Olympics: Dreger: NHL players will not participate in 2018 Winter Olympics [NHL says undecided]

[DyerMaker66*]

http://beta.thescore.com/nhl/news/427461

During a Friday afternoon appearance on TSN 1050 Radio in Toronto, TSN reporter Darren Dreger passed along the news that the NHL "will not" participate in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, which will be hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

I really hate these people. The NHL will not be receiving money from me again if this is true.

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[goawaygary*]

You're going to see star players start to negotiate "Olympic clauses" into contracts that run through 2018, which will grant them the ability to participate

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

This is not at all a shock. It's not like there is any type of hockey market anywhere around there.

 

[DyerMaker66*]

This is not at all a shock. It's not like there is any type of hockey market anywhere around there.

But doesn't Buttman want to "grow the game"? I mean, that's the reason there's a team in Phoenix, right?

 

[tucker3434]

Really hope that is inaccurate. Really puts NA at a disadvantage.

 

[Eisen]

I can't even find the words.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

But doesn't Buttman want to "grow the game"? I mean, that's the reason there's a team in Phoenix, right?

If you really want to compare a city in the U.S. to South Korea, be my guess.

 

[MK9]

Go back to having the amateurs play in the Olympics.

Then just bring back the World Cup.

Issue resolved.

 

[kaiser matias]

There is no guarantee that this is true yet. Similar things were said about 2014, and look what happened. Obviously going to South Korea is not the same as Russia, but wait for the NHL to officially give a stance before believing this.

 

[DyerMaker66*]

If you really want to compare a city in the U.S. to South Korea, be my guess.

I think expanding the NHL beyond NA would be great for it as a brand.

 

[KittysGotClaws]

The NHL talks about the lack of direct money, but they're stupid if they don't realize how much the Olympics grows the game. How many new fans were created in 2010 when 35 MILLION people here watched the classic gold medal game? How many of those fans now watch and buy merchandise from the NHL? Obviously there's lots of time until 2018 and many turns can be taken, but the NHL would be really boneheaded to turn its athletes away.

 

[Eisen]

If you really want to compare a city in the U.S. to South Korea, be my guess.

It has potential. South Korea loves sports on ice. Top speed skaters, top short trackers, top figure skaters and they have rinks.

 

[Xokkeu]

This is four years away. Believe it when I see it.

 

[youvegotit]

If you really want to compare a city in the U.S. to South Korea, be my guess.

Okay, let's take a look at Seoul.


Metro population of 25 million people. Winter actually exists. The shear novelty of a hockey game would attract more patrons then Glendale.


Now you tell me why Glendale is a better hockey market then Seoul.

 

[29dryden29]

This is music to my ears. I am willing to bet that what ED spouted off about is also felt by many owners and players like.

 

[SI90]

Russia is gonna be beasts. They can still have Kovy

 

[ViD]

easy gold for Russia then

 

[crederer]

Go back to having the amateurs play in the Olympics.

Then just bring back the World Cup.

Issue resolved.

What would be considered amateur, though? AHL, or any of the European leagues? Cause otherwise you're just going to be looking at world junior tourney's.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

Good, we'll have a decent schedule and not lose 2-3 weeks of play that year.
I want my players focusing on bringing a Cup to Ottawa...

 

[Uhmkay]

easy gold for Russia then

Who cares when it's not best on best? Just means they'll start doing the World Cup which will mean more anyways.

 

[ViD]

Who cares when it's not best on best? Just means they'll start doing the World Cup which will mean more anyways.

I personally couldn't care less about the World Cup. One reason is that team Russia never gets to play a game on its own soil

 

[Xokkeu]

What would be considered amateur, though? AHL, or any of the European leagues? Cause otherwise you're just going to be looking at world junior tourney's.

It's going to be every league except the NHL. KHL, SEL, NCAA etc... the whole amateur idea is long dead. Thank god.

 

[Xokkeu]

I personally couldn't care less about the World Cup. One reason is that team Russia never gets to play a game on its own soil

Who knows now that Russia is stable, I could easily see the World Cup going to Russia. Especially if the NHL wants to try and get the KHL on board.

 

[Xokkeu]

Who cares when it's not best on best? Just means they'll start doing the World Cup which will mean more anyways.

World Cup will never mean more than the Olympics.

 

[29dryden29]

Good, we'll have a decent schedule and not lose 2-3 weeks of play that year.
I want my players focusing on bringing a Cup to Ottawa...

Eactly. The Stanley Cup is more important than an Olympic medal. I really have no use for the Olympic hockey tourney other than the womens. I would rather watch the NHL.