Mr Kanadensisk
Registered User
- May 13, 2005
- 3,013
- 12
Before Vancouver 2010 Betman is going to have to figure out a way to stop teams from holding back their players from participating in the Olympics. I think Gary realizes that a strong Olympic tournament is an extremely valuable way to promote the NHL product.
The problem is that some individual clubs will act in their own interest first, and hold people back in order to get a step up on their competition. It really bugs me that some teams and players would use the Olympic break as a chance to rest and take advantage of the fact that most of the other teams stars are playing in the tournament.
Here are two things I suggest they do:
1) If a player is selected by their national team, but refuses to go based on injuries, etc., then they must sit out at least four NHL games, the two prior to and the two following the Olympic break. The idea being that NHL teams would actually encourage their players to go, so they don't miss any regular season games.
2) Pay players bonus's for going to the Olympics. At first this might seem contrary to the Olympic ideal, but consider that many nations already do this with their athletes, and also consider it advertising money well spent. This just adds another incentive for the players to go.
The problem is that some individual clubs will act in their own interest first, and hold people back in order to get a step up on their competition. It really bugs me that some teams and players would use the Olympic break as a chance to rest and take advantage of the fact that most of the other teams stars are playing in the tournament.
Here are two things I suggest they do:
1) If a player is selected by their national team, but refuses to go based on injuries, etc., then they must sit out at least four NHL games, the two prior to and the two following the Olympic break. The idea being that NHL teams would actually encourage their players to go, so they don't miss any regular season games.
2) Pay players bonus's for going to the Olympics. At first this might seem contrary to the Olympic ideal, but consider that many nations already do this with their athletes, and also consider it advertising money well spent. This just adds another incentive for the players to go.