James Tanner: Ovechkin Needs to Commit to NHL and Stop Talking Olympics

I can't believe I am actually saying this, but Tanner, you are absolutely correct.

It's not like he won't get ample time to play in the World Championships next spring per usual anyways.....

The world cup or any adult tournament is a joke, the Olympics can at least be entertaining, not every time but they've had some good tournaments, probably the only drama is a result of Canada "struggling."

That being said I can't imagine Ovechkin gets a whole lot of satisfaction if they win and Russia is the only team with NHLers.

It's about time we moved hockey to the Summer Olympics.

This why you don't let a euro twit captain your team. The SC should be all that matters

James Tanner: Ovechkin Needs to Commit to NHL and Stop Talking Olympics
- james_tanner1

For most players not from North America, The Olympics >> the NHL. Specially if you feel your country has a chance to win the gold.
And don't mix the World Championship or World Cup in this. That's nada for Europeans compared to the Olympics.

The world cup or any adult tournament is a joke, the Olympics can at least be entertaining, not every time but they've had some good tournaments, probably the only drama is a result of Canada "struggling."

That being said I can't imagine Ovechkin gets a whole lot of satisfaction if they win and Russia is the only team with NHLers.
- tootooisapunk

I think he would be mighty satisfied with any major win at this point

For most players not from North America, The Olympics >> the NHL. Specially if you feel your country has a chance to win the gold.
And don't mix the World Championship or World Cup in this. That's nada for Europeans compared to the Olympics.
- 21peter

I don't really care what people think or how they view the Olympics vs other tournaments.

"A rose by any other name.........."

It is a fact that if you use the same players and play the same game, it being "the Olympics" is nothing more than an arbitrary construction.

It's about time we moved hockey to the Summer Olympics.
- jugkope

That actually makes a ton of sense.

This why you don't let a euro twit captain your team. The SC should be all that matters
- Just5

You're clearly a scholar, Sir

That actually makes a ton of sense.
- james_tanner1

Agreed!

Ovi is no more ridiculous then the NHL sending players for years and now saying they won't send players. Of course the NHL is no more ridiculous then the IOC which is a fairly detestable organization/crime syndicate. Which is of course is only slightly more ridiculous then having Donald Trump and his family syndicate in the White House. Which is all only slightly more ridiculous then Ilya Kovalchuck and his retirement/playing for Russia, returning to the NHL, not returning to the NHL, returning to the NHL, waiting to be a free agent and returning to the NHL but not until after playing in the Olympics this year soap opera... Which he may or may not be doing with Ovi. I blame Putin.... but that's me. It could all be #Fakenews. ALL OF IT BY THOUSANDS OF JOURNALIST is fake. Putin and Trump are real. Just saying. Because that's believable. And Science is fake. And clean air is fake. #Notonvacation@thegolfcourseresortinNewJersey.

James Tanner is however real.

I don't really care what people think or how they view the Olympics vs other tournaments.

"A rose by any other name.........."

It is a fact that if you use the same players and play the same game, it being "the Olympics" is nothing more than an arbitrary construction.
- james_tanner1

Guess you don't really know what you're talking about in this matter, Tanner.

Ovi is no more ridiculous then the NHL sending players for years and now saying they won't send players. Of course the NHL is no more ridiculous then the IOC which is a fairly detestable organization/crime syndicate. Which is of course is only slightly more ridiculous then having Donald Trump and his family syndicate in the White House. Which is all only slightly more ridiculous then Ilya Kovalchuck and his retirement/playing for Russia, returning to the NHL, not returning to the NHL, returning to the NHL, waiting to be a free agent and returning to the NHL but not until after playing in the Olympics this year soap opera... Which he may or may not be doing with Ovi. I blame Putin.... but that's me. It could all be #Fakenews. ALL OF IT BY THOUSANDS OF JOURNALIST is fake. Putin and Trump are real. Just saying. Because that's believable. And Science is fake. And clean air is fake. #Notonvacation@thegolfcourseresortinNewJersey.

James Tanner is however real.
- Queenie_5_hole

Well said

I don't really care what people think or how they view the Olympics vs other tournaments.

"A rose by any other name.........."

It is a fact that if you use the same players and play the same game, it being "the Olympics" is nothing more than an arbitrary construction.
- james_tanner1

The prestige of winning an Olympic gold medal means a hell of a lot more than a World Cup gold medal. With an Olympic gold medal, you are enshrined into history with the greatest athletes from around the world, being included in that group of athletic immortality means a lot more to athletes than you think it should. As a common fan, or general audience.. I can understand your views, but as an athlete, it holds no weight. Athletes want to be the best of the best and an Olympic gold is saying exactly that.

The prestige of winning an Olympic gold medal means a hell of a lot more than a World Cup gold medal. With an Olympic gold medal, you are enshrined into history with the greatest athletes from around the world, being included in that group of athletic immortality means a lot more to athletes than you think it should. As a common fan, or general audience.. I can understand your views, but as an athlete, it holds no weight. Athletes want to be the best of the best and an Olympic gold is saying exactly that.
- j.boyd919

Yes but the weight the Olympic gold holds is fake. It's just something you put in to it.

Yes but the weight the Olympic gold holds is fake. It's just something you put in to it.
- james_tanner1

You're saying this with the Donalds voice obviously...

Yes but the weight the Olympic gold holds is fake. It's just something you put in to it.
- james_tanner1

That's actually the point. It's not for YOU to decide what an Olympic gold means to an athlete.

It's like I said your wife means nothing to me, and she's a waste of time (hypothetical) but to YOU she means the world, and is your entire life.

I'd love to see the players just walk out and refuse to play during the Olympics. Force the league to shut down for their stupidity.

The prestige of winning an Olympic gold medal means a hell of a lot more than a World Cup gold medal. With an Olympic gold medal, you are enshrined into history with the greatest athletes from around the world, being included in that group of athletic immortality means a lot more to athletes than you think it should. As a common fan, or general audience.. I can understand your views, but as an athlete, it holds no weight. Athletes want to be the best of the best and an Olympic gold is saying exactly that.
- j.boyd919

Yes but the weight the Olympic gold holds is fake. It's just something you put in to it.
- james_tanner1

lol wut

Who determines this?

That's actually the point. It's not for YOU to decide what an Olympic gold means to an athlete.

It's like I said your wife means nothing to me, and she's a waste of time (hypothetical) but to YOU she means the world, and is your entire life.
- j.boyd919

Interesting analogy but nonetheless

That was the least articulate take I've heard on this issue yet. I expected nothing less reading the title.

10/10 for you Yamez.

Yes but the weight the Olympic gold holds is fake. It's just something you put in to it.
- james_tanner1

Like the Stanley Cup?