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Seider out at worlds due to insurance, risk vs reward for IIHF and Olympics |
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Mlive reported that Moritz Seider won’t participate in the World’s tournament for Germany due to an inability to secure insurance.
For the past year we’ve talked about Seider’s potential raise, but without that extension signed the risk of injury makes it problematic to try and decide the insured amount for the player. The agent could give a best guess but that’s not near enough to satisfy the issue for the provider.
With Dylan Larkin already having exited the ice for team USA due to injury, this brings back into focus the real cost of international play for the NHL. While players are deeply committed to the ability to represent their country, the dollar amounts that most of us don’t think about are not just prohibitive but indicative of what periphery expense for this sport can be.
The NHL players will be able to participate in the next Olympics and the debate with the IOC was around insurance and travel costs and who would cover them. It’s a no win situation for the NHL in terms of finances with shutdowns and the potential loss of key players. Unfortunately, the NHL needs more exposure and for the first time in a long time I’m relenting to the “cause”. For those unaware, the Olympics are changing the ice surface to the North American measurements to make the game more consistent with what the NHL is providing. Unfortunately, the Olympics aren’t the “must see” that they used to be. There is apparently genuine concern at getting an audience for both summer and Winter Olympics.
Back to Seider in particular, this is probably best for the player. Any added risk at this time is ill advised. There is a division on the international tournaments, so I’d like to hear from you. More than this instance, is the risk of IIHF or IOC participation an overall benefit or does the risk and cost make it something that can negatively impact the NHL?
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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