The NHL has announced that players will NOT be going to Pyoengchang in 2018.

NHL Will Not Participate in 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games

Very disappointed.

Edited April 3, 20178 yr by JCon

I'll tell you right now... the IIHF doesn't want to piss the NHL off so they won't allow ovi to play if he's under NHL contract 

Goalie is right.  But if Ovi went, I'd suspect him the rest of the season.  I'd make that known ahead of time that anyone violating their contracts will not play the rest of the season and playoffs.  Period.  You cannot violate your contract in that way. 

But yes, the IIHF wont allow it which is why guys like the Caps owner can kiss up to fans and players when he should be showing a unified front with his fellow owners.

4 minutes ago, The Unknown Poster said:

Goalie is right.  But if Ovi went, I'd suspect him the rest of the season.  I'd make that known ahead of time that anyone violating their contracts will not play the rest of the season and playoffs.  Period.  You cannot violate your contract in that way. 

But yes, the IIHF wont allow it which is why guys like the Caps owner can kiss up to fans and players when he should be showing a unified front with his fellow owners.

He's kissing up to Ovi. He should be kissing up to the fans, as all the players and owners should. He's not kissing up to players. I doubt the Ovi's teammates will be pleased to see him go for a long stretch, while they're fighting for playoff position next year. Also, there are a few players that would also like to be going, I'm sure.

We may have seen the end of Ovi in the NHL, if they suspend him for more than a few games (after he gets back).

Ovi is under contract to 2021.  He could retire.  But he's not throwing away his contract over the Olympics.  And you made a great point.  Its one thing for the stars to go to the Olympics while the lesser stars go to Mexico for three weeks.  But Ovi and a few chosen ones go to the Olympics and the other guys stay and battle?  That would play right into the leagues hands as far as their divide and conquer tactic with the players.

Has any media asked Ovi "what are you willing to give to go to the Olympics?"  Because thats the question.  Everyone is taking his sound byte, but what are the players willing to give?  They have contracts.  They want to opt out for three weeks at a critical time to go play for someone else.  Doesnt work that way. 

Not a fan of walsh

he says the owners are creating a poisonous atmosphere by not letting players go. But you could write a headline that says players are creating poisonous atmosphere by refusing to discuss going. 

Walsh is asked about the benefit to the owners and he says "growth" and is then asked to quantify it and he talks about memories. 

Man these guys are out to lunch. They're not even speaking the same language.  It's  no wonder guys like Wayne and Mario had a different perspective once they became owners.