With Tavares out for the season with torn MCL and meniscus and Zucc at this point a few weeks hopefully and nothing else after examined in NY today wonder if this will sound death knoll for nhl players in future olympics.
i can't see the Olympics going away anytime soon. the NHL needs the them, believe it or not in the US hockey needs to be exposed as much as possible, fuck cant even get 2 minute of sportscenter to talk about hockey. Shits wack, Sportscenter in canada is almost all hockey. Just got to hope that your players don't get hurt.
The participation of the players is not solely up to the NHL. The PA has a say in it and it's part of their CBA negotiations. The players want to play in the Olympics and should have the right to do so. If the NHL somehow got away with not letting them play, you would most likely see a lot of talent leave the NHL (especially Europeans who can go to local leagues). It's a dumb thing to do b/c you're worried about an injury.
Injuries happen, whether it is over seas playing in an Olympic tournament or stepping out of a NYC cab and slipping on a ice patch breaking your ankle...sucks for JT, sucks for the Icelanders, sucks for Vancover and Kessler...but it's once in every four years and the Olympics should be the best of the very best.
Luckily for the Rangers Zucc's injury isn't nearly as serious. Hopefully by the time games get back under way he's only going to be out another two weeks.
The Isles weren't making the playoffs anyway. If there's a silver lining for them it'll probably result in a top 5 pick.
whether the Olympics goes forward or not will be mostly up to the players. my guess is that 80 to 90 percent of the players will vote to keep going to the Olympics including all the players who were injured this tournament. there is no denying this tournament is an absolute win win for the nhl. they couldn't buy this much publicity ever. I was at a bar today and the patrons were glued to the womens final ( fantastic game ) the only downside is risk of injury, but the upside is so great that it will be very hard for players and NHL to give up. players no that making this team and performing well wili only increase their value on the open market ( ryan Callahan ) clubs benefit from the overall exposure of the sport to the American public, and when the players return it adds more juice to the final stretch run. If the American win gold, the NHL and the sport will receive another boost in popularity. 5 or 6 injuries will not be a factor whether or not the NHL continues its association with the Olympics. Ultimately the decision will be up to the players
