I wouldn't say that. I actually like that they go to shootouts in the regular season in the NHL. They don't do that in the playoffs when it really matters. Shootouts in the playoffs would definitely suck. The problem with no shootouts in the regular season is the games either have to end in a tie, which sucks for multiple reasons, or some teams will end up logging insane minutes of OT if every game has to end with a non-shootout winner. Hockey isn't like basketball in that teams can go forever at times without scoring. You don't want teams playing 3, 4 or 5 20 min OTs multiple times in the regular season. That can end up amounting to multiple extra games played for certain teams. It wears down the players, esp. in Olympic-shortened seasons. What I would like to see is the NHL to go the 3pt system for regular season games to discourage teams from playing too conservatively to get to OT for the point (much like they did when games could end in ties). Make a regulation win 3 points, an OT win 2 points and an OT loss 1 point like they do in the preliminary round at the Olympics. That would motivate teams a little more to get the 3 points instead of sitting back trying to get to OT.
Given how important hockey is for national pride I wonder if some of the countries are going to pressure their nationals to try to get out of their NHL contracts and play in the Olympics? Especially host Russia.
That meant more before they allowed pro athletes in. Now? Not so much... pleanty of Sid the Kid fans in Pittsburgh. Hell, plenty of Kessler fans in Vancouver. Plenty of Yao Ming fans in Houston that would root for him over Kobe. Hockey fans signing Oh Canada is pretty cool!!!
NHL contracts or not, there are certainly players that will probably ignore the NHL's decision, which hasn't actually been made yet. There is still the possibility that the league may allow its players to participate. The decision won't be made for at least a couple of years. I just hope that ends up being the case. Seeing all this talent on the ice together is amazing.
But if none of it translates in to quantifiable NHL success (ie - better ratings, better attendance, and better revenues), why would the NHL continue to accept having play stopped for 2 weeks to allow their best players to compete? Remember... the majority of the NHL did NOT play in the Olympics... that can be pretty disrupting to certain teams and players if the overall league doesn't benefit much from it.
It really does create dilemmas for a lot of NHL fans. I was pulling for Team USA but I was also pulling for Russia, Sweden and the Czech Rep. because there were Caps players on those teams. NHL fans get attached to players on their teams. It's hard to root against them or even not root for them. Also, we're not in the middle of the Cold War any more. I understand the argument for patriotism but it's just a sport at the end of the day. If there is an American pulling for a team other than Team USA, I can understand it. It's not like they're saying I hope that other team wins a real war with the USA. It's not like they're saying they don't love the USA and feel pride for their country. It's just a sport, esp. in times of relative peace like we're in now.
Dear NBC commentators, the USA is not going to suddenly adopt hockey as a national sport. We could win the next five gold medals and it's not going to happen. Stop talking about "how much this has done for hockey in America." WE WON THE MOST MIRACULOUS GOLD MEDAL IN THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS THIRTY YEARS AGO. This will not change anything. Do you see why?
I don't think its all bad for the NHL. A lot of people don't watch NHL hockey but watch the Olympics and the exposure on a stage that is larger than any NHL game definately helps generate interests in the NHL.
Not exactly as the US got the most medals ever by any country in a Winter Olympics and finished just two golds short of the Canadians.
I'm not a hockey fan, but what an epic game. I bet a game like this gets more kids interested in hockey.
It's not going to matter what they decide, NHL players are never gonna give up the chance to play in the Olympics ever again. Once one guy decides he's gonna disobey Betman's order, they'll all jump ship.
Why did they ever allow them to play? I don't think the only reason was to increase ratings, revenues, etc... in the U.S. market. There is also the fact that most players want to play in the Olympics. I have to believe the players union supports the players being allowed to play for their countries. There is no doubt that the league and the owners don't want the players participating. The players are the number one asset though and I would bet that 99-100% believe they should be allowed to play in the Olympics, including the ones that know they'll never get selected by their countries. I'm not saying the NHL won't end up trying to keep them out, just that the decision has not been made yet. I'm really not that informed on this particular topic. All I'm saying is that I love seeing the best talent on the ice in the Olympics and I'm hoping they find a way to allow that to continue, even if it's unlikely.
