Wild winning this TDL so far.

Kappo for Middleton

It would technically work…. And there’s nothing technically illegal about doing it.

As for ovie I get what you’re saying but to believe every player in the league agrees with your own viewpoint politically is kind of foolish (not talking about you specifically, just in general). The league should honestly figure out a way to restrict the media from asking questions that don’t relate to the sport. Ban them from gatherings or at least fine any reporter who crosses that line.
- Dozzer

Why?

He supports a war criminal.

Because this is the internet, let's go to the extreme right away: if a player vocally supported Hitler, and refused to recant his views (kept a picture of him and Hitler as his Instagram home page), would the league allow him to continue to play?

Would the league actively promote the player?

The world is already enforcing heavy sanctions against Russia and Russians.

At what point do we look at work visas? How many Ukrainians have to die before the NHL (and the US and Canadian governments) are willing to have this uncomfortable conversation?

And don't give me this horsepoop about how it would be dangerous for Ovi's family. One - it's crap. And two - this started when Ovi vocally supported the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Why is everyone turning a blind eye to this?

Why?

He supports a war criminal.

Because this is the internet, let's go to the extreme right away: if a player vocally supported Hitler, and refused to recant his views (kept a picture of him and Hitler as his Instagram home page), would the league allow him to continue to play?

Would the league actively promote the player?

The world is already enforcing heavy sanctions against Russia and Russians.

At what point do we look at work visas? How many Ukrainians have to die before the NHL (and the US and Canadian governments) are willing to have this uncomfortable situation?

And don't give me this horsepoop about how it would be dangerous for Ovi's family. One - it's crap. And two - this started when Ovi vocally supported the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Why is everyone turning a blind eye to this?
- Atomic Wedgie

Greed

Why?

He supports a war criminal.

Because this is the internet, let's go to the extreme right away: if a player vocally supported Hitler, and refused to recant his views (kept a picture of him and Hitler as his Instagram home page), would the league allow him to continue to play?

Would the league actively promote the player?

The world is already enforcing heavy sanctions against Russia and Russians.

At what point do we look at work visas? How many Ukrainians have to die before the NHL (and the US and Canadian governments) are willing to have this uncomfortable conversation?

And don't give me this horsepoop about how it would be dangerous for Ovi's family. One - it's crap. And two - this started when Ovi vocally supported the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Why is everyone turning a blind eye to this?
- Atomic Wedgie

You really have a hate on OV do'nt you?

You really have a hate on OV do'nt you?
- prock

He said he is taking it to an extreme...but he has a point

Should probably meet somewhere in the middle.

Strip his name from his jersey.

Not so sure. The Clarkson trade (5 Yrs of Caphit of $5.25M a year) for Horton, was a deal where Leafs made cap hit disappear for cash. Possibly one of the best trades in the last 20 years by the Leafs.
- winsix

Because the Leafs spend to the cap. The Coyotes don’t.

Why?

He supports a war criminal.

Because this is the internet, let's go to the extreme right away: if a player vocally supported Hitler, and refused to recant his views (kept a picture of him and Hitler as his Instagram home page), would the league allow him to continue to play?

Would the league actively promote the player?

The world is already enforcing heavy sanctions against Russia and Russians.

At what point do we look at work visas? How many Ukrainians have to die before the NHL (and the US and Canadian governments) are willing to have this uncomfortable situation?

And don't give me this horsepoop about how it would be dangerous for Ovi's family. One - it's crap. And two - this started when Ovi vocally supported the illegal annexation of Crimea.

Why is everyone turning a blind eye to this?
- Atomic Wedgie

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.
- Dozzer

He is a politician that is also a war criminal...Both are completely different things.

Because the Leafs spend to the cap. The Coyotes don’t.
- Canada Cup

and need the cash. thereore, doesn't that make it a great type of trade for the yotes, just from the other side?

If they can get montreal to cough up some picks and young assets to take on weber, that would be great, wouldn't it?

I'm just not so sure it helps montreal, because he's on LTIR. you get into all that weird 'at the cap' vs 'just past the cap' vs well under the cap type crap.

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.
- Dozzer

yeah, I don't think the NHL should be wading into this territory.

Teams have every right to, but not the NHL as a whole.

You really have a hate on OV do'nt you?
- prock

I have a hate on for anyone who supports Putin's current murderous actions in Ukraine.

Is that really so hard to grasp?

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.
- Dozzer

Well people got cancelled for ALOT less than supporting a worldwide known war criminal.

He is a politician that is also a war criminal...Both are completely different things.
- Santo_44

Doesn’t matter. Ovechkin is allowed to have his own opinion…. And others are allowed to dislike him for it.

However neither side is illegal.

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.
- Dozzer

This is factually incorrect.

He actively supported Putin - created Team Putin. Campaigned for Putin.

Ovi (and you) can't have it both ways - if he chooses to use his celebrity to actively support and promote Putin, he can't then say that it's unfair to criticize him for it.

He’s allowed to support whomever he chooses politically.

This is a sport not a government extension.

You don’t have to like him but he’s an athlete, not a government representative, not a military representative, has absolutely nothing to do with the war.

You don’t have to like him but in North America you do have the right to your own opinion. If you’re punished for one that isn’t popular that’s against the rights and freedoms plain and simple.
- Dozzer

Freedom is never without limits ...even at the public level ..but especially when you work for a private corporation. The NHL holds the cards on how they want this to play out. Wedgies point is that the NHL can take action ...and have so far chosen not to.

yeah, I don't think the NHL should be wading into this territory.

Teams have every right to, but not the NHL as a whole.
- prock

The team is the employer so yes they could request that he’d be quiet however if it isn’t part of his contract he would also need to agree with the request.

id be fine if the Leafs wanted to bring back Reimer (cheaply)

Well people got cancelled for ALOT less than supporting a worldwide known war criminal.
- Scabeh

Who and for what?

If you’re going to make a point please add the specifics.

Let's put it a different way:

If the captain of an NHL team actively supported the leader of the KKK, would the league turn a blind eye?

Would the league pump out promotional news releases for him?

He is a politician that is also a war criminal...Both are completely different things.
- Santo_44

He doesn’t hold an actual political position but he is active politically supporting Putin and established Team Putin which has been one of the primary pro-war propaganda outlets (some of their videos are very Nazi-like).

As an athlete and not an actual government official or politician I don’t think government can (frank) around with his work visa or that the league can ban him. I do think the Capitals have been over the top in protecting him and in banning his critics.

I have a hate on for anyone who supports Putin's current murderous actions in Ukraine.

Is that really so hard to grasp?
- Atomic Wedgie

I'm surprised the Washington Post hasn't taken a really good run at Ovi. Right or wrong I'm surprised they haven't written a short docu piece on the extent of Ovi's history with Putin.

This is factually incorrect.

He actively supported Putin - created Team Putin. Campaigned for Putin.

Ovi (and you) can't have it both ways - if he chooses to use his celebrity to actively support and promote Putin, he can't then say that it's unfair to criticize him for it.
- Atomic Wedgie

What law has he broke Wedgie?

Not one is the answer btw.

And I agree with people being allowed to openly judge him however that doesn’t give the league the right to suspend him either.

An opinion is not punishable in North America. You could openly support murder for instance but as long as you don’t kill someone or help plan to you’ve technically not done anything illegal.

Freedom is never without limits ...even at the public level ..but especially when you work for a private corporation. The NHL holds the cards on how they want this to play out. Wedgies point is that the NHL can take action ...and have so far chosen not to.
- The Law

Exactly.

So there are no rules in place that he’s breaking. So he’s technically doing nothing punishable.

id be fine if the Leafs wanted to bring back Reimer (cheaply)
- senstroll

We would have the world’s nicest two goalies

Who and for what?

If you’re going to make a point please add the specifics.
- Dozzer

Logan Mailloux was suspended 6 months by the OHL, people were outraged because he was actually drafted by the Habs, couldn't report to camp and to this day people are still shoving the story of him sending pictures of sexual nature to his teammates without the girl's consent.

He'll get this shoved in his face for a long time still, for something that, if it happened in Canada, we wouldn't even know about it because he was a minor at the time. He has faced everything the law in europe has given him (which was a fine).

But everyone should be fine with Ovechkin supporting Putin, helping finance him and make him popular, participate in official government fund raisers and still respect his choice of being best buds with someone responsible for thousands of deaths?

So yeah, without diminishing what Mailloux did, what the actual (frank)?