Every winter Olympic sport is played in a cold environment and either played on some sort of ice or snow surface hence it is a winter sport. Name one winter Olympic sport that isn't? Last I checked, Basketball is not played on ice or snow.

The issue isn't only NHL players, but professional players as a whole. It isn't just a case of the NHL making the ruling, but the Olympic committee needs to dictate no professional athletes.

If the NHL does not let players go anymore, then you need the other professional leagues around the world to do the same. Then it will remain an even playing "field" at the Olympics. So if there are no NHL PLayers, will the KHL, or the Swedish Elite League do the same? From a Canada point of view this was a large contributor to why Canada went without a Gold Medal for so long until the 2002 Olympics.

From a Canada point of view all our best hockey players are in the NHL or on a direct NHL affiliation (AHL), and as such would not be allowed to go. That leaves it down to Junior level players. But with the latest turn of events, Ilya Kovalchuk can go and play as he now plays for the KHL.

With the Olympic ideals of having that level playing field in sport, then if the NHL does not go then the Olympics needs to eliminate all Professional Athletes.

The problem with that now becomes redundancy. Assumedly all players who are good enough to be professional, will be professional in some way. It will then lead to basically being a double of the World Juniors.

I understand why the NHL and owners have their reservations to the Olympics. And as a fan I want to see the best athletes competing. Doesn't matter to me if they are professional or amateur. If they are the best athletes then they should be there. They just have to make it all equal for those involved.

Every winter Olympic sport is played in a cold environment and either played on some sort of ice or snow surface hence it is a winter sport. Name one winter Olympic sport that isn't? Last I checked, Basketball is not played on ice or snow.
- EnzCusano

Correct. It's played inside in a controlled environment. Just like hockey is.

What is the difference if there's a tournament (canada/world cup) in Sept vs. one mid-season (olympics), Ek?

You still run the risk of injury, no matter when it's played.
- Powerslave

CASH!!!!!

The part your narrow mind isn't getting is that hockey could be moved to the Summer Games without any issue so as not to interfere with the regular season. The same goes for the IIHF WC which could be easily moved to the summer and played then also.
- sambarugh

Sure, because Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Sydney, Seoul and Rio are known to have world class ice hockey facilities.....

Hockey, speed skating, figure skating, etc are played indoors but on ice, that's my point. Basketball is played in the winter just as soccer is played in the winter in Europe so yes you can call them winter sports in that respect but for the Olympics, winter sports involve ice or snow (skiing) in some way.

Nash-Crosby-Perry
Tavares-Giroux-Stamkos
E.Stall-Toews-Kane
Hall-Nugent-Hopkins-Eberle
Benn-Bergeron-Seguin

Weber-Doughty
Keith-Letang
Pietrangelo-Subban
M.Stall-Schultz
Price
Luongo
Crawford
- Oilers42

the only oiler that stands a chance is Eberle. Hall probably gets an invite to camp, but RNH has no shot at an invite. Unless he has a complete turn around this year. You have left out Getzlaf who is a shoe in, Duchene who keeps getting better, and played real well at the world championships, and couture who i take over all 3 oilers....right now anyways. And of course Monahan...kidding kidding

That works.
- sambarugh

Excellent.

Wouldn't mind the return of the world cup.

Especially if the finals is a best of 3 series
- AngryWhiteMale

this is the one pro about the world cup

the only oiler that stands a chance is Eberle. Hall probably gets an invite to camp, but RNH has no shot at an invite. Unless he has a complete turn around this year. You have left out Getzlaf who is a shoe in, Duchene who keeps getting better, and played real well at the world championships, and couture who i take over all 3 oilers....right now anyways. And of course Monahan...kidding kidding

- seatsy

u have it backwards.
hall is a way more sure thing than eberle.
u know he just finished top ten in scoring and was edm's best player by far last year? not only that but he's an elite skater which is a huge plus on the big ice.

ill agree nuge has no shot at the team really.. but your eberle vs hall sentiments are pre 2013.
ebs is the longshot while hall is probably penciled in as of today.
you haven't been paying attention

comments like "Duchene is getting better". while it's true, and hes awesome..... hall who's younger has plateaued? it's just not a valid argument in this instance.

btw-all of Duchene, couture and hall are on the team

basketball is not a winter sport. hockey is.
- DoubleDown

It's a winter sport in my high school

It's a winter sport in my high school
- JCSabs06

Do you go to school in the summer?

u have it backwards.
hall is a way more sure thing than eberle.
u know he just finished top ten in scoring and was edm best player by far last year? not only that but he's an elite skater which is a huge plaus on the big ice.

ill agree nuge has no shot at the team really.. but your eberle vs hall sentiments are pre 2013.
ebs is the longshot while hall is probably penciled in as of today.
you haven't been paying attention

I also like these comments like "Duchene is getting better". while it's true, and hes awesome..... hall who's younger has plateaued? it's just not a valid argument in this instance.

btw-all of Duchene, couture and hall are on the team
- hugefemale dog77

I appreciate your argument, you would know better being the oilers fan. Ill have to watch the oilers this year closer then. Im still on the eberle bandwagon from his rookie year. that first goal against the flames was something else....

Sure, because Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Sydney, Seoul and Rio are known to have world class ice hockey facilities.....
- OldGuy

Well, they would have 4 years to build a rink. Cities build facilities all the time to accomodate themselves hosting the Olympics.

Also, you then have a rink in cities that didn't previously have one - thus expanding the game globally.

CASH!!!!!
- Springman75

Exactly. The IOC makes a ton off the hockey and keeps it all. The NHL owners take on considerable risk and don't get a dime back. I don't blame them one bit if they pull out. Besides, a World Cup in Sept with meaningful hockey sounds better to me anyway.

the only oiler that stands a chance is Eberle. Hall probably gets an invite to camp, but RNH has no shot at an invite. Unless he has a complete turn around this year. You have left out Getzlaf who is a shoe in, Duchene who keeps getting better, and played real well at the world championships, and couture who i take over all 3 oilers....right now anyways. And of course Monahan...kidding kidding

- seatsy

I think Jordan Staal ends up on the team. Even though I don't believe he belongs there. Very good player, but people tend to overrate him...those people include NHL GMs and coaches.

The part your narrow mind isn't getting is that hockey could be moved to the Summer Games without any issue so as not to interfere with the regular season. The same goes for the IIHF WC which could be easily moved to the summer and played then also.
- sambarugh

and only someone of your intellect could see the highest profile hockey tournament in the world being played in the summer. You don't get it. Just switch to some Nascar chatroom and stay among your own mouth breathers ok?

If the owners are worried about injuries in the Olympics, then shouldn't they be worried about injuries in a World Cup/Canada Cup type setting?

Correct. It's played inside in a controlled environment. Just like hockey is.
- sambarugh

Basketball is played in a warm environment. Hockey is played in a cold environment. The fact that certain professional league's replicate those environments indoors for financial reasons doesn't define the environment in which the sport is played. Warm environment = Summer Olympics. Cold environment = Winter Olympics. Olympics don't placed sports based on what time of year whichever professional league is largest at the time happens to have their schedule.

Well, they would have 4 years to build a rink. Cities build facilities all the time to accomodate themselves hosting the Olympics.

Also, you then have a rink in cities that didn't previously have one - thus expanding the game globally.
- sambarugh

You think building a world class ice rink in Rio De Janeiro makes sense? Do you think the locals would flock to the games in the Summer? I guess the beer leagues would be sprouting up left, right, and centre, once the Olympics were over...

The NHL should make a rule that players can participate if they choose to but will not be insured if anything happens to them. Choices have consequences. If I work and make my company money but I decide to do extreme sports on my spare time the company wouldn't cover any of my injuries why should the NHL?

Count me in the no NHL'ers in the Olympics camp.

Its time to go back to using amateurs.

-No other major sport shuts down in midseason for the Olympics
-There are plenty of great amateur players out there in college and juniors
-People will watch, even if there are no NHL players. To quote coach Brooks, the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the name on the back.

With such an emphasis on being a breaking news website...no where is there a mention of the Brown 8 year $46 million signing. I guess I'll stick to TSN and Sportsnet

I think Jordan Staal ends up on the team. Even though I don't believe he belongs there. Very good player, but people tend to overrate him...those people include NHL GMs and coaches.
- cranktheradio

Too many players to sit here and try and put a team together. I know its always said, but it really would be something if Canada could enter two teams and see how they do.

With such an emphasis on being a breaking news website...no where is there a mention of the Brown 8 year $46 million signing. I guess I'll stick to TSN and Sportsnet
- buns25

For news -- yes. If you're after inane chatter, this is the place