Welcome to the Hotstove! As always, I'm your host, Travis Yost.
The debate of National Hockey League participation in the Olympic Games isn't going to quiet anytime soon, especially after another successful two-week run of competition over in Sochi, Russia. Even in an unsavory time zone to most North American viewers, viewership was still fantastic, and the players -- to a man -- enjoyed the experience.
But, that's where the line of division's always really been drawn. The players, basically unanimously, want to continue participating in the Olympics. The owners, however, seem rather split on the idea.
There are some owners who believe that player participation in these Olympic Games is pivotal in growing the sport. And, although this is probably an implicit point, there's probably some merit to seeing this as sort of a concession by owners to the players and players association.
But, other owners have spoken out against any future participation. Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider famously took a swing at the Olympic Games before this year's break (CBS):
I hate them. It's ridiculous, the whole thing is ridiculous,… Snider said. “I don't care if it is in Philadelphia, I wouldn't want to break up the league. I think it's ridiculous to take three weeks off…in the middle of the season. How can anybody be happy breaking up the season? No other league does it, why should we? There's no benefit to us whatsoever. If anything, I can only see negatives.…
New York Islanders owner Garth Snow did the same after learning of John Tavares' season-ending injury suffered over in Sochi (ESPN):
Snow said it's a "joke" that the IIHF and International Olympic Committee can use NHL players without reimbursing their teams when they get hurt. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has yet to commit the league's players to the 2018 Winter Games, and Tavares' injury provides a talking point for those who want professional players out of the Olympics."This is probably the biggest reason why NHL players shouldn't be in the Olympics, it should just be amateurs," Snow told Newsday. "And it could have happened to anyone; it just happened to be us that lost our best player."
This, obviously, puts the likes of Gary Bettman and Bill Daly in a tough spot. They serve the thirty owners first and foremost, and there's obvious opposition from some with respect to future participation. And yet, they also have to consider the other side: the players desire to participate, and perhaps more strongly, their partnership and contracts with NBC -- NHL and Olympics rightsholder.
Bettman and Daly have played a lot of stuff close to the vest with regards to participation in 2018 over in PyeongChang. It's another two-week competition miles and miles away from North American soil, where hockey games would likely be played in the middle of the night. And, I kind of get the sense that the NHL isn't in love with heading over there.
The question: Should the NHL continue participating in the Olympic Games? Or, should they concede participation to amateur athletes, and alternatively create a separate international tournament that fits better into the NHL schedule?
Thanks for reading!