Employees have rights. They can take time to vote, vacation, sickness etc. Players aren't contracted to chain themselves to a wall, drool and not have feelings. If the players vote to play, two weeks off doesn't hurt the NHL at all.
- SuperSchennBros

This is why unions exist. To negotiate these sorts of things as a bargaining unit.

If it was that important, they should have negotiated for it.

Reality can be changed. No reason to think the human society has evolved to its best state.
- flyer_nutter

Who decides what is the best state for human society?

Basketball is played by pros in winter. But is a summer olympic sport
- dragonoffrost

I am sure that is only because it doesn't have to compete with MLB or the NFL...it is light years ahead of the NHL as far a marketability when played at the same time. Same with HS and College, Football fall, basketball winter, baseball spring...Basketball could be played any time of the year, the winter is where it fits to avoid overlap.

An indentured servant or indentured labor is an employee (indenturee) within a system of unfree labor who is bound by a contract (indenture) to work for a particular employer for a fixed period of time. The employer is often permitted to assign the labor of an indenturee to a third party. Indenturees usually enter into an indenture for a specific payment or other benefit or to meet a legal obligation, such as debt bondage. Upon completion of the contract, indentured servants were granted freedom or occasionally plots of land. In many countries, systems of indentured labor have been outlawed.
- JW98FlyerFan

NHL players are free to leave the league and the profession at any time, and to go do something else.

Hockey is a Winter sport. It doesn't get more simple than this.
- SuperSchennBros

So is basketball but it's in the summer games

I am sure that is only because it doesn't have to compete with MLB or the NFL...it is light years ahead of the NHL as far a marketability when played at the same time. Same with HS and College, Football fall, basketball winter, baseball spring...Basketball could be played any time of the year, the winter is where it fits to avoid overlap.
- JW98FlyerFan

Perhaps one contributing factor is they don't shut their season down to go play in the Olympics. It would probably piss off their fans if they did that.

So is basketball but it's in the summer games
- Scoob

/leight

/leight
- dragonoffrost

better than never

Perhaps one contributing factor is they don't shut their season down to go play in the Olympics. It would probably piss off their fans if they did that.
- Scoob

Well played

But I would say it is also easier to construct a basketball court in summer than hockey rinks. Even on the warm days some of the NHL rinks can't handle it.

better than never
- Scoob

Well played

But I would say it is also easier to construct a basketball court in summer than hockey rinks. Even on the warm days some of the NHL rinks can't handle it.
- JW98FlyerFan

Depends where it's played. Rio's "summer" games were during their winter.

Depends where it's played. Rio's "summer" games were during their winter.
- Scoob

Average temp in Rio in August is ~78, for 2020 in Japan the average temp is ~84. It will be warm wherever they have the summer games...they won't put it some place colder just for hockey...but yes it would depend on the location.

Also if you are forced to build a bunch of indoor arenas for summer games just for hockey, that may dissuade some countries from bribing (I mean bidding) to host.

Average temp in Rio in August is ~78, for 2020 in Japan the average temp is ~84. It will be warm wherever they have the summer games...they won't put it some place colder just for hockey...but yes it would depend on the location.

Also if you are forced to build a bunch of indoor arenas for summer games just for hockey, that may dissuade some countries from bribing (I mean bidding) to host.
- JW98FlyerFan

True. I think the Olympics is going to crumble under its own weight anyway. It's too expensive and the host countries always lose money.

I just think it's (frank)ed up that, "My team has a game coming up, can we reschedule it for 6 months from now," is not a valid excuse.

Sorry, just pisses me off that sports is more important that what "normal" people do.
- jmatchett383

Next time somebody pays your employer to watch you work, your service can be deferred

- dragonoffrost

:-)

Sorry BiggE, but I dislike the way the NHL has handled this whole thing and made a parallel point that that is how they are treating their players. I think any of us if we could play at that level would probably tell the NHL to stick it if we had the chance to go play in the Olympics. And when on the day you announce this, one of your biggest stars says that they are still going, you know the league and players are light years apart on how things are run.

I will raise an honorary toast to you tonight with some Macallan 15 for my violation of etiquette
- JW98FlyerFan

All good, personally I prefer the old days before pros went to the Olympics. I'd rather just see a World Cup tournament every 4th September. Plus I prefer the NHL sized rink to the International one too.

We're gonna fix the economy guys

assuming he must have been sick being the Flyers release says his family were by his side. 58...ugh.
- nastyflyergirl

prostate cancer for last 3 years according to tim.

flyers 50th anniversary. yeah. great. awesome. best season ever.

NHL players are free to leave the league and the profession at any time, and to go do something else.
- MJL

You and i are on the same page on this one

You and i are on the same page on this one
- Mordecai

This is a proud moment for me. I bookmarked this page as a keepsake.

Poker league tonight so missed a lot on here. Have to put my take on the first Isles game.
GUDASmaade a GREAT open ice hit. Not high and LEGAL.
He got his skates under him and started for the bench with his head down. Prout came on the ice in a line change. Also legal. Then 1, charged GUDAS. 2, hit him high. 3, hit him without being anywhere near the puck. ALL which are illegal and in that case, major penalties..

Weiss, was following the play AND the puck. He finished his check. Good hockey play. The check was NOT boarding, NOT direct contact with the head, NOT A high hit. It was PERHAPS late, about 6 to 7 tenths of a second but more then .5 second. Past the NHL cutoff time? Don't know. If it was, it was a 2 minute minor. The play happened at the curve in the glass where guys get banged up all the time. Weiss didn't select that time and place to "retaliate" he made a good hockey play . Didn't pick the curve, to make his move. NOT A MAJOR AND A MISC.
I base my opinion on my personal experience of 30 years as a player in youth hockey, high school, collegiate and recreational, 10 Years of coaching youth hockey AND 20 years as a USA hockey official, both as a ref and linesman for youth hockey, through junior A, high school and through collegiate levels. I have worked with a current NHL ref from the Philly area. I am well versed in rules and interpretations.
I, for one am sick of attacks AFTER clean hits. If the NHL cracks down on this hard, it will end.
On a separate note: (Frank) Marchand he is an ass a cheap shot, has gotten away with too much for too long. At least 6 games for this. Maybe if he misses some playoff time and it hurts the Bruins they will pull a James Neal and ship his butt West. At least we don't have to see him very much. May change his life...

Very sad news about Illka. Sad to hear about anyone with cancer. I lost my father many years ago, I am a survivor and my niece is is fighting stage four breast cancer that has just attacked her liver. Prayers to Illkas family and to anyone dealing with this horrible disease.
Saw Illka score the only goal in a 1-0 playoff against the Isles late 80s. Was game six and eliminated the Isles. Cool night,, four Sutter brothers in the handshake line.

Thank you for all the great memories.

Ok, last one.
I have mixed feelings about the Olympics. I like to watch the games but don't care about much but the USA, Canada is fun to watch too but I am not watching a lot of other game. I can live without NHL players going.
I don't know the total count on NHL players would be. Only USA and Canada would be only NHL players. Russia has players from the KHL, Sweden has the SHL and no one else has 20 players in the NHL, at least that would be picked. Ok, maybe Finland. So MAYBE 20% of the league would go and the rest get a 3 week vacation. I know SOME of the players want to go and are pissed. If each team has 23 players in the roster and 7 more at least fill in for injuries or bounce up and down so less then 20%. There are so many guys that will never, ever get a chance to go. I don't know if there will be a lot of support for the union to hold out over this. The CBA won't cover more then one Olympics, unless it falls just right cause they don't last 8 years. I don't see 80% of the players fighting hard for at most 20% going to the Olympics once. Then start all over again. The players are a bunch of grown men who for the most part make millions of dollars to play a little kids game. I don't see all the guys having enough skin in the game to risk a lock out over this. Way too many other issues to deal with and fight for. Most important, way, way too much money to be lost for the players that won't be picked but have to sit out the lock out.
I also don't really want a 3 week shut down mid season