If Malkin goes... that coach will once again put them on the same line and they will suck. Those two just don't mesh together and they never seem to learn.
- Guile

You think they cant beat teams made up of KHL and the European leagues players? Team USA will be a non-factor and Canada will depend on how many players say they are ok with losing money and missing NHL games. Russia with Ovi and Malkin will sweep the entire thing. Or we'll get another movie worthy story. haha

If the NHL players don't take part in the Olympics but Ovi goes anyways I kinda want Malkin to go so he can win gold once in his career.
- Zac_O

If the NHL doesn't go, they're (frank)ing retarded.

If the NHL doesn't go, they're (frank)ing retarded.
- j.boyd919

Why? There is no evidence of sustained increase in viewership of the NHL after Olympic hockey is over. If anyone is "retarded" it's the IOC and IIHF for not doing what it takes to get NHL players to be in the Olympics. The NHL doesn't benefit from Olympics but the Olympics benefits from the NHLs players/employees. So none of this should fall on the NHL shoulders.

You think they cant beat teams made up of KHL and the European leagues players? Team USA will be a non-factor and Canada will depend on how many players say they are ok with losing money and missing NHL games. Russia with Ovi and Malkin will sweep the entire thing. Or we'll get another movie worthy story. haha
- Zac_O

I have very low respect for the Russian Coach after they had many strong teams that could have competed with US and Canada... and then they didn't.

Why? There is no evidence of sustained increase in viewership of the NHL after Olympic hockey is over. If anyone is "retarded" it's the IOC and IIHF for not doing what it takes to get NHL players to be in the Olympics. The NHL doesn't benefit from Olympics but the Olympics benefits from the NHLs players/employees. So none of this should fall on the NHL shoulders.
- Zac_O

It's called long term development of the game of hockey...

Why do you think China now has a KHL team?

How do you think Andong Song became the first Chinese player drafted to the NHL in 2015?

Viewership will rise when people all over the world have a vested interest. Vested interest will occur when players people can relate to are playing in the NHL. Players from all over the world will become NHL caliber when more people around the world begin playing hockey. The Olympics is amazing worldwide exposure for the game of hockey.

I have very low respect for the Russian Coach after they had many strong teams that could have competed with US and Canada... and then they didn't.
- Guile

When has Russia ever had a gold medal caliber defense?

Why? There is no evidence of sustained increase in viewership of the NHL after Olympic hockey is over. If anyone is "retarded" it's the IOC and IIHF for not doing what it takes to get NHL players to be in the Olympics. The NHL doesn't benefit from Olympics but the Olympics benefits from the NHLs players/employees. So none of this should fall on the NHL shoulders.
- Zac_O

https://automatedinsights...g-more-popular-in-america

Take it for what you want, but in I guess the simplest of terms, the word "hockey" saw big spikes in 2010 and 2014, and while it is also "tough to quantify, the term ‘NHL’ is growing year over year at ~5% over the last 20 years."

It's called long term development of the game of hockey...

Why do you think China now has a KHL team?

How do you think Andong Song became the first Chinese player drafted to the NHL in 2015?

Viewership will rise when people all over the world have a vested interest. Vested interest will occur when players people can relate to are playing in the NHL. Players from all over the world will become NHL caliber when more people around the world begin playing hockey. The Olympics is amazing worldwide exposure for the game of hockey.
- Feds91Stammer

What does China getting a KHL team have to do with the NHL? Do you want the NHL to expand beyond USA and Canada? That wont happen anytime soon.

There is no evidence that NHL viewership rises after the Olympics. So why should the owners spend millions to have their employees in the Olympics? It makes not sense. They'd get more out of advertising in north america and it'd be cheaper.

https://automatedinsights.com/blog/is-hockey-becoming-more-popular-in-america

Take it for what you want, but in I guess the simplest of terms, the word "hockey" saw big spikes in 2010 and 2014, and while it is also "tough to quantify, the term ‘NHL’ is growing year over year at ~5% over the last 20 years."
- j.boyd919

And the Olympics is only every 4 years so its hard to give them credit for that. The league is just naturally growing. There is no proof the Olympics helped it. It might have, but owners would need proof to want to spend the millions it takes to let their players go have fun on the owners dime.

What does China getting a KHL team have to do with the NHL? Do you want the NHL to expand beyond USA and Canada? That wont happen anytime soon.

There is no evidence that NHL viewership rises after the Olympics. So why should the owners spend millions to have their employees in the Olympics? It makes not sense. They'd get more out of advertising in north america and it'd be cheaper.
- Zac_O

You missed the point. None of this is surprising though as bad opinions are your thing.

What does China getting a KHL team have to do with the NHL? Do you want the NHL to expand beyond USA and Canada? That wont happen anytime soon.

There is no evidence that NHL viewership rises after the Olympics. So why should the owners spend millions to have their employees in the Olympics? It makes not sense. They'd get more out of advertising in north america and it'd be cheaper.
- Zac_O

The nhl also doesn't do themselves any favors by only airing one maybe 2 nationally televised games a week. There's hockey on just about every single night of the week. NBC sports should be airing a game a night. Nhl network is too much of a premium channel and until you can purchase channels one by one, I doubt it gets exposure. The nhl really isn't the best at promoting their product, whether it be their loose definition of rivalry, or their continued embarrassing player safety issues, or their stances on world wide tournaments.

What does China getting a KHL team have to do with the NHL? Do you want the NHL to expand beyond USA and Canada? That wont happen anytime soon.

There is no evidence that NHL viewership rises after the Olympics. So why should the owners spend millions to have their employees in the Olympics? It makes not sense. They'd get more out of advertising in north america and it'd be cheaper.
- Zac_O

the olympics is not about the nhl... it is about hockey. when you want to inspire the world to invest in hockey you need to show them the best product and not slug players that wouldn't be able to score a goal if their lifes depended on it... they want the players from the nhl to play cuz they are the best of the best and the players want to go too cuz if not for them having been inspired when they were young they wouldn't be where they are now. so they want to inspire others now when they are there.

You missed the point. None of this is surprising though as bad opinions are your thing.
- Feds91Stammer

Great take. As usual you are clearly superior to all. Please oh great one tell me the point then.

the olympics is not about the nhl... it is about hockey. when you want to inspire the world to invest in hockey you need to show them the best product and not slug players that wouldn't be able to score a goal if their lifes depended on it... they want the players from the nhl to play cuz they are the best of the best and the players want to go too cuz if not for them having been inspired when they were young they wouldn't be where they are now. so they want to inspire others now when they are there.
- martox

Great take. As usual you are clearly superior to all. Please oh great one tell me the point then.
- Zac_O

Thanks bud.

the olympics is not about the nhl... it is about hockey. when you want to inspire the world to invest in hockey you need to show them the best product and not slug players that wouldn't be able to score a goal if their lifes depended on it... they want the players from the nhl to play cuz they are the best of the best and the players want to go too cuz if not for them having been inspired when they were young they wouldn't be where they are now. so they want to inspire others now when they are there.
- martox

Then they should pay to have them. Not the NHL owners who have nothing to do with it. If the players or the Olympics want it so bad they can pay the insurance. Rumor is the owners only hold up is player insurance. The players expect them to pay it. They don't want to because it doesn't help them. This is just business smart.

I'm not arguing against NHL players in the Olympics. I'm saying lets blame who is actually at fault for it probably not happening.

- Feds91Stammer

Seems you missed my point as well. I never said I'm against NHL players in the Olympics. But you had to assume that to feel better than me didn't you?

Thanks bud.
- Feds91Stammer

If you wont explain your point I can only come to the conclusion you don't know it or you never had one and you just enjoy talking to hear your own voice.

If you wont explain your point I can only come to the conclusion you don't know it or you never had one and you just enjoy talking to hear your own voice.
- Zac_O

Tatar

What does China getting a KHL team have to do with the NHL? Do you want the NHL to expand beyond USA and Canada? That wont happen anytime soon.

There is no evidence that NHL viewership rises after the Olympics. So why should the owners spend millions to have their employees in the Olympics? It makes not sense. They'd get more out of advertising in north america and it'd be cheaper.
- Zac_O

Ask the NBA what international viewership(especially in China) has done for their revenue. The moment China had a player to identify with in Yao Ming NBA revenues flew through the roof and none of that would have occurred with the NBA's involvement with Olympic Basketball.

If you wont explain your point I can only come to the conclusion you don't know it or you never had one and you just enjoy talking to hear your own voice.
- Zac_O

Pretty sure "It's called long term development of the game of hockey..." is a pretty clear point.

Tatar
- stowerkraut

#IsElite

Ask the NBA what international viewership(especially in China) has done for their revenue. The moment China had a player to identify with in Yao Ming NBA revenues flew through the roof and none of that would have occurred with the NBA's involvement with Olympic Basketball.
- jaydogg1974

Pretty sure "It's called long term development of the game of hockey..." is a pretty clear point.
- Feds91Stammer

Why do NHL owners need to pay for that when its IIHFs job to do that? And again there is no proof that it helps the NHL longterm.

Then they should pay to have them. Not the NHL owners who have nothing to do with it. If the players or the Olympics want it so bad they can pay the insurance. Rumor is the owners only hold up is player insurance. The players expect them to pay it. They don't want to because it doesn't help them. This is just business smart.

I'm not arguing against NHL players in the Olympics. I'm saying lets blame who is actually at fault for it probably not happening.
- Zac_O

The owners in theory have the most to lose (profits) as players contracts are guaranteed so it would make sense they would foot the majority of the insurance bill. Also the individual countries' hockey programs do pay the players which is a reason the USWNT is currently holding out for equal pay. The NHL and the owners to a lesser extent are too short sighted to realize the benefit of the Olympics.