IMO, the NHL plays far too many regular season games, which allows too short of a break for the Olympics, and too much wear and tear on the athletes, leading to injury after injury during the season.
The NHL should embrace the Olympics, as it's a free opportunity to showcase their sport and their talent on a worldwide stage. It's a free ticket to market growth. Why on earth would there be any antagonism? It doesn't make any sense, from a cultural, emotional, or business perspective.
I asked a friend of mine, who is a fellow Canadian, and a fanatical NFL fan, why he prefers the NFL to the NHL. He said he likes it because every single game in the season means something, which really raises the intensity of play. You can hardly say that about the NHL. Teams can go on a 10-game losing skid and get away with it, and players can coast from time to time. Those aren't the ingredients for an exceptional on-ice product.
The NHL should embrace the Olympics, as it's a free opportunity to showcase their sport and their talent on a worldwide stage. It's a free ticket to market growth. Why on earth would there be any antagonism? It doesn't make any sense, from a cultural, emotional, or business perspective.
I asked a friend of mine, who is a fellow Canadian, and a fanatical NFL fan, why he prefers the NFL to the NHL. He said he likes it because every single game in the season means something, which really raises the intensity of play. You can hardly say that about the NHL. Teams can go on a 10-game losing skid and get away with it, and players can coast from time to time. Those aren't the ingredients for an exceptional on-ice product.