the US team with NHLers would've absolutely had a chance to win their first gold since 1980. Americans not getting to see that is a travesty.

 

[Urbanskog]

However, if you don't understand why the NHL isn't going this time I think it is a hopeless task trying to explain it to you.

Because of (short-term) financial interests.

 

[Czechboy]

Because of (short-term) financial interests.

That's not true at all.. it was for safety and because of a pandemic that specifically targets only people in the NHL because the guys from the KHL, Extraliga, LIIGA, NLA, AHL, NCAA and every single elite hockey women in North America can go but not the ones in the NHL. It's OMNINHL variant and it's lethal. Luckily doesn't affect retired NHL guys like Staal - he got out just in time so his immunity is fine.

Oh and that 5 week quarantine that has been disproven over and over and over. I can't wait to see how many athletes (and no other country or sport isn't going to my knowledge, just NHL players) have to stay for 5 weeks after the Olympics are over. We all know it is exactly zero.

 

[Czechboy]

That US team would've been the best they've ever iced. USA Hockey has been building up for this moment for almost 30 years, and the US team with NHLers would've absolutely had a chance to win their first gold since 1980. Americans not getting to see that is a travesty.

I'd argue 5 nations feel this way. Finn's have never gotten all their elite young guys together and I guarantee wanted to see how that looks. Canada has never had McDavid and Crosby together and I was dying to see that (along with all of them to be honest). Russia could see if their goalie factory was enough and it may have been. Swedes and those beauty D, solid Goalies and all those NHLers to choose from.

So I agree the States were robbed but so were a few others.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

That US team would've been the best they've ever iced. USA Hockey has been building up for this moment for almost 30 years, and the US team with NHLers would've absolutely had a chance to win their first gold since 1980. Americans not getting to see that is a travesty.

I think we'll be in even better shape the next go around as we should be able to ice prime Matthews, Eichel, Zegras, and Hughes down the middle.

 

[Czechboy]

I think we'll be in even better shape the next go around as we should be able to ice prime Matthews, Eichel, Zegras, and Hughes down the middle.

That's right, you guys were thinner at C this time (not compared to my boys but to Canada).. that was the ONLY flaw and I'm pretty sure the C's you had are all exceptional but a dropoff from Matthews. Your goalies would've been better though so maybe it compensated for the C's. Would've been fun to see!

 

[patnyrnyg]

Well, very much of the hockey in Europe has to adjust for the the interests of the NHL to make them happy.
No access to their best players for international games unless it is World Cup (who knows when they play) or the Olympics (if we are lucky).
And just releasing the best players to clubs for quite dull money compared to with a football club could get for a great talent.
And playing the Stanley Cup in the summer time.
And not caring much what is good for the sport.
And mostly care about themselves.

Everything to make the North Americans happy. Gotchya!

1) European players are not required to play in the NHL. They choose to.
2) No idea, how much soccer teams pay for players, but the European federations DID agree to the deal with the NHL. Again, they were not required to do so. Secondly, even if the clubs negotiated individually, the European soccer leagues have much higher revenues,
3) Not sure why they need to move the Stanley Cup.
4) What does "caring for the good of the sport" even mean?
5) Who are they supposed to care about?

 

[patnyrnyg]

Where is 'here'?

U.S.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Your opinion doesn't match up with the numbers. The figures below are easily verified with a quick google search.
Keep in mind, all these games were nationally broadcast. The entire nation had the opportunity to watch.

Most watched games in contemporary times
Olympics with NHLers: 27.6 million (USA v Canada, 2010)
Olympics without NHLers: 1.62 million (USA v Slovakia, 2018)
Stanley Cup Playoffs: 8.72 million (Blues v Bruins game 7, 2019)

Americans want to watch the best players on the best stage; which is NHLers at the Olympics.
Everything else is secondary by a significant margin.

The NHL is depriving our country of what we most want.

How has the attention the Olympics get helped the NHL? BTW, it hasn't. It has been beaten to death on here for years.

 

[Jahara]

1) European players are not required to play in the NHL. They choose to.
2) No idea, how much soccer teams pay for players, but the European federations DID agree to the deal with the NHL. Again, they were not required to do so. Secondly, even if the clubs negotiated individually, the European soccer leagues have much higher revenues,
3) Not sure why they need to move the Stanley Cup.
4) What does "caring for the good of the sport" even mean?
5) Who are they supposed to care about?

They choose to play for theur national teams to but is not allowed. Good thing? Not really.
A team like AIK got around 8 million USD for a big talent like Alexander Isak. A team like Frölunda could probably get around 300 000 USD for a big talent like Rasmus Dahlin. Sounds like a really weak deal.
Hockey is a winter sport to me and the whole season should be done before June. And more top players could be available for the World Championship too.
Not just putting your own interest at first like the NHL do. Maybe try to co-operate with the IIHF a bit. Just look at how the rink size and rules is different from the IIHF and the NHL. Few other sports is having that kind of nonsense.
Just look at the World Juniors and how the NHL teams won't even release their players for the tournament. Every European team is doing it. And look at the football world where they are playing the African Cup of Nations now. Several good players is going and clubs is not complaining. Look and learn how it should be.

How has the attention the Olympics get helped the NHL? BTW, it hasn't. It has been beaten to death on here for years.

As far as I know the NHL is up and running. And it should have space for 2-3 weeks of Olympic hockey every fourth year. All the countries that has developed these talents should get to use them.

 

[JETZZZ]

Yeah, it would be cool. But, not going to happen. WC's are rarely on tv here. The interest is just not there. But, I will personally work on changing everyone's thinking.

Well yeah, but that's BECAUSE it is during the NHL playoffs.
It wont be overshadowed by the playoffs interest would improve greatly.
If North American NHL arenas were done with the playoffs by the time it started, there could actually be North American bids/hosts instead of just Europe every single year. That would only help improve interest too.
If team Canada could consistently get the Crosbys and McDavids on the national team each year, you bet the interest would be there.

 

[member 305909]

They should have stuck with rthe world cup since it started in 1996. By this time it would have gathered tradition if played at regular intervals without including gimmick teams. Nobody would be bawling about the olympics.

 

[vorky]

164 players with KHL experience
120 players playing for KHL clubs in 2021-2022

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Thankful NHL players didn't go.

COVID infection rates up for Olympic athletes