NHL inclusion in 2014 Olympics

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=272849

Bettman has a few good points, but shouldn't this decision really be up to the NHLPA? I know OV, Kovalchuk and i believe Malkin all said they would leave their NHL team to go play regardless of the NHL's decision. Could a tweak to the schedule for Olympic years be a solution? maybe start the season a bit earlier every 4 years? Its not as if this is a problem every single season. One in four seems to be a tolerable problem if it showcases your leagues best players and talent world wide...

What do you guys think?

[li7039 0]

i would not want Henrik to go and play overseas while the Rangers are playing meaningful games here. same should go for Pens fans caps etc

[nickyb13 9]

It should be up to the individual teams if they want to release players to play in any international event.

[fieldofdreams 0]

i would not want Henrik to go and play overseas while the Rangers are playing meaningful games here. same should go for Pens fans caps etc

Agreed. Look at last Olympics, and the amazing drop-off afterwards. Not to mention he came back with a hip injury.

[Chadd 916]

There's also the KHL situation. Making hockey more popular in Russia will have a negative impact on the NHL over the long term.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Well half the Russian kids now grow up wanting to play in the NHL like OV and Malkin. Wouldn't showing off our best players make the kids want to come over and play here even more? People like Filatov have wanted nothing more than to come to america and play in the NHL

[Brokensticks 0]

Also remember that the NHL isn't happy with the Russian Hockey Federation for refusing to sign the transfer agreement (whether they were right or wrong to do so in another story) and leading the way for many other countries to opt out of the agreement and so Bettman and the NHL are most likely posturing for now to stick it to the Russian Hockey Federation. My thoughts are that if a transfer agreement of some sorts is signed and some kind of deal with the KHL is signed, you're going to see NHL players in the 2014 winter olympics.

[westcoastsniper 0]

You know what, I am probably in the minority, but I think the olympics should be pro-free. I say that because as much as it's awesome to see team canada all-stars and team russia all-stars, to me the olympic ideal should win out and they shouldn't be professional athletes.

Of course you aren't going to sell 100000000 for 100$ Crosby, Iginla, Thornton, Brodeur jerseys if you got minor no-namers playing, but then again, when has the olympics ever been about money :P

Bring back the amateur... and have open tryouts!!!!!