Hockeybuzz main page asks if NHL players should continue participation in the Olympics.

The Olympic hockey games as presently constituted is a farce and not too inaccurately a sham. Players cannot possibly be prepared to play cohesively. The objective is to bring out the best in the world as well as the players performance is their absolute best. Right!

Besides damaging good fight for playoff spots, the Olympic interlude pits teamattes against each other. Don't check Kaner too hard, JT, lest he misses some NHL time and your team starts to worry they miss the playoffs.

So what do you value more, good NHL action or a properly run Olympic effort?

If the Olympics, it should be in the summer. The following NHL season should be reduced by one month. Give players a breather between Olympics and NHL training camp.

The real issue - as in each major American sport-- is the duration of the regular season and playoffs. It is a marathon. But to reduce the amount of games is problematic. Teams need revenue from a longer schedule since salaries are so exorbitant. Someone may actually show this is not 100% the case, but the premise is basicly correct (I think so far as I know about the business structure of NHL).

Perhaps this conflict is like the expression "you can't have your pie and eat it too."

Btw the basketball is played in summertime.
- jhawk59

My problem with the Olympics is that it stops the league for two whole weeks.

During that time, players get rusty, and momentum built up by streaking teams get lost. During Olympic play, a team's best players can get injured, which can possibly change the season for the team. I know injuries can be unavoidable, but an injury during a world tournament in the middle of the NHL season is more infuriating then a player getting injured in the off season - at least in my view of it.

I'm not against the notion of wanting to play for your country, but I am against stopping league play the middle of the season. As far as I'm concerned, bring back the Canada Cup or have a World Cup of Hockey that is played in August, and let NHL players do that. As for Olympic Hockey, either open it up to amateurs, or open it up to pros that either are free agents or that have recently retired. A mix of both amateurs and over the hill pros would be fine too.

My problem with the Olympics is that it stops the league for two whole weeks.

During that time, players get rusty, and momentum built up by streaking teams get lost. During Olympic play, a team's best players can get injured, which can possibly change the season for the team. I know injuries can be unavoidable, but an injury during a world tournament in the middle of the NHL season is more infuriating then a player getting injured in the off season - at least in my view of it.

I'm not against the notion of wanting to play for your country, but I am against stopping league play the middle of the season. As far as I'm concerned, bring back the Canada Cup or have a World Cup of Hockey that is played in August, and let NHL players do that. As for Olympic Hockey, either open it up to amateurs, or open it up to pros that either are free agents or that have recently retired. A mix of both amateurs and over the hill pros would be fine too.
- EKolb13

Their in a catch 22 sort of if they did that. They know no one would watch that type of play on TV Olympics or not. I would not be opposed to the bringing back the Canada Cup. The World Cup of Hockey in August does not bother me either other than the fact that players in the Stanley Cup who would be playing for their countries would have had a very short off-season.

My problem with the Olympics is that it stops the league for two whole weeks.

During that time, players get rusty, and momentum built up by streaking teams get lost. During Olympic play, a team's best players can get injured, which can possibly change the season for the team. I know injuries can be unavoidable, but an injury during a world tournament in the middle of the NHL season is more infuriating then a player getting injured in the off season - at least in my view of it.

I'm not against the notion of wanting to play for your country, but I am against stopping league play the middle of the season. As far as I'm concerned, bring back the Canada Cup or have a World Cup of Hockey that is played in August, and let NHL players do that. As for Olympic Hockey, either open it up to amateurs, or open it up to pros that either are free agents or that have recently retired. A mix of both amateurs and over the hill pros would be fine too.
- EKolb13

[url]

Handzus and Roszival: you got your wish.

[url]

Handzus and Roszival: you got your wish.
- StLBravesFan

Q, talking about Bickell...

“I think (the break) helped him. Skating here the last two days, it’s the best I’ve seen him skate here all year,” Quenneville said. “(It’s) getting away and getting re-energized. Health-wise he hasn’t been in the right place all year coming off that injury. He trended well at the end of the last road trip, where he was playing his best that we’ve seen all year. But when he skates like that, good things are going to happen for him. You can definitely see the pace that we’re looking for, and he can be at his best when he’s skating like that.”


Hasn't been in the right place health-wise all year? To read it here, he's just a lazy-ass who mailed it in after the big contract.

Hasn't been in the right place health-wise all year? To read it here, he's just a lazy-ass who mailed it in after the big contract.
- mohel

Yep, pretty much.

Their in a catch 22 sort of if they did that. They know no one would watch that type of play on TV Olympics or not. I would not be opposed to the bringing back the Canada Cup. The World Cup of Hockey in August does not bother me either other than the fact that players in the Stanley Cup who would be playing for their countries would have had a very short off-season.
- rtang415

I heard this idea floated on the Score (Chicago radio) yesterday - move Hockey to the Summer Olympics.

I heard this idea floated on the Score (Chicago radio) yesterday - move Hockey to the Summer Olympics.


- EKolb13

Like they do with that other winter sport, basketball...

Slow news day...Peckham suspended

http://icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=4125

Like they do with that other winter sport, basketball...
- mohel

People still care about Basketball?

You bring up good points but I certainly enjoy and enjoyed the Olympic hockey and Canada sure looked cohesive to me. In fact I would argue that Canada not pnly played cohesively but I have never seem any team execute a game plan as well as Canada did.

One thing that irritated me was Kane making the comment that Kessel was probably the best player he ever played with. Did he not factor in the team he had to go back to before he made that idiotic statement?
- paulr

I didn't see the interview, only saw the quote, but I just figured Kane was just bustin Toews' balls with that comment. Those two are always taking playful digs at each other through the media.

People still care about Basketball?
- EKolb13

I don't in the slightest. At first I thought the hockey in the Summer Olympics sounded goofy. But it would solve the issue with the halting of the season, while allowing the players to play for their country. Many of the Summer Games sports are indoor, and they play basketball in its off-season.

People still care about Basketball?
- EKolb13

Ignoramuses and losers mostly.

I didn't see the interview, only saw the quote, but I just figured Kane was just bustin Toews' balls with that comment. Those two are always taking playful digs at each other through the media.
- Ogilthorpe2

Agreed. And I'm not sure who went first but Toews, when asked about the American team, said the Kessel looks dangerous (or something like that). Clear dig at Kaner along the lines you describe - those two guys respect each other plenty as hockey players.

I don't in the slightest. At first I thought the hockey in the Summer Olympics sounded goofy. But it would solve the issue with the halting of the season, while allowing the players to play for their country. Many of the Summer Games sports are indoor, and they play basketball in its off-season.
- mohel

The only issue I see is that if Hockey were taken out of the Winter Olympics, who would even watch the Winter Olympics?

The only issue I see is that if Hockey were taken out of the Winter Olympics, who would even watch the Winter Olympics?
- EKolb13

Me, for one, but I get your point that it is a big draw. I'll watch all the events without judges for sure, but hockey is a big attraction fer sure.

The only issue I see is that if Hockey were taken out of the Winter Olympics, who would even watch the Winter Olympics?
- EKolb13

Who cares?

I heard this idea floated on the Score (Chicago radio) yesterday - move Hockey to the Summer Olympics.


- EKolb13

It started as part of the Summer games.

I didn't see the interview, only saw the quote, but I just figured Kane was just bustin Toews' balls with that comment. Those two are always taking playful digs at each other through the media.
- Ogilthorpe2

IIRC, Hjalmarsson also said that Karlsson was the best defensive player he had ever played with.

Ignoramuses and losers mostly.
- Ogilthorpe2

Well, I still care and I'm not - oh, you included losers - never mind.

Who cares?
- Ogilthorpe2

My point exactly.

The only issue I see is that if Hockey were taken out of the Winter Olympics, who would even watch the Winter Olympics?
- EKolb13

Soshi Olympic TV ratings were 13% lower than the Vancouver ratings.

Take hockey out, move the games to South Korea with an even worse TV schedule time difference....

Soshi Olympic TV ratings were 13% lower than the Vancouver ratings.

Take hockey out, move the games to South Korea with an even worse TV schedule time difference....
- StLBravesFan

Yeah, that looks promising...

Yeah, that looks promising...
- EKolb13

Leave Hockey in the Winter Games, send the amateurs. Done.

Leave Hockey in the Winter Games, send the amateurs. Done.
- Ogilthorpe2

Or free agent pros.