NHL ready to say no to 2018 Games
It appears that few if any NHL players will take part in next year’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.
No official announcement was made, but Commissioner Gary Bettman essentially sealed the deal Wednesday when, speaking to reporters at the general managers’ meetings in Florida, he said there was “absolutely nothing new” to say about negotiations. While players are in favor of being included in the Olympics, the league has been forced to choose between the added international exposure, including a chance to reach a new audience, and shutting down the regular season for almost three weeks.
When the International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee balked at paying travel expenses for players and NHL staff this time around, the NHL realized it’s just not a profitable venture.
“I think the overwhelming sentiment of (team owners) is that it’s very disruptive on the season and there’s somewhere between fatigue and negativity on the subject,” Bettman said.
The NHL has sent players to every Winter Oympics since 1998 in Nagano, Japan. The decision for the 2018 Games, however, doesn’t mean NHL players won’t return; the league is reportedly in negotiations with the IOC and IIHF to send players to Beijing in 2022.
The question now: How hard will the players push back? Flyers wing Jakub Voracek told CSN Philadelphia that the NHL refusing to go is “absolutely ridiculous.” Months ago, Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin said he would play in the Games regardless of the league’s decision. And, interestingly, Washington owner Ted Leonsis is on record supporting Ovechkin’s stance.
“The players want to go, I guarantee you that,” Voracek told CSN. “I want to see how you are going to hold Ovechkin back. The Russian players ... tell them they can’t go.”
Assuming next year is a no-go, that means a number of Sharks have played in their last Olympics — Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski — and it’s questionable whether Brent Burns, who would be 36 in 2022, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Logan Couture might still garner consideration for the Beijing Games.
Burns on fire: Speaking of Burns, the Sharks’ recordsetting defenseman is five points shy of last year’s careerbest and franchise-record 75 points for a blue liner. He’s also the first defenseman since Mike Green in 2008-09 and ’09-10 to reach the 70-point plateau in consecutive seasons.
Points galore: Four teams are on pace to eclipse the 100point plateau in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals are projected to have 118 points, the Blue Jackets and Penguins 114, and Rangers 106. Even the Islanders, who are 15-6-3 since Doug Weight replaced Jack Capuano behind the bench, are on pace for 93 points.
End of the line: The Red Wings’ streak of 25 straight years in the playoffs is clearly ending this spring. But did anyone expect a last-place finish in the East? Tough way for Joe Louis Arena to bow out. Adversity strikes: The Flames are the hottest team in the league with eight straight wins and points in nine in a row, but defensemen Michael Stone and Dougie Hamilton were injured Thursday. Stone appears to have separated a shoulder — the team is 8-0 since acquiring him from Arizona. Keep an eye on whether the rampaging Flames can keep it up. Briefly: For those wondering, the average length of video review on offside challenges this season is 2:18 compared to 2:35 last season. It’s still too long. … There’s anticipation of a Battle of Alberta playoff matchup this spring. If so, it would mark the first time in 26 seasons the Flames and Oilers have met in the postseason. … The “bye week” format will change next season. Fifteen teams will be off one week in January, and return to play each other the following week when the other 16 are off. I still don’t understand why a bye week is necessary, but the league is locked in with the players’ association to do it at least one more year.