Blackhawks draft pick ceases NHL contract talks to play in Olympics

[GaboriklessWild]

Right winger Maxim Shalunov, drafted 109th overall in 2011 by the Chicago Blackhawks, and undrafted left winger Anton Burdasov have both decided to remain in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for at least one more season for a chance to represent their country at the Pyeongchang Games next year

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blackh...405533--nhl.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

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[Ducks in a row]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blackh...405533--nhl.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw

I support them. Players should be able to player in the Olympics for their country. NHL saying no to players playing in the Olympics was IMO idiotic beyond words.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

It's pumped into their heads the same way winning a stanley cup is pumped into North Americans heads, specifically Canadians.

 

[Paranoid Android]

They disagree with my opinion therefore they must be brainwashed!

 

[wintersej]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

Yeah, the last thing I think of when I think of America is nationalism and an outsized love of the flag and the belief that America is the best at everything.

 

[Ducks in a row]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

If no professional hockey player should care about the Olympics then why care about about anything? Olympics are big look at miracle on ice should no one care about that at all? Olympics are big they get people to watch a sport they normally wouldn't watch. Having national pride doesn't make you brain washed.

 

[Fantomas]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

This American obsession with the idea that Russian players owe it to them to play in the NHL is so weird.

 

[Garl]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

Brainwashing is a process, where your natural reactions are substituted by unnatural reactions. Tribalism, nationalism etc are natural, and come from the basic element of society.

Now, some people are brainwashed into acting unnatural, like "national pride is wrong, cosmopolitism is the way to go" or "we are living in a global village" etc.


Also, professional ice figure skaters care about OG
biathlon athletes care about OG
skiing athletes care about OG
speedskaters care abiut OG
cross country ski athletes care about OG

What's so special about hockey players that they shouldn't care?

 

[Bending and Tending]

This American obsession with the idea that Russian players owe it to them to play in the NHL is so weird.

Let's not lump all Americans in with this guy.

Thanks.

 

[Zippy316]

America is focused on professional sports leagues.

The professional sports teams in Europe -- specifically for hockey -- aren't as popular and important as North America. The World Championships and Olympics are the essentially the European Stanley Cups.

Or at least that's how it seems to me.

 

[tfong]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

Your lack of pride in your own country is more weird imo.

 

[jcbeze]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

100% agree

 

[Appleyard]

The article states that:

"Shalunov, 24, and Burdasov, 25, have never played for Russia's senior national team."

Except that is incorrect. They have played 30+ times combined in EHT etc.

 

[Jumptheshark]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

no it is not


North American hockey fans take it for granted that no players or fans love hockey as much as NA fans and players

playing in the olympics for your country is a huge thing over in europe

 

[KingsFan7824]

Something didn't go the Hawks way? I think we're burying the lead here.

 

[Legion34]

This American obsession with the idea that Russian players owe it to them to play in the NHL is so weird.

Well they did put themselves in the draft

 

[EdzosCrayon]

Would either of these guys have even cracked Russia's lineup if the NHL was participating? I get that the whole chance of it happening is what's important to them, just curious.

 

[Shwag33]

This American obsession with the idea that Russian players owe it to them to play in the NHL is so weird.

No you and a lot of others miss the point. This guy is free to do whatever he wants, same with anyone else in the KHL.

If you sign a contract for millions in the NHL you forgo your rights to just do whatever it is you want. You can be upset about their decision, but that's about it. Lets take away guarenteed contracts from the players and see how much they like it then.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

I mean, it makes sense. If the NHL isn't sending players to the Olympics, those players playing in the lesser leagues have a better chance of getting chosen.

Not sure why it's a big deal.

 

[Tripod]

Brainwashing is a process, where your natural reactions are substituted by unnatural reactions. Tribalism, nationalism etc are natural, and come from the basic element of society.

Now, some people are brainwashed into acting unnatural, like "national pride is wrong, cosmopolitism is the way to go" or "we are living in a global village" etc.


Also, professional ice figure skaters care about OG
biathlon athletes care about OG
skiing athletes care about OG
speedskaters care abiut OG
cross country ski athletes care about OG

What's so special about hockey players that they shouldn't care?

Because those sports only matter once every 4 years.

 

[AlexBrovechkin8]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

What a ****** comment. Who are you to determine their priorities in life?

 

[izzy]

These euros obsession with the olympics is so weird.

The whole national pride thing is pumped into their brains on a whole other level than it is here though. Brain washed.

No professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

foolish comment

 

[STC]

what a couple of morons. Winning the gold medal without the best players in the world there is an empty accomplishment.


Sounds more to me like these guys have little to no interest in playing vs the best players in the world, would rather toil away in the KHL and then in the junior Olympics taking on college kids and minor leaguers.

 

[Appleyard]

Would either of these guys have even cracked Russia's lineup if the NHL was participating? I get that the whole chance of it happening is what's important to them, just curious.

Both would have been on the radar for sure (Shalunov especially). No guarantees - but maybe with a good start to the season next year could have made up the final few spots amongst the 14 forwards.


Now both will almost certainly be on the roster though if the NHL do not go

 

[Mathew Barzal]

This thread is full of some ugly, ugly opinions. Screw the kid for having some national pride, amirite?