The point being, for me. That Hockey is more than just the good ol' "NHL".

They have 4 years to plan for this event, that helps fans around the world watch the best players compete. No excuses.
- flyer_nutter

If they run a separate hockey tournament and include all professional players, would that suffice for you? Or does it need to be part of the winter olympics?

To me, an international tournament would be a much better idea. It won't interfere with regular seasons (not just he NHL but all other leagues as well), it can consist of more teams and more games, the broadcasting of games can be planned better and it will stand alone as an individual tournament.

To me its about honouring than Olympics as well, which to me have a lot more historical and cultural significance than Lord Stanley.

Interesting conversation to me at least, but maybe advanced stats are more fun for HB.
- flyer_nutter

If it's about honoring the Olympics, then make it an amateur tourney, which is what the Olympics had always been, up until the 1980's or so.

Then go back to amateurs playing and keep the NHL season going
- ob18

or just switch it to the summer olympics like basketball

You may not give a rat's ass about the Olympics, but there are many around the world that do.

That enjoy watching the best of the best play. I personally find it arrogant, short-sighted and often typical NA thinking to completely discount the views of those people that live outside of NA, and that's why I brought up Snider's comments as the main point. So be it.
- flyer_nutter

And your typical, snobby European thinking to assume all Americans are self-indulgent.

The NHL and Ed Snider do not want to abolish international hockey. They want to find a way to make it better.

Did he leave or get banned?

And your typical, snobby European thinking to assume all Americans are self-indulgent.

The NHL and Ed Snider do not want to abolish international hockey. They want to find a way to make it better.
- PhillySportsGuy

Or at least find a way to make it co-exist better with their own game and league, which makes millionaires out of the players who play in the Olympics.

The point being, for me. That Hockey is more than just the good ol' "NHL".

They have 4 years to plan for this event, that helps fans around the world watch the best players compete. No excuses.
- flyer_nutter

Ed Snider is not in business to promote the sport of Hockey all over the World. He has a huge investment in the team and in the NHL. And in the players. I don't think he's wrong for being concerned that players that his organization is paying millions of dollars to, risk injury playing in the Olympics. And make no mistake about it. If the Olympics weren't making money for people, they wouldn't be happening, and it wouldn't be broadcast on national TV.

Or at least find a way to make it co-exist better with their own game and league, which makes millionaires out of the players who play in the Olympics.
- Jsaquella

I understand his point that the NHL should allow players to go to the olympics because it gives the fans, who otherwise wouldn't be able to see them, a chance to see their favorite players and countrymen. I just don't understand why the NHL can't put together their own tournament, which would be better than the olympic tournament, instead of stopping their season. They can also become a summer olympic sport.

His argument seems to be that he doesn't want the NHL to ruin his nostalgic memories of past olympics. Professionals have only been playing in the winter olympics for 30 years. Its not like some long standing tradition.

or just switch it to the summer olympics like basketball
- Crimsoninja

no

You may not give a rat's ass about the Olympics, but there are many around the world that do.

That enjoy watching the best of the best play. I personally find it arrogant, short-sighted and often typical NA thinking to completely discount the views of those people that live outside of NA, and that's why I brought up Snider's comments as the main point. So be it.
- flyer_nutter

Put yourself in his shoes. I know what I would think. And I find the whole "North American" thinking angle to be puzzling. It's not as if the Olympics is this wonderful sporting event that exists just to celebrate the sports and the competition. That is just the guise for the money grab.

Ed Snider is not in business to promote the sport of Hockey all over the World. He has a huge investment in the team and in the NHL. And in the players. I don't think he's wrong for being concerned that players that his organization is paying millions of dollars to, risk injury playing in the Olympics. And make no mistake about it. If the Olympics weren't making money for people, they wouldn't be happening, and it wouldn't be broadcast on national TV.
- MJL

Ed loves promoting the sport and his franchise. He just understands the league would be much better off financially and in terms of exposure if they took control of the international hockey tournament.

no
- ob18

huh?

no
- ob18

Lebron on skates

huh?
- Crimsoninja

no to liking basketball

no to liking basketball
- ob18

Basketball was an example. As in basketball is played during the summer olympics and does not interrupt the NBA.

Basketball was an example. As in basketball is played during the summer olympics and does not interrupt the NBA.
- PhillySportsGuy

I know

rabble rabble

Ed loves promoting the sport and his franchise. He just understands the league would be much better off financially and in terms of exposure if they took control of the international hockey tournament.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yes, he loves promoting the NHL and his franchise. He's a business man, who invested a fortune both in time and money. He's also made a fortune off of it. I don't see how a guy can be criticized for wanting to protect what he spent a large majority of his life building. But I guess it's typical North American thinking.

or just switch it to the summer olympics like basketball
- Crimsoninja

The ice would melt!

I understand his point that the NHL should allow players to go to the olympics because it gives the fans, who otherwise wouldn't be able to see them, a chance to see their favorite players and countrymen. I just don't understand why the NHL can't put together their own tournament, which would be better than the olympic tournament, instead of stopping their season. They can also become a summer olympic sport.

His argument seems to be that he doesn't want the NHL to ruin his nostalgic memories of past olympics. Professionals have only been playing in the winter olympics for 30 years. Its not like some long standing tradition.
- PhillySportsGuy

Where I get lost is, is the primary goal to see the best of the best face off as nations or is it to see it happen during the Olympics?

If the main goal is to promote hockey to a world wide audience and let people in Europe see their countrymen playing for their national teams, a World Cup would be better than the Olympics.

In a World Cup, there's no distractions. It's hockey first, hockey last and hockey in between. There's no luge or speed skating. No figure skating.No skiing or bobsled. No curling. Just hockey.

And to condemn Snider for wanting to protect his investment, in both the NHL and the players he employs, while building up the blind cash grab that the Olympics is, to me is being a bit hypocritical. It's OK for the rich and powerful IOC to gobble up cash and not OK for the rich and powerful Ed Snider to do the same? In fact, the IOC isn't even making the investment that Snider is, because the players aren't getting paid by the IOC.

Well, he's not dead, but he is.

That's a shame. Very sad news.
- Giroux_Is_God

yeah it is

The Olympics haven't been running since the time of ancient Greece. They were held in ancient Greece and reborn just over 100 years ago.

They're also supposed to be about AMATEUR sports, not professionals. You want to celebrate the Olympic spirit, don't ignore that they are meant to be for non-professional athletes.

It is dumb that the NHL shuts down just as the playoff races start to hit the stretch run. It is dumb that right before the trade deadline there's a roster freeze for two weeks

I couldn't care less who wins the Olympic gold medal. I do care who wins the Stanley Cup, which has been around longer than the modern Olympics.
- Jsaquella

This!

Where I get lost is, is the primary goal to see the best of the best face off as nations or is it to see it happen during the Olympics?

If the main goal is to promote hockey to a world wide audience and let people in Europe see their countrymen playing for their national teams, a World Cup would be better than the Olympics.

In a World Cup, there's no distractions. It's hockey first, hockey last and hockey in between. There's no luge or speed skating. No figure skating.No skiing or bobsled. No curling. Just hockey.

And to condemn Snider for wanting to protect his investment, in both the NHL and the players he employs, while building up the blind cash grab that the Olympics is, to me is being a bit hypocritical. It's OK for the rich and powerful IOC to gobble up cash and not OK for the rich and powerful Ed Snider to do the same? In fact, the IOC isn't even making the investment that Snider is, because the players aren't getting paid by the IOC.
- Jsaquella

I'd take the World Cup over the Olympics any day, the 96 tournament was some of the best hockey I ever saw!

Know what though?

To me the Olympics, which have been running from the times of ancient Greece, and are meant as a celebration of sport, peace and culture are more important than the North American "NHL" run by a bunch of rich old dudes in fancy suits.

I think it just struck a cord with me on a personal level. I originally came to hear about the Flyers as a little kid in Eastern Europe while watching the Olympics.

To hear Ed spit on them like he did, tough to support an organization run by a leader with such ideals. Money first Ed.
- flyer_nutter

Who won the gold in hockey back in ancient greece?

Where I get lost is, is the primary goal to see the best of the best face off as nations or is it to see it happen during the Olympics?

If the main goal is to promote hockey to a world wide audience and let people in Europe see their countrymen playing for their national teams, a World Cup would be better than the Olympics.

In a World Cup, there's no distractions. It's hockey first, hockey last and hockey in between. There's no luge or speed skating. No figure skating.No skiing or bobsled. No curling. Just hockey.

And to condemn Snider for wanting to protect his investment, in both the NHL and the players he employs, while building up the blind cash grab that the Olympics is, to me is being a bit hypocritical. It's OK for the rich and powerful IOC to gobble up cash and not OK for the rich and powerful Ed Snider to do the same? In fact, the IOC isn't even making the investment that Snider is, because the players aren't getting paid by the IOC.
- Jsaquella

I completely agree