No NHL players in 2010 Olympics?

[DarthSather99]

I'd prefer it his way. It's not like in the 70's-80's where Russia had no players in the NHL and subsequently sent super teams into the olympics.


http://www.sportsline.com/olympics/winter/story/9243213

[shoothepuck]

I'd prefer it too, problem is it would have to happen in all sports, not just hockey. The rules should be that no paid pro can participate.

[MountainHawk]

That would be awesome. They won't have the guts to do it for Vancouver, but maybe for 2014 we can get back to the Olympics being the Olympics and the NHL being for the pros.

[nyrmessier011]

It's certaintly a hot stove issue. I bet most players would be upset but then ask them whether they would choose multi million dollar salaries or the olympics and im sure they'd choose the first. Besides the owner who looses the star player and the player who misses some games, fact of the matter is that ALMOST all owners and players win from this. As an owner and looking at it as a business, it's worth that minimal risk to expose the sport. I havent seen a espn headline or a major newspaper headline in the states or as much talk of hockey in the US besdies during this time. It comes at a time when there's 25 games left and the playoffs are a couple months away. I think the exposure is valuable dollar wise for the owners so i wouldn't rule out nhl guys in the olympics beyond vancouver.

[NYR469]

the nhlers will play in the 2010 olympics you can be sure of that...it isn't guaranteed that they will always go but there is no way they will stop going for the games in vancouver...

[bobbop]

It actually is guaranteed in the CBA that NHL players will play in Vancouver. After that who knows.

[Ola]

A normal year a Olympic without any NHL players would have really low quality. Allot of people are very found of that idea. IMO its almost a joke and I really doubt all who says its such a great idea with just "amateurs" actually would watch it, it would be like a AHL allstar game. Soccer is that way in the summer olympics and that soccer tournament is barely broadcasted. Either the NHL participates or hockey should be scratched all together in the olympics.

Though I personally think there is another option and that is to make the WJC parts of the olympics every 4th year. However what is the odds of the Olympic brass coming up with the same idea???

[RGY]

I like the NHLers playing. I dont care if there superteams because i enjoy watching the talent being brought all together from different countries.

[Entrancemperium]

To qoute John Davidsson on the issue "What do you mean? Should we remove the pros from the other sports aswell?"

[Kluivert4Ever]

Please, no. I hate having 3 weeks interruptions during the season.

[Kodiak]

I never really bought into the whole "no pros" argument. I want to see the country's best go and play. Period.

[Kluivert4Ever]

Originally Posted by Kodiak

I never really bought into the whole "no pros" argument. I want to see the country's best go and play. Period.

I dont mind that, but let them play in the World Cup, I just dont like having an NHL season being interrputed like this.

[Choice]

Why can't it be like Soccer, where the World Cup is for the pros?

This has been great hockey but the season interruption is tough.

Don't mind Vancouver 2010 though, because the travel won't be difficult. USA should be good again by then too, Montoya or Miller in net, Ryan Suter holding down the D, Kessel up front, Ortmeyer wearing the C

[Osminator]

for old times sake: http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/Olympi...lery_31_4.html

[polako]

keep the pros in the olympics!

its better for the development of hockey in the smaller countries.