Olympics 2018

[Fighter]

Bettman is an idiot. Let's make hockey even less popular. God forbid that the best players in the world get worldwide attention once in a while...

 

[xxxx]

I think that the fans who are upset should also be upset at more than just the NHL. The NHLPA clearly has no intention to even negotiate with the NHL on that matter, and on the matter of the CBA.

 

[sOILing McSelf]

If NHL players don't go women's hockey will get high ratings than the men's.

I think Rob nailed it, at least for me. I have watched (or pvr'd and watched) every Canada mens hockey game since 1998 but only watched Canada Womens games when it was convenient or when it was against the US. With no NHL players, I'll watch/pvr the womens games instead.

Ah, no. ratings for the Olympic hockey tournament minus NHL involvement will take something of a hit in Canada, perhaps a small dip everywhere else, but it will still get excellent ratings and the IOC will make off like bandits with the loot of $$$$.

As for the woman? With the direction Hockey Canada and the Canadian girls are going, they don't even appear to be a medal contender for next year's tournament. I don't think Canadians are going to tune in in large numbers to see that if they don't manage to turn things around.

I don't know what you mean by this. I'm assuming it's because of the loss vs Finland in the World Championships. To tell the truth that makes it more exciting for me to watch.

First off, that's the world championships, not the olympics. Since 2002 Olympics, Canada has won the worlds 3 times. And the Olympics 3 times. Worlds mean nothing. And the 2016 Worlds Gold Medal was a 1-0 OT game.

Second, I am excited for countries like Finland/Sweden/Russia finally having teams that can compete with CAN/US. Finally it's not a 2 horse race. That makes me want to actually watch those games instead of only the CAN vs US games.

 

[Tomas W]

The positive with this is that thw tournament will be very even, a lot of countries can win.

 

[Tomas W]

I think Rob nailed it, at least for me. I have watched (or pvr'd and watched) every Canada mens hockey game since 1998 but only watched Canada Womens games when it was convenient or when it was against the US. With no NHL players, I'll watch/pvr the womens games instead.



I don't know what you mean by this. I'm assuming it's because of the loss vs Finland in the World Championships. To tell the truth that makes it more exciting for me to watch.

First off, that's the world championships, not the olympics. Since 2002 Olympics, Canada has won the worlds 3 times. And the Olympics 3 times. Worlds mean nothing. And the 2016 Worlds Gold Medal was a 1-0 OT game.

Second, I am excited for countries like Finland/Sweden/Russia finally having teams that can compete with CAN/US. Finally it's not a 2 horse race. That makes me want to actually watch those games instead of only the CAN vs US games.

The US have had pretty limited sucess even with NHLers. Last time they WON was 1980. Since then they got a couple of silvers and not much more. So you can give up the thought of the US being unbeatable for European sides.

Canada have looked pretty dominant though, whenever the play with NHLers. I think they simply put down much more effort in international play.

 

[Stud Muffin]

I'd like to congratulate Russia on there 2018 Olympic gold Medal win.

 

[therealdeal]

Lots of blame to go around here. IOC for pulling insurance and travel, NHLPA refusing to extend the CBA for another 2 years to have the NHL pay for it, NHL for using it as a bargaining chip.

Fans lose out as always.

This next CBA negotiation is going to be nasty. Should be interesting at least.

 

[Xokkeu]

Goodbye NHL. Maybe I'll be a fan again in four years.

 

[Past Considerations]

And if IOC sticks to their stance that it was either both 2018 and 2022 games or neither, then this will mean no participation in 2022 either.

RIP non-gimmick best-on-best international hockey.

 

[Past Considerations]

Thread on the business subforum: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2211639

edit. and there are about 100 different threads on the main NHL area.

 

[Lataba76]

I'd like to congratulate Russia on there 2018 Olympic gold Medal win.

Yes Russia could leveled with Canada(Goldmedals)!

 

[Eye of Ra]

I'd like to congratulate Russia on there 2018 Olympic gold Medal win.

Really? Sweden, Finland and Czech are not dominated by Russia in EHT so why would Russia dominate in Olympics? Even Canada and USA will have good teams with top players from KHL, SHL, NLA. Canada took medal in olympics 1992 and 1994.

 

[Henkka]

I'd like to congratulate Russia on there 2018 Olympic gold Medal win.

Finland says, no.

Can't wait for those games against Spengler Cup Canada.

 

[Xokkeu]

And if IOC sticks to their stance that it was either both 2018 and 2022 games or neither, then this will mean no participation in 2022 either.

RIP non-gimmick best-on-best international hockey.

The NHL seems pretty into the Chinese market potential

 

[Eye of Ra]

Finland says, no.

Can't wait for those games against Spengler Cup Canada.

Funny that people think this.

There is alot of good canadians in SHL, KHL also.....why would they send just canadians from NLA? Makes no sense.

 

[Urbanskog]

Sure can't wait for next year's All-Star Game!

 

[kabidjan18]

Obviously we're all disappointed. But we've had some time to process this.

I'm upset, but I understand there are two sides to this. I won't be watching in 2018, and I expect to be watching again in 2022 when the boys return.

 

[Lataba76]

It s funny!

Without NHL-Players is the gap between "big six" very close.

It is an interesting competition. The most people in a World has no clue about hockey incl. Hockey-Fans they follow only their local team(maybe in Bavaria or geneve etc).

For example three thrilling tournaments without NHL in row(2018,22,26) and the most peaople in the World thought the "big six" is very close.

And much Canadiens and US-Americans must try explain that their Teams are without NHL-Stars therefore............... blablabla .

Simliary as in 80 and 90s !

 

[JackSlater]

My point was they needed it in 1998, when the NHL was relatively impoverished, and labor strife was threatening. As I think that I stated clearly enough, the question now to be resolved is do they still need the Olympics as much as they did in 1998? None of the World's other major pro sports organizations (FIFA, NFL, NBA, etc.) stop league operations in mid-season to join the Olympics, and the question is does the NHL continue to need to it to maintain some form of relevance. If the NHL leaves, Olympic hockey will still be fully relevant because they will be wearing their national colors on the ice!

Your point was your fantasy that the NHL ever needed the Olympics, which was never true. Saying it repeatedly doesn't make it any more true. We know that the NHL wanted to gain benefit from the Olympics. Need is a different word whose meaning you seem intent on ignoring.

I really would like to see all those NHL players that think the Olympics are so important retire from the NHL, play in Europe/Russia (KHL?) and take part in the Olympics (now guys like Ovechkin, Voráček, and others have the perfect opportunity to put their "money where their mouth is" in terms of the importance of playing internationally - honestly, I do like the fact that "their bluff has been called")


I guess we'll see how many European/Russian stars are "human garbage"

I am very curious to hear about who the NHLers who are going to retire to play in the Olympics are. Ovechkin made a presumably empty threat in that regard, and as far as I know no other players said that. Good for you to see the fantasy scenario you invented come to fruition though, I guess.

I think that the fans who are upset should also be upset at more than just the NHL. The NHLPA clearly has no intention to even negotiate with the NHL on that matter, and on the matter of the CBA.

The issue with the NHLPA is that they seem to have not done enough. That is drastically different than the NHL, which is the entity that decided not to participate and thus deserves the vast majority of the blame. The IOC deserves blame for many things as well, but the IIHF called the NHL's early bluff (insurance costs) and exposed that the NHL just didn't want to go because... because.

Without NHL-Players is the gap between "big six" very close.

It is an interesting competition. The most people in a World has no clue about hockey incl. Hockey-Fans they follow only their local team(maybe in Bavaria or geneve etc).

For example three thrilling tournaments without NHL in row(2018,22,26) and the most peaople in the World thought the "big six" is very close.

And much Canadiens and US-Americans must try explain that their Teams are without NHL-Stars therefore............... blablabla .

Simliary as in 80 and 90s !

I don't quite understand the post. You are celebrating that the Olympic tournament becomes meaningless, with results indicative of nothing? Or that ignorant fans will live in a fantasy world where fake parity reigns?

 

[1Gold Standard]

Your point was your fantasy that the NHL ever needed the Olympics, which was never true. Saying it repeatedly doesn't make it any more true. We know that the NHL wanted to gain benefit from the Olympics. Need is a different word whose meaning you seem intent on ignoring.



I am very curious to hear about who the NHLers who are going to retire to play in the Olympics are. Ovechkin made a presumably empty threat in that regard, and as far as I know no other players said that. Good for you to see the fantasy scenario you invented come to fruition though, I guess.



The issue with the NHLPA is that they seem to have not done enough. That is drastically different than the NHL, which is the entity that decided not to participate and thus deserves the vast majority of the blame. The IOC deserves blame for many things as well, but the IIHF called the NHL's early bluff (insurance costs) and exposed that the NHL just didn't want to go because... because.



I don't quite understand the post. You are celebrating that the Olympic tournament becomes meaningless, with results indicative of nothing? Or that ignorant fans will live in a fantasy world where fake parity reigns?

This is going to be an interesting few months. I still don't believe a final decision has been made, but will come either at the WHC or at some point during the NHL playoffs. I can see a whole big press conference to kick off the Finals to announce we've reversed our decision and Korea 2018 and China 2022 is a go. If I were the IOC, that's what I'd be telling Bettman, ya, skip Korea, by all means, but don't bother calling me with regards to China either.

Disappointed in how things look at the moment. If it does unfold like that, then the Olympic Hockey tournament will be a nonevent not worth setting your alarm clock for, I'll just skip it just like I did the NHL gimmicky World Cup.

 

[Bear12Good]

This is going to be an interesting few months. I still don't believe a final decision has been made, but will come either at the WHC or at some point during the NHL playoffs. I can see a whole big press conference to kick off the Finals to announce we've reversed our decision and Korea 2018 and China 2022 is a go. If I were the IOC, that's what I'd be telling Bettman, ya, skip Korea, by all means, but don't bother calling me with regards to China either.

Disappointed in how things look at the moment. If it does unfold like that, then the Olympic Hockey tournament will be a nonevent not worth setting your alarm clock for, I'll just skip it just like I did the NHL gimmicky World Cup.

IIHF Worlds best international tournament right now?)

 

[patnyrnyg]

IIHF Worlds best international tournament right now?)

nope. still meaningless. Revive the World Cup, as in a real World Cup without the gimmick teams and you will have the best tournament. That is, of course, if the best players agree to play.

 

[admire]

nope. still meaningless. Revive the World Cup, as in a real World Cup without the gimmick teams and you will have the best tournament. That is, of course, if the best players agree to play.

Ohhh no no no no no! Screw that crap....If you think the other leagues will allow any of their players to participate in anything that the NHL puts on now, then you are deluded.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Ohhh no no no no no! Screw that crap....If you think the other leagues will allow any of their players to participate in anything that the NHL puts on now, then you are deluded.

90% of the best players would be in it even if it was just the NHL. However, I would like to see a World Cup put on by the IIHF in conjunction with the NHL. If the KHL doesn't want in, then that is fine. Just understand, if that happens, we may never see a true best on best International Hockey tournament again.

 

[patnyrnyg]

I will also say, outside of this board, I do not know anyone who is all that upset. Every hockey fan I know fits into 1 of 3 categories. 1) Hates the NHL shutdown and wants the NHL to stop doing it, 2) Doesn't like the shutdown, but since they do it, they follow the Olympic tourney with their main hope being nobody on their favorite team gets hurt, 3) Doesn't mind the shutdown and enjoys the tournament, but would not care if the NHL stopped going.

I know that is only anecdotal and a small sample size and I know it is a bigger deal for Europeans. Just saying what I have seen/heard.