Yikes. NHL players or not, this shouldn't happen...but still kind of cool if Germany wins gold in hockey!
But you already know the Russians will go on to claim they are the best hockey nation in the world with a win over Germany in the final.
This is why I kinda dig no NHL’ers. Anything can happen.
It's supposed to be the best of the best, though, right? By removing NHL players you're putting a cap on the level of competition you're allowing.it has been a great tournament.
i really hope there are no NHLers period. i would honestly in Olympic years - just use WJC. it's so easy.
It's supposed to be the best of the best, though, right? By removing NHL players you're putting a cap on the level of competition you're allowing.
I'd be surprised if there are any Olympic athletes, regardless of sport, who don't participate in other professional events in their field throughout the year - Why should hockey be any different?
I was happy with no NHLers, I was referring to the Olympics in general.No NHL players ruined it for me.
Not to mention lots of Leafs games during the Olympics.
But still. Germany ? wtf.
Fair points - Especially the first one, which I'd thought of as well when writing my first post.because the majority of those sports's pinacle is the Olympics.
for hockey (NA hockey anyway) it's the cup. it's also impacting that league more than any other "Major 4 sport" and it is always funny (to me) that most people go "well who cares, they should go anyway."
quite frankly, best on best is whatever qualifier you put on it.
if they say "you can only be 18 through 25" - then send the best 18-25 year olds.
if they say best non NHL players, then send the best non NHLers.
if they say just send the best whomever (and the NHL agrees) then send them. it means nothing to me, because it's the Olympics and i'm going to be watching anyway.
Fair points - Especially the first one, which I'd thought of as well when writing my first post.
The problem with the qualifiers, though, is that it depends on who's putting the qualifier in place. In this case, it's the NHL, which has no affiliation with any other League internationally (SHL, KHL, etc.) or the IOC. So having the best "non-NHLers" doesn't effect everyone equally, as there are NHL-caliber players playing outside of the NHL. If it were the IOC putting regulations in place, I'd be quicker to agree with you.
I simply think it should be up to the players to decide. The NHL can do plenty of things to make sure that they're not impacted as heavily as they have been in the past, and I think a huge part of that comes with the adjustment of the NHL schedule to break for the Games - Remove that aspect altogether, and if players want to leave their NHL clubs to play for their country (giving up their pay in the process), that's between them and their organization.
More fair points. Definitely some ins and outs to the situation that I'm unfamiliar with - Hopefully moving forward they can figure out something that makes more sense for everyone involved.honestly. as i said when this all boiled down.
the IOC said they weren't paying for it. (now - if they don't pay for Basketball and they won't pay for baseball in 2020 then it make a LOT of sense for them not to pay for hockey - but i don't think the NHL's request to be seen as a rights holder was a wrong one, and the IOC was stupid not to agree with it).
and quite frankly - the Players had the options.
they decided not to accept 3 more years of the current CBA (because they decided escrow sucks even though they are the ones who raise the cap artificially every season)
they decided not to come up with any kind of compromise at all not to go.
I firmly believe if the players truly wanted to go they would have come up with something that made sense. but they didn't. so i feel 0 percent sorry for them, and the competition was a tonne more interesting without them.
Although Canada has been very good overall there have been some big disappointments. No gold in hockey at all really sucks, no medals at all in curling, women's bobsled only getting bronze, Patrick Chan not even medaling etc. Oh well.
Although Canada has been very good overall there have been some big disappointments. No gold in hockey at all really sucks, no medals at all in curling, women's bobsled only getting bronze, Patrick Chan not even medaling etc. Oh well.
Not going to lie didn't even know this was a thing. Good for them! Men's and women's teams were still very disappointing though.
Imagine how they feel.Not going to lie didn't even know this was a thing. Good for them! Men's and women's teams were still very disappointing though.