Hockey Debate #2

bossman · Post by **bossman** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:29 pm

Well the first debate topic sparked some interesting talk about the differences between fans of soccer and fans of hockey as well as where in Canada the best fans come from (last time I checked the poll, Eastern Canada was in the lead).

So now we move on to the second hockey debate question which is this:

Should NHL players play in the Olympics?

This has been a hot topic lately, especially with the news that Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin will play for Russia at the 2014 Sochi Olympics no matter what penalties the NHL gives them. What is your take on this?

Post by **batdad** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:30 pm

Easy answer. No question. Best on Best and the players want to play for their countries.

Post by **joehelmer** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:36 pm

Yes, of course they should.

Especially now that World Cup/Canada Cup isn't played anymore. Now the olympics is the most prestigious tournament for hockey at the moment. At least until they learn not to play the world championship every year, but that discussion we can take in a other thread.

Post by **B. Stinson** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:36 pm

I've been thinking about this one to myself recently, and I'm really not sure what I think.

On one hand, I say they should not, because they're paid professionals.

But on the other hand, the Olympics are about competition between the world's best athletes.

I really don't have an answer for this one...

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:38 pm

Honestly, I prefer they go back to the old days of the NHL not participating. Of course, I would only want to do this if all countries would agree to send amateurs only. I'd like to see a bunch of youngsters battling it out on the world stage.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:40 pm

Won't happen B72..."amateur" is still defined differently in different areas of the world, especially in terms of amateur hockey player.

Post by **CatchUp** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:47 pm

150% yes. This tournament is supposed to feature the greatest talent in the world. Those players are playing in the NHL. Simple as that.

bruins72 · Post by **bruins72** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:54 pm

Yeah, that's the problem a part of the problem that lead to the NHL participating in the Olympics. People were getting sick of seeing their amateurs go up against pros from some countries. I wonder if it would be different now? Most of the world's best players are in the NHL now. If you cut out the NHL and KHL, you've just got the Swedish Elite for top talent, right?

Círyatan · Post by **Círyatan** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:02 pm

Yes. No doubt about it.

Olympics are all about the greatest athletes in the world competing against each other, and there is no doubt that NHL boasts most of the world's greatest hockey talent. Sending amateurs to the Olympics would be nothing more than mockery. Mebbie I'm being naïve, but I still believe there is something more to sport than "paid professionalism".

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:03 pm

Simple answer. Yes.

Slightly longer answer:
A. It's what the players want.
B. It's what the overwhelming amount of fans want.
C. The Olympics is by far the largest advert for the sport of hockey, not sending the best players is marketing disaster.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:10 pm

bruins72 wrote:Yeah, that's the problem a part of the problem that lead to the NHL participating in the Olympics. People were getting sick of seeing their amateurs go up against pros from some countries. I wonder if it would be different now? Most of the world's best players are in the NHL now. If you cut out the NHL and KHL, you've just got the Swedish Elite for top talent, right?

Then there is the Swiss league, the Finnish league, the DEL, Czech league, Slovak league, the Italian league and the second divisions of Sweden, Finland and Russia that are all filled with well paid fully professional players. Then after that you have countless of leagues that are mixed between fully and semi-pro before you finally reach the level where amateurs play. That will pretty much be a beer league.

alexob18 · Post by **alexob18** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:26 pm

I'm all for them playing in the Olympics. Its a nice break, and you get to watch some of the best players in the world all on their respective teams play against each other.

Laker2415 · Post by **Laker2415** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:47 pm

I'm all for it, IF the NHL does what it did for Torino and Vancouver and allow for the league to shut down for two weeks. I think if the NHL does what it did for Salt Lake City, which it did not shut down and some teams played with less than 15 skaters (I think Slovakia played one game with 12-13!?) then it's a complete disaster and could cost some teams, not necessarily a medal, but wins and the chance to grow the sport in participating nations.

As far as the amateurs are concerned, I think we have two things in play, 1) how do other nations define amateurism? Canada and the U.S. will send their College and Junior level kids, but that may not be the same in Europe. 2) I would consider the World Juniors almost an Olympic like tournament as well, but for the amateurs. Would we want to ask those same players to play in another major international tournament 6 weeks after playing in the WJC?

It's a really good debate and I can see both sides. I guess it all depends on what the NHL and the NHLPA want to do to globally market the game and its stars. I just think showcasing their stars on the global stage is the way to go.

Post by **batdad** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:00 pm

Slovakia played in the QUALIFYING round prior to the Olympics. That is why they were missing some players for it. Any team in any year that has to QUALIFY that has NHL players would have the same issue. It has been there for all the NHL Olympics. Just for Slovakia it was more pronounced because they had more NHLers.

Edit: AFAIK- Slovakia has all its players available once the main round started. They did not play with fewer skaters in the qualifier, they just used non NHL players as some teams did not give up their guys early.

But you are right...the NHL should have had the same rules for all teams on that one.

Franck · Post by **Franck** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:09 pm

Laker2415 wrote:As far as the amateurs are concerned, I think we have two things in play, 1) how do other nations define amateurism? Canada and the U.S. will send their College and Junior level kids, but that may not be the same in Europe. 2) I would consider the World Juniors almost an Olympic like tournament as well, but for the amateurs. Would we want to ask those same players to play in another major international tournament 6 weeks after playing in the WJC?

Being amateur is literally synonymous with being rubbish in Europe. Even 16-17 year old players will have signed professional contracts here if they're any good.

A national team consisting of a bunch of builders, electricians, law students and similar from like the 4th tier of Swedish hockey getting trashed 26-0 by American college hockey kids who have access to high level coaching, facilities etc. wouldn't be very well received on either side of the Atlantic. It would be the whole Soviet Union thing all over again, but worse.

bossman · Post by **bossman** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:15 pm

I love seeing the NHLers in the Olympics. I mean, hockey is the biggest team sport at the Olympics so it should get the best athletes.

I wonder if the NHL should, for the 2013-2014 season, reduce the schedule to 78 or even 76 games. After the Olympics this year will be crazy for the teams, just like it was the last Olympics. I know the owners, who already aren't too keen about their players playing in a tournament in the middle of the season, would not like that idea. I guess it can be used at the bargaining table when the CBA has to be discussed again.

alexob18 · Post by **alexob18** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:17 pm

I just think that they should let the players that are the best in the country at their sport should be able to participate in for their homeland.