and a guy like OV has already stated that he would leave his team and play even if he wasn't "allowed"
Get over myself? Doesn't even make sense ... I like watching the tournament, but I would rather see the Rangers win a Stanley Cup rather than medal at the Olympics.
Of course it makes sense. You, and others, would rather tell a guy he isn't allowed to represent his country at the Winter Olympics so that you can sit on your couch and watch your favorite team have a better chance to win a Stanley Cup. I'd rather see a Cup than a medal too, but these guys should absolutely have the opportunity to play in these games. If the owners nix it so be it, they are the ones who sign the checks.
I don't want to see it go back to college kids..sorry but I want to see the very best of the best. You know that besides the US and Canada the other teams would be stacked with professionals, maybe not from the NHL but the KHL and Swedish Elite League etc.
The nice thing about College kids playing, is that they won't be expected to win (if at all), but when they do ... it's Great
I don't want to tell them they can't represent their country, but we have other tournaments besides the Olympics that the professionals can play in. Like I said, I enjoy watching it.
and wouldn't you be upset if say Kreider was at BC (a ranger draft pick) and he got hurt during the tournament? You can say that about any of these international tournes. Every year the non playoff team send players to play at the World Championships. Doesn't matter I guess since their NHL team's season is over
As in the case of Kreider, most college players do not go directly to the NHL from College. If they get hurt during the Olympics, they have time to heal.
Didnt brian leetch and tony granto go directly to the rangers from the olympic teams? Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
Al, I said most college players. But okay, even if Brian Leetch and Tony Granato went directly to the NHL, how much were they expected to help? Now let's say Nash, he's a huge part of this Ranger team, and a player who is expected to help them win a cup. Now if during a 2 week Olympic break he gets hurt and is forced to miss significant time, what happens to the Rangers when they lose that fire power in a series against the Penguins? Who would be missed more, Nash or someone joining the team directly from College?
The point is that although it in the best for the nhl teams..its in the best interest of the players who want to represent and for hockey as a sport. You can't not take the opportunity to grow the sport by not allowing the best athletes to play. Sure sucks for the Icelanders that by is hurt same with Vancouver with Kessler. But Olympics come once every four years and are generally less violent than a regular season game. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
I'm not trying to take anything away from anybody. If they want to go, they will go. Just giving my reasons on why I wish they wouldn't. That being said, I still watch and enjoy the games. You don't think that underdog College players, playing well where they are expected to lose wouldn't be great for the sport? Its not like they're playing the Red Army (machine), who used to throttle NHL teams.
Would anyone care about Olympic hockey if it wasn't for the 1980 team? Did anyone care about the 84 team? I do think it brings the casual fan in and its then up to the NHL to expand on that and get more people to enjoy what many of us here believe to be one of the best sports on the planet
Lots of people would care, and would continue to care. USA doesn't have to win a gold in hockey every 4 years in order for hockey fans to tune in, they just have to be able to compete and I think that would be great for the sport. I like watching the NHL players in the Olympics, and will continue to watch if they are playing. But now I'd like to see the college players take on, and defeat the giant.
