Some media thoughts and notes on the NHL not going to the 2018 Winter Olympics …
Rick Westhead: Sources saying that NHLPA’s Don Fehr told some agents in at a meeting in Vancouver that he expects the NHL to stop owners from allowing individual players to go to the Olympics.
Chris Johnston: A few players have their doubts that the Olympic issue is deal. Some are questioning the NHL saying it’s “officially closed.”
Craig Custance: “It was pointed out to me that USA Hockey gets millions each year from NHL so they may not put NHL players on roster even if players want to.”
Craig Custance: “You know who doesn’t have that conflict? Russia. Said one source: “I think Russian players will go… I would be shocked if they don’t.”
Darren Dreger: Source saying they think the NHL needed to make a decision about the Olympics before the start of the playoffs.
Darren Dreger: NHL owners don’t appeared to be worried about the possibility of not being invited back for the 2022 Olympics in China.
Darren Dreger: “Will be interesting to see if federations ask NHL clubs to loan players. Ovechkin has said he intents on going and his owner supports him.”
Isabelle Khurshudyan: “Have been told that Caps owner Ted Leonsis won’t comment on NHL’s Olympic decision for now. Wants the focus to be on the playoffs.”
Craig Custance: “If I’m a borderline NHL player whose contract up, which I’m not, I’m playing in Swiss league next year & repping my country in Olympics.”
Ray Ferraro: “1) Disappointed no NHL participation at Olympics / I’ll still watch,enjoy BC I enjoy watching Canada compete in Games in many sports. 2) but IMO all about business and long range negotiation not just Olympics / important to players so PA should’ve protected this in last CBA”
Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports: Wyshynski notes that IOC is one of the main reasons the NHL is not sending it’s players in 2018. The IOC collects hundreds of millions in broadcast fees, sponsorship and merchandising.
“One of the ways the IOC is able to generate these levels of profit is by relying on the kindness of the leagues like the NHL and the NBA to loan their players, for free, to give the Winter and Summer Games some added luster. In return, the IOC covers some basic costs – accommodations, insurance. Or at least it did.”
Team owners have spent years trying to figure out if there are any tangible gains aside from “growing of the game” exposure. The owners started weighing the cost/benefit of going to them.
“They were getting restless. Prominent voices were starting to gripe about the season being interrupted with no tangible financial benefit to the NHL.”
Worry about players getting hurt – like John Tavares – has increased and gripping about the season being interrupted.
