Tim Panaccio: The NHL Will Go to South Korea, Just as It Went to Sochi

The Olympics is great for the growth of the sport. Just look at @IIHF retweets from yesterday. The IIHF retweeted photos of people watching the game from countries on every continent all over the world. It's great for the game and it's the only chance the world gets to see the absolute best-on-best from each nation. The Olympics will always be bigger for athletes than a World Cup or Canada Cup because of the history of the games. They want to play and the world wants to see them. Grow the sport and go to South Korea.

I agree. They'll get a bigger piece of the revenue pie and it's good for world wide marketing. So it's a couple of weeks, every 4 years.....big deal!

The Olympics is great for the growth of the sport. Just look at @IIHF retweets from yesterday. The IIHF retweeted photos of people watching the game from countries on every continent all over the world. It's great for the game and it's the only chance the world gets to see the absolute best-on-best from each nation. The Olympics will always be bigger for athletes than a World Cup or Canada Cup because of the history of the games. They want to play and the world wants to see them. Grow the sport and go to South Korea.
- thirstyfin

Particularly in Slovenia and Latvia... their players have to be bordering on folk heroes the way they stood up to the goliaths of the draw.

The World Cup is a better, more logical idea. The only reason Olympic Hockey gets watched so much is because all of the other Olympic sports are boring after about 10 minutes. No other sport shuts down for 3 weeks in the middle of the season to let its players go played in a glorified All-Star tournament.

The World Cup is a better, more logical idea. The only reason Olympic Hockey gets watched so much is because all of the other Olympic sports are boring after about 10 minutes. No other sport shuts down for 3 weeks in the middle of the season to let its players go played in a glorified All-Star tournament.
- jmatchett383

I agree. The "olympics" as some would call it is nothing more than a 2 week NHL tournament. There is nothing exciting about watching reshuffled NHL teams.

The World Cup is a better, more logical idea. The only reason Olympic Hockey gets watched so much is because all of the other Olympic sports are boring after about 10 minutes. No other sport shuts down for 3 weeks in the middle of the season to let its players go played in a glorified All-Star tournament.
- jmatchett383

The Olympics has a far bigger reach around the world when it comes to growing the sport. It's the biggest sports tournament on the planet and it means more to athletes to win Olympic Gold as opposed to a World Cup. If fairness to the NHL, the NBA doesn't have to shut down to allow their players to go and it's almost impossible for baseball due to the size of their schedule and how condensed it already is without losing games or pushing the schedule into November. If fans and players really enjoyed the World Cup it would already have kept happening.

The World Cup is a better, more logical idea. The only reason Olympic Hockey gets watched so much is because all of the other Olympic sports are boring after about 10 minutes. No other sport shuts down for 3 weeks in the middle of the season to let its players go played in a glorified All-Star tournament.
- jmatchett383

Not true at all.

Any world cup they have will be held in the summer.

First, the interest won't be there in August like it is in the winter. People in northern climates are rarely around the TV in the summer months. Viewership will be a fraction of what it is in the winter.

Second, having hockey as part of the bigger Olympic picture also increases viewership. People watch the Olympics. Hockey is part of it. To isolate a hockey tournament and put it in August, will not have anywhere near the same 'feel' to it.

Third, players will not be in game shape. It may be a 'best on best' tournament, but it will not be the players at their best. I know players stay in shape in the summers, but there is a huge difference between 'in shape' and in 'game shape'. Just compare NHL games in October, and March to see the obvious difference. Because of this, a tournament in August would me much closer to a 'glorified All star tournament' as you put it, than the Olympics are.

Finally, many mainly European players may opt out of a world cup entirely. The world championships means something over there. Obviously, the Olympics means something world wide. A fabricated world cup with a fabricated trophy (or medals) won't suddenly make the tournament important.

The NHL has to continue to go to the Olympics. I don't think it's a coincidence that the NHL revenues have risen so much since the NHL players started going to the Olympics.

Apparently, the US/Russia round robin game was had the highest ratings of any NBC hockey game in the history of the network. More than any Stanley cup final and more than the outdoor games, and it was played at 7am EST (4am PST). I think that alone speaks volumes.

I honestly think this is all positioning by Bettman to get the NHL a better deal with the IOC.

The NHL would be downright idiotic to stop going to the Olympics. Obviously, the NHL needs a better deal, including insurance issues for injuries, but I can't imagine a scenario where the NHL stops going all together.

They may take the next one off in South Korea to prove that they mean business about a better deal. If you think about it, it is the perfect time to draw the line in the sand, considering the location. If they miss in 2018, whatever.

But it would be ridiculous to think that Sochi was last time that NHL players go to a winter games.

Not true at all.

Any world cup they have will be held in the summer.

First, the interest won't be there in August like it is in the winter. People in northern climates are rarely around the TV in the summer months. Viewership will be a fraction of what it is in the winter.

Second, having hockey as part of the bigger Olympic picture also increases viewership. People watch the Olympics. Hockey is part of it. To isolate a hockey tournament and put it in August, will not have anywhere near the same 'feel' to it.

Third, players will not be in game shape. It may be a 'best on best' tournament, but it will not be the players at their best. I know players stay in shape in the summers, but there is a huge difference between 'in shape' and in 'game shape'. Just compare NHL games in October, and March to see the obvious difference. Because of this, a tournament in August would me much closer to a 'glorified All star tournament' as you put it, than the Olympics are.

Finally, many mainly European players may opt out of a world cup entirely. The world championships means something over there. Obviously, the Olympics means something world wide. A fabricated world cup with a fabricated trophy (or medals) won't suddenly make the tournament important.

The NHL has to continue to go to the Olympics. I don't think it's a coincidence that the NHL revenues have risen so much since the NHL players started going to the Olympics.

Apparently, the US/Russia round robin game was had the highest ratings of any NBC hockey game in the history of the network. More than any Stanley cup final and more than the outdoor games, and it was played at 7am EST (4am PST). I think that alone speaks volumes.
- Charliebox

All well and good. In fact, several people at my work got really jacked for the USA-Russia and USA-Canada matchup. You know how many of those people will become avid hockey fans? Zero. It's like curling; it's cool when you have a country to root for, but it's not something where 2 weeks worth of the best on the planet is going to create a huge new fanbase. It doesn't have the appeal to draw in people on an 82-game/year basis.

It's like playoff hockey. I have a few friends who love playoff hockey, but could care less about the regular season. You CAN NOT GROW HOCKEY FANS. The NHL has been trying since the 90s, and it doesn't work. If you like hockey, you're a fan. If you don't like it, you never will. Most people had watched hockey prior to the 1998 Olympics. I'm sure many "non-hockey fans" watched the NHL players for their home teams in the Olympics. And most of those people stopped caring about hockey until 2002. I'm speaking of Americans, as a note.

All well and good. In fact, several people at my work got really jacked for the USA-Russia and USA-Canada matchup. You know how many of those people will become avid hockey fans? Zero. It's like curling; it's cool when you have a country to root for, but it's not something where 2 weeks worth of the best on the planet is going to create a huge new fanbase. It doesn't have the appeal to draw in people on an 82-game/year basis.

It's like playoff hockey. I have a few friends who love playoff hockey, but could care less about the regular season. You CAN NOT GROW HOCKEY FANS. The NHL has been trying since the 90s, and it doesn't work. If you like hockey, you're a fan. If you don't like it, you never will. Most people had watched hockey prior to the 1998 Olympics. I'm sure many "non-hockey fans" watched the NHL players for their home teams in the Olympics. And most of those people stopped caring about hockey until 2002. I'm speaking of Americans, as a note.
- jmatchett383

I see your point and I agree that you aren't going to grow a 'diehard' hockey fan based on the Olympics, or any other international event, for that matter.

What you may do, though, is get a few more people out to games here and there. You may also get the kids of these individuals into the sport - which is huge.. especially in the non-traditional hockey markets.

One thing is for certain, the Olympics will grow the game far more than a fake tournament, run by the NHL, in August.

No one cares about hockey in August. Only people who are already diehards will take time away from vacationing, cottaging, camping, just being outdoors etc. to watch these games.

The world cup of hockey is greasy. It's all about money. It's not about representing your country at all. It's about the NHL making cash off players who aren't being paid to participate.

People in Sweden, Finland, Russia (traditional hockey markets), won't give a crap about a World Cup of hockey when there is a World Championships every spring after their leagues have finished.

I see your point and I agree that you aren't going to grow a 'diehard' hockey fan based on the Olympics, or any other international event, for that matter.

What you may do, though, is get a few more people out to games here and there. You may also get the kids of these individuals into the sport - which is huge.. especially in the non-traditional hockey markets.

One thing is for certain, the Olympics will grow the game far more than a fake tournament, run by the NHL, in August.

No one cares about hockey in August. Only people who are already diehards will take time away from vacationing, cottaging, camping, just being outdoors etc. to watch these games.

The world cup of hockey is greasy. It's all about money. It's not about representing your country at all. It's about the NHL making cash off players who aren't being paid to participate.

People in Sweden, Finland, Russia (traditional hockey markets), won't give a crap about a World Cup of hockey when there is a World Championships every spring after their leagues have finished.
- Charliebox

You know what? You're probably right. The World Cup is all about the NHL making money. And you know what else? I don't care. I was at the 1996 World Cup for 3 games, and it was the best display of hockey I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty wild games. Frankly, I don't care what people in Europe do, because I love watching good hockey. I was getting up at 3 AM every day last year for the WJC. And with NBC promoting it, I can almost guarantee you that it would get followers in the US if nowhere else.

You know what? You're probably right. The World Cup is all about the NHL making money. And you know what else? I don't care. I was at the 1996 World Cup for 3 games, and it was the best display of hockey I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty wild games. Frankly, I don't care what people in Europe do, because I love watching good hockey. I was getting up at 3 AM every day last year for the WJC. And with NBC promoting it, I can almost guarantee you that it would get followers in the US if nowhere else.
- jmatchett383

You know what's even crazier, though? The hockey in the last two Olympics (mainly Vancouver cause of the smaller ice) was miles ahead of 1996.

First of all, as I said earlier, 96 was in the summer and players weren't in the same shape as they would be in February. Admittedly, it was also during the 'clutch and grab' era so that slowed the game down as well..

Now obviously, Americans have different memories because you won in 1996. For argument's sake, had the US won in 2010 in OT instead of Canada, 1996 would have paled in comparison.

Second, the Euros didn't give as much of a crap about it, so the 'desire' wasn't there as much as it would be during the Olympics. So how 'competitive' is it really?

To me, the world cup is just dirty. I don't know how else to explain it.

You know what's even crazier, though? The hockey in the last two Olympics (mainly Vancouver cause of the smaller ice) was miles ahead of 1996.

First of all, as I said earlier, 96 was in the summer and players weren't in the same shape as they would be in February. Admittedly, it was also during the 'clutch and grab' era so that slowed the game down as well..

Now obviously, Americans have different memories because you won in 1996. For argument's sake, had the US won in 2010 in OT instead of Canada, 1996 would have paled in comparison.

Second, the Euros didn't give as much of a crap about it, so the 'desire' wasn't there as much as it would be during the Olympics. So how 'competitive' is it really?

To me, the world cup is just dirty. I don't know how else to explain it.
- Charliebox

Actually, my favorite memory was the double OT Canada/Sweden semifinal. Seeing guys like Gretzky, Forsberg in his prime, all those great players. Yes, I saw 2 US/Canada games, but that game was by far the best I've ever seen live. I just prefer that my sport not shut down its best league for 3 weeks so players can go play some International shinny.

Actually, my favorite memory was the double OT Canada/Sweden semifinal. Seeing guys like Gretzky, Forsberg in his prime, all those great players. Yes, I saw 2 US/Canada games, but that game was by far the best I've ever seen live. I just prefer that my sport not shut down its best league for 3 weeks so players can go play some International shinny.
- jmatchett383

C'mon man, the last two Olympics have been anything but international shinny.

That's how the Russians play the game when they are all on the same team, and we saw how well that has worked the last two times around.

Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US up until the Bronze game, played as teams. Well oiled machines.

C'mon man, the last two Olympics have been anything but international shinny.

That's how the Russians play the game when they are all on the same team, and we saw how well that has worked the last two times around.

Canada, Finland, Sweden and the US up until the Bronze game, played as teams. Well oiled machines.
- Charliebox

And I still think 1996 was better. Maybe it's because I grew up watching/with those guys, but I also thought the last World Cup (2004?) was amazing as well.

Also, as for game shape, you're pulling players from a league with an ultra-condensed schedule, flying them halfway across the world, and making them play every other day for 2 weeks. I think I'd rather watch players who have 2+ months off to rest, can have a full mini-camp of 2 weeks (with exhibition games) instead.

I keep seeing people say that the Olympics will only help the NHL...I don't see that. There's people, especially in the US, who watch the Olympics for the sake of the Olympics. They don't really care what sport, they just watch the spectacle.

Does curling get a huge jump in ratings in non-Olympic years? Alpine skiing? other sports? Not especially. If the Olympics provided a big ratings boost, I'd be more in favor of it.

As it is, shutting down the NHL just as they playoff push is starting and the trade deadline is approaching, risking injury to star players right before that stretch run hurts the NHL. Imagine if Sidney Crosby or Ryan Getzlaff had been injured instead of John Tavares? There'd be a massive impact on the playoff races. There will be some impact now that Zuccarello, Zetterberg & Fedor Tyutin are all out for some time after being hurt at Sochi.

It's a bit easier to accept a player injury when he gets hurt toiling for his NHL team than it is when he's playing for an Olympic medal.

I just don't like it. To be totally honest, the games were not exactly that compelling. There were a handful of compelling games, but even most of the close games for Canada were close in score, but the Canadians dominated them.

For a "Best vs the Best" competition, the Olympics were not that much fun to watch.

I keep seeing people say that the Olympics will only help the NHL...I don't see that. There's people, especially in the US, who watch the Olympics for the sake of the Olympics. They don't really care what sport, they just watch the spectacle.

Does curling get a huge jump in ratings in non-Olympic years? Alpine skiing? other sports? Not especially. If the Olympics provided a big ratings boost, I'd be more in favor of it.
- Jsaquella

I don't know. As I said before, I don't think there is a coincidence that revenues skyrocketed after the Vancouver games. Those other individual sports just aren't big. There is a huge difference between sitting down on a Saturday morning to watch 60+ guys ski the same downhill course over and over, and sitting down on a Saturday night to watch a hockey game.

As it is, shutting down the NHL just as they playoff push is starting and the trade deadline is approaching, risking injury to star players right before that stretch run hurts the NHL. Imagine if Sidney Crosby or Ryan Getzlaff had been injured instead of John Tavares? There'd be a massive impact on the playoff races. There will be some impact now that Zuccarello, Zetterberg & Fedor Tyutin are all out for some time after being hurt at Sochi.

I am a Sens fan. No one got more screwed than us in 2006. The Sens had the BEST team they had ever compiled. Best regular season team in the East and a true Stanley Cup contender. Then Hasek went down in Torino and didn't play again that season. Emery poop the bed in the playoffs, and the rest was history. Sure, it sucked. Sure, I was pissed as a Sens fan. That said, I still wouldn't trade the players going to the Olympics on the off chance my team is one of the few that loses a star player.

It's a bit easier to accept a player injury when he gets hurt toiling for his NHL team than it is when he's playing for an Olympic medal.

I just don't like it. To be totally honest, the games were not exactly that compelling. There were a handful of compelling games, but even most of the close games for Canada were close in score, but the Canadians dominated them.

For a "Best vs the Best" competition, the Olympics were not that much fun to watch.

My point is that other than the Olympics, there are no other scenarios that we will ever get to see a best on best tournament. Hockey in August is not the same. The players are not in shape, and the desire to win a fake trophy is nothing compared to winning Olympic gold.

Canada dominated, sure. But if that tournament was held in August, Canada would have dominated that one, too. What's the difference? Canada's team was by far the best team Canada has ever sent to an Olympics. They dominated because they had zero weaknesses, regardless of when the tournament was played. A fully healthy Swedish team wouldn't have changed the result yesterday.

Tim Panaccio: The NHL Will Go to South Korea, Just as It Went to Sochi
- tpanaccio

I agree. The NHLPA will apply pressure and they will be there.

I just want to add one more thing:

The reason the world cup of hockey/Canada cup was so big in the 80s and 90s was because there had never been a best on best tournament before that.

NHL players didn't go to the Olympics and the world championships was only for younger players who's teams didn't make the playoffs.

Now that we have been spoiled with Olympic hockey, and the players have had a taste of the Olympic experience/winning Olympic medals a summer world cup will pale in comparison. Mark my words.

I see your point and I agree that you aren't going to grow a 'diehard' hockey fan based on the Olympics, or any other international event, for that matter.

What you may do, though, is get a few more people out to games here and there. You may also get the kids of these individuals into the sport - which is huge.. especially in the non-traditional hockey markets.

One thing is for certain, the Olympics will grow the game far more than a fake tournament, run by the NHL, in August.

No one cares about hockey in August. Only people who are already diehards will take time away from vacationing, cottaging, camping, just being outdoors etc. to watch these games.

The world cup of hockey is greasy. It's all about money. It's not about representing your country at all. It's about the NHL making cash off players who aren't being paid to participate.

People in Sweden, Finland, Russia (traditional hockey markets), won't give a crap about a World Cup of hockey when there is a World Championships every spring after their leagues have finished.
- Charliebox

The Olympics is a fake tournament that while not run by the NHL, it is endorsed by the NHL. These teams are not the national teams. They are reshuffled NHL teams that play once every 4 years while the REAL national teams take a backseat and make way for the "pros" to take their roster spots.

The Olympics is a fake tournament that while not run by the NHL, it is endorsed by the NHL. These teams are not the national teams. They are reshuffled NHL teams that play once every 4 years while the REAL national teams take a backseat and make way for the "pros" to take their roster spots.
- Daveflyers36

This doesn't make any sense.

There is no such thing as 'real' national teams.

Is there a national team circuit that I'm not aware of? If so, I'd like to know which amateurs make up team Canada and team USA.

In every team sport, when you have an Olympics, world championship, world cup, whatever, you are taking the best players from your country off their club teams. It's the same with the world cup of soccer or baseball.... speaking of baseball.. look at what happens when you try to fabricate a stupid tournament before the season starts.... many of the best guys don't even bother going. The same thing will happen with hockey.

I don't know. As I said before, I don't think there is a coincidence that revenues skyrocketed after the Vancouver games. Those other individual sports just aren't big. There is a huge difference between sitting down on a Saturday morning to watch 60+ guys ski the same downhill course over and over, and sitting down on a Saturday night to watch a hockey game.



I am a Sens fan. No one got more screwed than us in 2006. The Sens had the BEST team they had ever compiled. Best regular season team in the East and a true Stanley Cup contender. Then Hasek went down in Torino and didn't play again that season. Emery poop the bed in the playoffs, and the rest was history. Sure, it sucked. Sure, I was pissed as a Sens fan. That said, I still wouldn't trade the players going to the Olympics on the off chance my team is one of the few that loses a star player.



My point is that other than the Olympics, there are no other scenarios that we will ever get to see a best on best tournament. Hockey in August is not the same. The players are not in shape, and the desire to win a fake trophy is nothing compared to winning Olympic gold.

Canada dominated, sure. But if that tournament was held in August, Canada would have dominated that one, too. What's the difference? Canada's team was by far the best team Canada has ever sent to an Olympics. They dominated because they had zero weaknesses, regardless of when the tournament was played. A fully healthy Swedish team wouldn't have changed the result yesterday.
- Charliebox

Revenues have risen in every single season since the lockout. 2010 did help, but it was played in North America, in Canada, so it was more impactful than Sochi or Korea are likely to be. Location is a factor. There wasn't a huge bump after Italy or Japan, either.

As far as the players getting hurt, I root for my NHL team over my national team. In fact, in 2010, I "rooted" for Canada because more Flyers were on Canada than the US team.

As fr the best vs the best, if Canada dominates in summer, winter, spring or fall, why have the tounrament at all? Does Canada need the hand job every four years?

The NHL went into this thinking they could grow exposure and interest in the game, but there is very little tangible evidence that this has happened or that they get any carryover from the olympics to the NHL. Who is watching weekday games at 7:30 AM but people who are already die hard hockey fans anyways? By shutting down the regular season, the NHL essentially is saying "our own product is inferior/less important than Olympic hockey". Add to this the list of teams that are now going to have players missing due to injury and worn down from the extra games and travel going into the stretch run, further marginalizing the NHL product for season ticket holders like me who paid good money to watch NHL games that are deemed less important than the Olympics. That's just crazy.

People are going to watch Olympic hockey because of two reasons: They are hockey fans already or because they are interested in rooting on their country, just like they would someone on the bobsled or downhill. I doubt very much the average American could pick Sidney Crosby out of a lineup 2 weeks from now, let alone TJ Oshie or Dustin Brown. Would a gold medal mean any less to Canada if it was won by a Junior team plus some first year NHLer's? I doubt it. The NHL would still benefit because it could be selling future stars of the game (Imagine a Crosby led team playing in Torino in 2006 when he was left off a Canadian team populated by established NHL stars).

The NHL SHOULD also re-institute the World Cup of Hockey and play it in late August and early September with NHL stars, without sacrificing any of the season, play it in US and Canadian cities where it is trying to sell the game anyways, and play it in prime time when people are going to watch instead of 7AM when only dedicated hockey fans are going to watch. Football season is still ramping up at that point in the calendar and all but a handful of baseball teams are out of contention by then. This would also allow them to control scheduling and promotion, not the IOC, and allow promotion of the upcoming NHL season. They have the partnership with NBC going for them now, and could play the championship game on Saturday night in prime time on NBC, with round robin games airing on NBCSN. They would also be able to pare down the field to teams that can actually compete and shorten the event to a managable length (CAN, US, FIN, SWE, RUS, SWISS, CZE, SLOVAKIA).

There are lots of very valid arguments for both sides of this, but I'll simply conclude by saying that the most compelling hockey in the Olympics was played between the women, a group of amateurs who won't go back to million dollar contracts later this week. That says a lot to me.

"The players aren't going to let them off the hook."

The owners? The NHL execs? It's a business, and players are a business investment... ie employees. The players shouldn't have a say in the matter if they are employed by a team owner. And along with that, the owners and execs should fight it to the hills that they not participate in the Korean games. Just look at all the players getting hurt in basically an exhibition game, that now directly affects the NHL teams, their seasons, etc. And Tavares is done for the season, and for all we know, he could be done for good, in a worse case scnenario. I'm sure Wang just loves pissing money down the drain on a business investment that isn't paying off. I know I love taking 100's and flushing them down the toilet from time to time... I can only imagine how much fun it would be to see a multi-million dollar investment sitting on the sidelines due to the Olympics.

Say what you want about the Olympics... I think the NHL teams should back out from them. Leave it to amateur players, the way it was intended. If the players want to play, leave your team and go play... but then you face the consequences when you get back.

And as much as I was rooting for the US to win... I could care less about the Olympics. It's European style to begin with... so it's slow, too spread out, rarely physical, etc. The only game that was somewhat interesting to watch was US vs. Russia, because 98% of the players are/were NHL players, so they played an NHL style of play. Other than that, I'm sorry, but I have no interest in it. Give me NHL hockey any day of the week.

Jmo, but the players shouldn't have a say... it's a business, and the players are employees and business investments. That's it...

That being said... yes, I think the NHL will cave to pressure and let them into the next round anyway... unfortunately.