NHL may not take part in 2014 Olympics

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/11447-NHL-may-not-take-part-in-2014-Olympics.html

The NHL may not take part in the 2014 Olympics in Russia.

"It is a strain. It is a strain on the players, on the schedule and on our fans here." Bettman told Reuters.

"It has an impact on the momentum of the season and the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they're in distant time zones."

NHL players will take part in the 2010 games in Vancouver.

"Vancouver was an easy call because we're going to play the games in Canada," said Bettman. "Salt Lake City was an easy call. Japan and Italy might not have given us in terms of focus and attention and impact what we may have hoped from taking a 17-day break.

"I think after Vancouver we'll have to take a deep breath, debrief and make sure that when we balance the pros and cons from going to the Olympics, the pros exceed the cons if we're going to do it again."

The report also suggested the NHL is exploring the idea of playing more games overseas.

"Our experience in London was terrific," Bettman told Reuters. "There are rumors rampant that we might go to Prague or Stockholm next. We're looking at the options.

"I could envision at a point in time in the future to maybe go to a dozen different cities over time. There are lots of hockey markets with tremendously avid fans throughout Europe."

According to the report, Bettman mentioned Moscow, St. Petersburg, Helsinki and various German cities among the possibilities.

I agree with Bettman on this one. Russia should never EVER get an Olympic.

Well the only reason they went to Torino was becasue they wanted to be in Vancouver.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/11447-NHL-may-not-take-part-in-2014-Olympics.html

With the NHL much more international now I hate to admit I may agree with Bettman on this topic.

Wonder how the players feel?

Playing hockey in Russia didn't work well for Elias either.

i agree with bettman for once

It will be nice to see college kids get a go at it again.

It will be nice to see college kids get a go at it again.

Heck yeah - give us the underdog scenarios again - and it would be an incredible scouting opp for the NHL as well.

I like the past couple of times with the NHL involved and seeing teammates play against each other for their countries, but really in today's high salary NHL - the risk is not worth the reward and it's just as much fun learning about all the new young players from the Juniors and Colleges too.

I welcome the change if it happens. :handclap:

So much for seeing the best of the best go at it.

Wait, what???

"the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they're in distant time zones."

So there's not much benefit to the NHL when games are played in distant time zones?

WHY DID THE SEASON OPEN IN EUROPE THEN YOU FRIGGIN MORON!!!

Then he goes onto say how he wants to expand more in Europe.

My hatred grows for him more and more every single day.

There was talk on the CBC this morning that a big reason for not going to Russia is that Russia hasn't signed onto the IIHF transfer agreement and that the NHL doesn't want to do Russia any favours by letting the Russians get to see their NHL players.

I know that it's tough on the players, from a selfish standpoint, I love to watch the NHL players in the Winter Olympics. It's possibly the best thing that I get to watch in all of sports. I'm really gonna miss the allure of it if Bettman takes out the pro players. Well at least they'll still have curling...I love that stuff.

But I can see why Bettman doesn't want to do it. Moscow? Ugh. They can think of a better place than that.

Wait, what???

"the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they're in distant time zones."

So there's not much benefit to the NHL when games are played in distant time zones?

WHY DID THE SEASON OPEN IN EUROPE THEN YOU FRIGGIN MORON!!!

Then he goes onto say how he wants to expand more in Europe.

My hatred grows for him more and more every single day.

Because when the open in Europe it's the NHL name that is front in center, with the Olympics it is not. The players stop being NHL players when they go over for the Olympics they are referred to as of Team (insert Country) and not by their NHL team or both. There is no benefit to NHL in sending players to the game.

I seem to be in the minority here, but I love seeing the NHL players in the Olympics and I hope it continues beyond 2010. IMO, the Olympics should showcase the world's best players.