Should NHL teams let the best prospects attend WJC

[JackSlater]

No, in fact I find the idea of any professional league releasing a useful player for an international tournament during the season very bizarre. There are plenty of cases where a player is not important to their NHL team and is not there, though we don't always know whether he wanted to go. Someone like Zach Benson last year would have been good to send since he shouldn't have been in the NHL anyway, but the guys like Celebrini and Bedard make no sense there. No NHL team should give up an important player for the WJC.

I will also say that it would not be good for the tournament if everyone was released every year. There are always complaints about competitiveness and this would make things less competitive.

 

[Silky mitts]

Hockey Canada told their guys to goon it up, had they brought Celebrini he would have had a crazy target on his back

 

[gritdash60]

That seems to come from a European perspective, where the occasional great young talent will be pulled up to the men's team rather early instead of spending more time in juniors. It doesn't really apply to North American talents like Celebrini, who had to play some form of junior hockey up until the draft.

Correct, a different experience and view. Good answer by you thanks.

 

[JianYang]

Nhl teams need to do what is in their best interest and so it would be on a case by case basis.

By no means should they be obligated to do so.

 

[BLNY]

Ismo Lehkonen, father of Colorado player Artturi Lehkonen asked that what if NHL teams let all players in the WJC? Let's pick Celebrini for example, he is 18 and would probably be the best player in the tournament. The reasoning on the statement was that these players will need to be the leading players not only on the ice but in the locker room as well, and what is the better place to learn that than in WJC? The top top guys have played 2 or 3 years up all the time, just put them in the tournament and let them learn what it means to be a leader.

The reason he said this should be done is that the these players have been played 2 or 3 years up all their life, and now in the NHL, but never in a "leader role" which they would have to do in WJC

No. If the player is in the NHL, it's not their responsibility to ensure a national team is supported.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

If I'm running an organization there are almost no scenarios where I'd permit one of my contractually bound NHL regulars to play hockey, a physically demanding sport where injuries are prevalent, on behalf of any other organizations than my own.

 

[gritdash60]

No. If the player is in the NHL, it's not their responsibility to ensure a national team is supported.

Yeah i really hope this doesn't hold true for next olympics.

 

[Ace]

Absolutely not and anyone who says otherwise is out of their mind.

The players we are talking about are special…and they have made the hardest league in the world as a teenager…and their entire year is spent operating as a professional. They are there because they play key roles that far outweigh a junior tournament. It would be unfair to them, who wouldn’t choose to go anyway btw, and their teammates. When you reach the majors you put away childish things.

Maybe don’t leave your next tier of top players at home Canada.

Those decision makers shouldn’t be near future WJC either.

Yeah i really hope this doesn't hold true for next olympics.

Yeah…the league doesn’t intentionally pause their own games for the World Juniors. It isn’t remotely the same.

 

[gritdash60]

Yeah…the league doesn’t intentionally pause their own games for the World Juniors. It isn’t remotely the same.

And how different would San Jose Sharks season look if they lose Celebrini for 2 weeks? Instead of being last in the Pacific they would be last in the Pacific?

 

[Il Stugotz]

No guarantee HC and Dave Cameron bring and play Bedard. I mean, does he even PK?

 

[BLNY]

Yeah i really hope this doesn't hold true for next olympics.

It won't. The NHL takes a break in the schedule, and agreed to participate in 2026 and 2030. Only ones not participating will be Russians.

NHL announces return to Olympics, will participate in Milan in 2026 | NHL.com

League to be involved for 1st time since 2014, also will compete in 2030

www.nhl.com

 

[gritdash60]

Only ones not participating will be Russians.

Thank god, only the league that's 5000km away celebrates these dudes who support a dictator whose army rapes kids while their family watches and kills them after that.