Blackhawks draft pick ceases NHL contract talks to play in Olympics

[MessierII]

No surprise. This will happen a lot.

 

[dechire]

Don't you first have to be in the NHL before you can quit the NHL?

"quits NHL talks"

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Thread title is very misleading. He was never coming over to the NHL this year or next because he wants to cash in on a big contract in the KHL before coming to NA. Sibir holds his rights until April 30th so it was never in the cards. This decision was made way before the Olympic ruling.

 

[Groo]

Obvious they didn't grow up, dreaming about winning a Stanley Cup.

 

[bigwillie]

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.

Completely and utterly destroyed.

 

[Braunbaer]

The Olympics are the biggest sporting event in the world. Period. Ask virtually any athlete in the world and winning the Olympics is their dream.

The players of the most popular sport in the world couldn't care less about the Olympics.

 

[Hobble]

Somehow, I think if it was the US winning gold in recent years, the NHL would be more inclined to let their players go.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

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?

You said it so perfectly. You need an applause. What people don't realize is being anti-nationalist, anti-patriot, etc., etc. you're actually causing more issues and causing more hatred, discrimination, etc. Let people have their natural pride in their own culture, country, race, etc. and as long as they don't hurt others with it then all is fine. The best way to progress is encouraging more cultural and heritage pride while teaching everyone to connect globally and make a true multicultural and diverse world not the false diversity that you see in New York, Toronto, LA, etc. these days.

 

[MaxV]

The players of the most popular sport in the world couldn't care less about the Olympics.

Those that are U23 do, as they are the only ones eligible.

 

[Seanaconda]

Don't you first have to be in the NHL before you can quit the NHL?

Umm I don't think so. I just quit being the president of the world

 

[kudymen]

Don't you first have to be in the NHL before you can quit the NHL?

Reading is hard

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Nationalism is dumb. Borders are just like, imaginary lines man.

Being proud of yourself and your identity isn't dumb, if they said they wanted Russia to eliminate or torture all non-Russians, okay I completely understand why people would hate their guts and want them gone before they can ever try to do something like that (And truth be told anyone who's goal is to eliminate people get nothing accomplished because in order to gain power and progress one must be benevolent). Being proud of your identity and using it for good makes progress and evolves your own species.

 

[HoseEmDown]

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.

So you're saying the miracle on ice was an empty accomplishment since the US iced an team of amateur college players?

 

[Dogewow]

So how likely was it that these guys were going to make the NHL anyway? We're these guys good prospects? Does waiting a year or two to make the NHL run really mean anything? How much did that factor into their decision?

 

[MaxV]

So how likely was it that these guys were going to make the NHL anyway? We're these guys good prospects? Does waiting a year or two to make the NHL run really mean anything? How much did that factor into their decision?

Both have pretty impressive combination of size, speed and skill. I think they had (still have) a chance to stick.

 

[FLYLine27*]

Reading is hard

Yea the tread title was changed afterwards, thanks.

 

[Son of Frostback]

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.

LOL, it only took 12 posts for the skinhead to show up. Never change, HFBoards.

 

[kevy999]

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.
rNo professional hockey player should care about the Olympics.

What is weird is your comment lol I think every single player in the NHL would love to be on the biggest stage in the world and win a gold medal for their country. What is weird is not having National pride. Hate to break it to you , but winning a gold for your country on the biggest stage in the world is right up there with winning the Stanley Cup to most players. The Olympics happen once every four years and the whole world is watching and it is a best on best competition. The Stanley Cup is a grind and you are winning it for your city and it is what most North America nhl players grew up dreaming about because they couldn't play in the Olympics back then. But now kids think about winning a gold medal for their country too .

 

[jcbeze]

The Olympics are the biggest sporting event in the world. Period. Ask virtually any athlete in the world and winning the Olympics is their dream.

Skiiers, swimmers, and those who play other sports where the Olympics are main stage for competition. Hockey players in America as well as basketball players would much rather win a Stanley Cup or NBA Title, as they should be.

 

[Atas2000]

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.

Who is brainwashed then?

Your obsession with money and protecting not your own interest but that of those who tke money from you is not weird, it's hilarious.

 

[Inkling]

It's not like they are going to be playing for free in the KHL, they'll make decent salaries and it might even be safer money than a two way contract in the NHL. They'll make their living and get a chance to play in the Olympics. Their chances of making the team probably went up at least a tiny bit when the NHL announced they weren't going; not all Russians will probably pull an Ovi.

 

[Atas2000]

Skiiers, swimmers, and those who play other sports where the Olympics are main stage for competition. Hockey players in America as well as basketball players would much rather win a Stanley Cup or NBA Title, as they should be.

Hockey players in one small country... Who cares?

 

[Crapshoot]

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.

I'm sorry, but how can Americans talk down on national pride?

 

[kevy999]

Skiiers, swimmers, and those who play other sports where the Olympics are main stage for competition. Hockey players in America as well as basketball players would much rather win a Stanley Cup or NBA Title, as they should be.

I disagree. The two are pretty equal now. NHL players now adays are allowed to play in the Olympics, back then they couldn't. Winning a gold medal for your country in hockey now is right up there with the Stanley cup.

 

[antiqueslivers]

They aren't 'boycotting' the Olympics. There is no protest. They aren't withdrawing from something. They simply aren't going.

The Olympics are a business. A big business. The NHL is a competing business. Why should they donate their assets for free to a competing business?

You are right boycott was wrong to use. I understand the business aspect in that they are both money making ventures.. But I also value the tradition and what the olympics represents to sports and to the larger international community.

I believe there already have been offers to pay for the insurance on the players as well as other costs to offset the cost/risk to nhl owners.

Is there a history of Nhl owners losing their shirts over the results of players participating in the olympics? I'm pretty sure there would examples of NHL owners profiting form the mystique and further free advertising of the nhl's "Assets".

The NHL enjoys and fosters the same "national" pride with their divisions and conferences and teams. To block people from participating in arguably the most important world sporting event that has most likely been a dream of theirs since they were able to understand what a sport was on grounds of money and risk to their investments is harsh and disingenuous.

I think its a callous move against their own customers the fans. This hurts the fans of hockey and the fans of sports in general. After all the good fortune these owners have enjoyed throughout their lives this risk is just too much. F*!Kyou very much owners.