Hopefully, the fallout from the North American quarterfinals reverses
will be bring renewed determination, and not resignation that the NHL
should prepare for an Olympic exit.
Yes, the Americans and Team Canada were disappointments on the ice;
yes, there were some problems with the construction of the teams,; and
yes, each of the national federations has had external and internal
pressures which may have hindered the execution on the ice. But
the passion and will to win by either team cannot be questioned.
After Nagano in 1998, there were plenty of questions about the future
viability of NHL players in the Olympics. Yet after the success
of the US and Canadian teams at Salt Lake City in 2002, there was nary
a nay-sayer to be heard. Obviously, an overwhelming majority of
the people the NHL suits care about (i.e.: ticket buyers and viewers)
live in North America, and a tournament without US and/or Canadian
success leaves these ticket-buyers disappointed and looking for
answers. But surely this is but a temporary disillusionment.
The benefits of the NHL players' Olympic participation so outweigh the
detriments that only the most narrow minded could contend
otherwise. Yes, NHL rinks are dark for a couple of weeks, but
those who say that the momentum of the season is destroyed should
realize that the monotony that sets in during the midst of an 82 game
season makes a two-week break welcome. The fans as well as most
of the players should come back refreshed to compete for the Cup.
Yes, a few players will be hurt, and a few others may be fatigued --
but who is to say these players wouldn't get hurt in Nashville or
Calgary instead of Torino?
It's not like revenue is being lost -- the 82 games are still being
played. The NHL is simply getting tens of millions more people
around the world watching their commodity --- the players -- compete at
the highest level.
Instead of the whispers (and more) from the game's caretakers that the
NHL should not allow their players to compete past 2010, the league
should do more to promote this every-four-years competition.
Giving the players three extra days off should be mandatory for the
next competition: the 8 games in 12 days that the gold medal
participants must play is ridiculous (8 in 11 days for the
Bronzers!) There is no doubt that the hockey suffered from the
intense schedule compression.
The best guess here is that a strong North American resurgence in
Vancouver 2010, plus continued applied pressure from the IIHF and a
hopefully reinvigorated NHLPA, will see NHL players continue to grace
the Games -- hopefully with even more grace, skill, and energy -
despite the sour grapes now being heard.
Gilles Moncour
[email protected] 
