News Article: Study Suggests Top N.H.L. Teams May Suffer After Sochi

[Squirrel in the Hole]

These guys are paid to play for their team, not to throw prudence to the wind because of a desire to play in an outside tournament.

The days of endentured servitude are past. I do not have a problem with any player that wants to play in the Olympics, and the NHL owners should not, as well.

However, I find it a bit annoying that Datsyuk doesn't play leading up to the Olympics, goes there and everything's fine, then comes back and:

"Pavel Datsyuk (knee) practiced and said he hopes to play, but didn’t sound too sure.
“I hope,’’ Datsyuk, who wasn’t particularly long-winded, said.
Asked if he feels much better than he did before the Olympics, he said, “Similar.â€
Asked if his status will be determined after the morning skate, he said, “I hope. I don’t know. Hard to say.â€
Asked if this injury will bother him the rest of the season, he said, “I hope so one day the pain is left. Now it’s still the ame.â€
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