[evad54]

There was a news report that the NHL is considering not allowing their stars to play in the next winter olympics. If you were an owner and your star was hurt and out for many games and your chances of getting a play off spot went out the window you would be upset. The NHL is taking all the risks and the olympics are taking none yet making lots a cash.
Your thoughts ??

[Choban]

Personally, Theres enought junior talent in Canada that we could do away with the NHL players playing olympics, used to be no pro players at all

[evad54]

I agree 100%

[Regina]

Choban Choban:

Personally, Theres enought junior talent in Canada that we could do away with the NHL players playing olympics, used to be no pro players at all

Have our Juniors play against other country's pro players? They wouldn't stand a chance!

[evad54]

You have little faith in our Juniors and the olympics is not about how many pro players you can get to play on your team. The whole idea of the olympics is lost in todays I got to win no matter what the cost mentality.

[canuckns]

The Olympics used to be about amateur athletes I thought. I think they need to go back to that.

[QBC]

Well, lets be realistic, hockey at the Olympics was not about amateur athletes since 1956. Allowing us and the US to take our pro's was just evening the playing field.

If you want to go to an amateur only hockey tournament, you'd have to make it an age restriction to. Make it an under 21 tournament, or use the world juniors every forth year as the Olympic tournament.

[canuckns]

QBC QBC:

Well, lets be realistic, hockey at the Olympics was not about amateur athletes since 1956. Allowing us and the US to take our pro's was just evening the playing field.

If you want to go to an amateur only hockey tournament, you'd have to make it an age restriction to. Make it an under 21 tournament, or use the world juniors every forth year as the Olympic tournament.

I agree. Actually using the junior team every 4 years is not a bad idea.

[jason700]

Wouldn't it be easy to just say "No professional hockey players from any country"? Do it for basketball too.

[canuckns]

jason700 jason700:

Wouldn't it be easy to just say "No professional hockey players from any country"? Do it for basketball too.

Hell yes. All Olympic's Summer and Winter.

[wildrosegirl]

jason700 jason700:

Wouldn't it be easy to just say "No professional hockey players from any country"? Do it for basketball too.

That's always been my thinking. Still waiting to see it though.

[evad54]

I know the NHL owners are against their million dollar players from playing in the olympics. Imagine Crosby out for the season and him still getting paid. Getting hurt in an NHL game is one thing but letting a chance at the cup go down the drain cause he got hurt in the olympics well it is understandable why the owners are against it. If a player gets hurt in the olympics is no skin off the olympics nose.

[Regina]

evad54 evad54:

I know the NHL owners are against their million dollar players from playing in the olympics. Imagine Crosby out for the season and him still getting paid. Getting hurt in an NHL game is one thing but letting a chance at the cup go down the drain cause he got hurt in the olympics well it is understandable why the owners are against it. If a player gets hurt in the olympics is no skin off the olympics nose.

No skin off the owners wallet either if they're hurt. The players are insured against injury if hurt in the Olympics. The only thing they will miss is the service of the player.......which if they're out of the running will save them money.

[Freakinoldguy]

Choban Choban:

Personally, Theres enought junior talent in Canada that we could do away with the NHL players playing olympics, used to be no pro players at all

Yea sure, and Red Army, Spartak and Moscow Dynamow were just amateur clubs for young Russian hockey enthusiasts.

If you want amateurs at the Olympics, you can have Juniors, just make sure every country sends theirs. As the matter of fact that's a good idea. Instead of the World Juniors that year we send the Junior Teams.

The only problem here is Ovechkin, he's said he's playing no matter what and doesn't care what the NHL or IIHF says. So he'd have to get a phoney birth certificate to make him an 18 year old again.

Of course if he did that we could just go out and get Dion Phaneuf a phoney one to so he could wail on Ovie all over again.

[sandorski]

I would prefer Amateur Athletes only, but as the past shows People/Nations find ways around it. It also tends to prevent certain Sports from being independently viable IMO. It costs $ to travel and put up Events, often using Public Funds. Creating Professional Leagues allows Private Funding and self sustainability. For those reasons I have come to accept Professional Athletes as part of the Olympics.