The NHL in the Olympics
by Bringbackboone on Mar 1, 2010 12:42 PM MST
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I'm sorry if this has been brought up in other threads but I was wondering what everyone thinks about the NHL being involved in the Olympics going forward. As we all know, it is not decided whether or not we will be sending the best hockey players in the world to Russia for the 2014 games. We also know that the commish and most owners do not like the Olympics since the schedule gets messed up and most importantly, to them, they do not receive one dollar from the 42 games taking place.
I think the NHL belongs in the Olympics. For one, what better way to promote the game than on the grandest stage in several countries on several continents? Maybe it was because the US played Canada in the Gold Medal Game, but out here in California, there is some serious talk about hockey. The Gold Medal Game came on before the Lakers even on the evening news! (No really, the news would rather talk about the Lakers practice, the Dodgers, the Clippers, the Cavaliers, and then the Ducks/Kings game as a side note in that order). The NHL definitely wants to promote itself across borders because we send teams overseas to start the year. How fair is that? That messes up the schedule for those teams and affects the people that care most about the sport, the fans. The fans get to see at least one less home game and deal with several games in a row then a prolonged break. If the schedule is a major issue during the Olympics, why don't we start the season a week early and do away with these international games the year the Olympics take place? I also liked being able to root for a player that I went to school with and plays for my favorite professional team. Congrats Stastny on a Silver Medal. It is awkward rooting for a Canuck or a Red Wing (had to do it with Rafalski) but rooting for national pride for two weeks overcomes professional differences. Back in 2002, it was easier having Joe Sakic beat Team USA but that gives another reason to like the Olympics. If the home country is down, I find an Avalanche player that I can root for in the other games. If we do away with the NHL, I wouldn't know anyone besides USA and Canada. Where's the fun in that?
Long rant short, NHL players belong in the Olympics. There is a buzz around hockey that I haven't noticed in a long time. I was 15 during the Salt Lake Games and don't know about the attitude then, but this feels like something that could be on a level with, but not completely comparable to, 1980. Those were college kids then. But it was still an underdog beating a favorite. And that's what captured America in 2010; an underdog nearly defeating a favorite on the grandest stage with its best players.
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I just saw that 27.6 million American viewers watched the game. That is nearly 10 million more than the Gold Medal Game at Salt Lake City.
22 Million Canadians are estimated to have watched OT
Sandie
"That’s the way we’ll win championships"- The Baron
by Sandie Gauthier on Mar 1, 2010 5:41 PM MST up reply actions
The benefits simply overwhelm the drawbacks on this one. The NHL simply must be at the Olympics. There is no bigger arena and no better way to showcase your players, so if you are serious about promoting the sport, at home or abroad, you do it.
I spent more effort eating a pudding than Tyler Arnason skated last year.
The point of the Olympics...
is to match up the best athletes around the world in sport. It just so happens that the best athletes in hockey play in the NHL. Without the NHL guys in the Olympics the skill level is seriously diminished.
Sticking point
The NHL players will return.
The biggest sticking point is that the NHL games weren’t given priority on the NBC television schedule, but I think the reception to the gold medal game pretty much laid down the law on this country’s priorities, and it sure as hell ain’t ice dancing. Whichever broadcaster takes on the Olympics in Russia, they will want the Team USA games on primetime. The sponsors will be there.
If I were Bettman, I would push for TV timeouts during the game like the NHL has. (I know, watching the commercial-free gold game was awesome, but it would appeal to broadcasters/advertisers and the NHL could use that time to pitch its season home stretch.) I would also push the Olympic committee to optimize the event schedule around the hockey games, with the U.S., Canada and Russia always getting the prime spots in the prelims.
I don’t blame Bettman for not coming right out and saying the NHL players will be back. He knows how big Sunday was for the sport. But the NHL players are the biggest draw to these games, and more weight should be put on showcasing hockey because of it.
Now that T.J. Galiardi has accepted me as his FB friend, can I officially say that I'm one of the cool kids?
It's business
I agree with you on how Bettman is using this to squeeze the IOC for Sochi.
Bettman also has a new CBA to negotiate. The players really want Olympic participation, and like any good negotiator, he’s going to use that to trade for something that Ownership wants. I think the owners are mixed in their support of stopping the season for the Olympics, but I think it’s something they are willing to yield on for something like a lower cap, a bigger escrow, or similar.
. . . . . What? Oh, sorry. I thought I was on a 2 hour tape delay.
by Busted Twigg on Mar 4, 2010 10:55 AM MST up reply actions
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