If there's a God, Bettman will be gone by the this rolls around.

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=223827&hubname=

[Chadd 916]

This is an attempt to force the Russians into an agreement between the NHL and the IIHF.

[chk hrd 164]

why not make it easy and say only amatuer athletes can participate, like it use to be.

[Chadd 916]

why not make it easy and say only amatuer athletes can participate, like it use to be.

That's not up the NHL, it's up to the IIHF. In any case, the Russians were paid professionals during that era but were still classified as amateurs.

[RadioGaGa 162]

This is an attempt to force the Russians into an agreement between the NHL and the IIHF.

I like how there is no mention of that in the article though *L*. You'd think the RIHF/IIHF/NHL thing would at least get a mention.

[Juice_Slowjamz 0]

why not make it easy and say only amatuer athletes can participate, like it use to be.

If that happens, they'd have to enforce that with every other event. Skiers have been able to participate in the Olympics while being professional since the 1930s.

[Edge 0]

This is an attempt to force the Russians into an agreement between the NHL and the IIHF.

I see your point there for sure.

[sjsharks11 0]

bad call by bettman if he does this. all the players love competing in the olympics and the ones who don't play love the time off they get to recover/spend time with their families.

[Chadd 916]

bad call by bettman if he does this. all the players love competing in the olympics and the ones who don't play love the time off they get to recover/spend time with their families.

Players might like it but team execs sure don't and those team execs are Bettman's bosses.

[chk hrd 164]

nothing like having your star player, that you have put alot of money into and are paying a fortune getting hurt in a game that doesn't affect your team. I'm willing to bet that the Rangers had a heart attack when Jagr was hurt.

[chippa13 1844]

If they want NHLers in the Olympics then they should move hockey to the summer games.

[Rustpot 1]

If they want NHLers in the Olympics then they should move hockey to the summer games.

I hope that was sarcastic. I realllllly hope so.

Just get the NHLPA to approve an amendment to competing athletes' contracts that forfeits remaining salary if injuired while competing in a game for another team if the owners are so worried. The cap hit is gone anyway if they go on IR, right?

Would the NHL still take a break if the players aren't competing? I'm sure a few would still like to travel to the games or somehow get involved, and competing TV time between Olympic and NHL hockey wouldn't be good for either side.

[chippa13 1844]

Think about it. If you want NHL player participation in the Olympics then moving hockey to the summer makes perfect sense. Anyone else remember all the griping by players about the compacted schedule in order to fit the Olympic break in? Also, remember the problems which nations in the relegation round faced when they couldn't have their NHLers because that round took place before the NHL 2 week hiatus. Then there was the carping about players being tired for the stretch run because they went over.

I say that if the hockey part of the Olympics remains a part of the winter games then the NHL should take a pass on sending players. MLB doesn't shut down for the Olympics and basketball in the Olympics takes place during the NBA offseason.

[kosydar 0]

Hockey in the summer Olympics won't happen. Would you expect Beijing to build an ice rink just for one sport? Basketball is far less of a "winter" sport than hockey is, and it isn't like the best NBA players even want to play in the Olympics anyway.

[Patrick67 1]

Winter sports are sports evovling around is and snow, thats why a sport like handball is played during the summer olympics, even though most of the season is in the winter period.

The mere thought of icehockey in the summer olympics is ludacris. and speaking of the olympics, on a worldwide scale that's the most anticipated icetournament period.

Torino 2006 was a huge success for icehockey as a sport.

[Chadd 916]

A tournament with games played between 8-11 hours "early" by north american standards isn't going to help the sport in the US and Canada.

[JR Boucicaut 3801]

LOL why is it that nobody can spell "ludicrous" anymore?

[troy 12]

I think you can thank Luda for that.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

http://www.firegarybettman.com

[chippa13 1844]

Hockey in the summer Olympics won't happen. Would you expect Beijing to build an ice rink just for one sport? Basketball is far less of a "winter" sport than hockey is, and it isn't like the best NBA players even want to play in the Olympics anyway.

Then the NHLers shouldn't participate. If each nation cannot have their NHLers for every game they have then none should go. Teams in the preliminary round were playing games with 14-15 players because the NHL hadn't shut down for the Games yet. Some players on rosters were eliminated from the Games before they even boarded a plane. Hardly an example of the Olympics creed of fair play.

Everyone complained about the compacted schedule in order to accomodate the 2 week layoff for the Games. Some players (Mario) took NHL games off to rest up for the Olympics which I thought was a terrible thing to do to NHL fans. No coaches or GMs wanted their players over their because of the fatigue and potential injury factors.

I, for one, wouldn't mind one iota if NHLers didn't take part in the Winter Olympics.