NHL vs. The Olympics

Now that the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are in the rear view mirror, we who are hockey fans need to analyze a disturbing problem. The NHL is pondering whether to continue their participation in the future winter Olympic Games. Their dilemma is whether they should suspend league play for a two week period as they did in 2010, or if they should bar their players from participating in 2014. As you may recall, amateurs used to dominate the olympic rosters right up until 1988, and the NHL is thinking that a “pure” amateur roster of players is preferable. The league is trying to sound noble in their attempt to pull out of the games.

Here’s the real story:

The NHL receives no revenue from the games, yet they assume all the risk, and they’re tired of it. This is a major sore spot for the suits at the NHL, who are now threatening to take their hockey pucks and go home.

Here is a sampling of the NHL arguments against future participation:

• Players who have talent, but just can’t seem to be signed by an NHL team, have a better chance of getting noticed without NHL participation.
• An NHL player’s ultimate goal should be the Stanley Cup.
• Is it really worth taking a 2 week break in the middle of the season, when teams are in the midst of fighting for a playoff spot?
• As stated earlier the NHL bares all the risk and what if the players get hurt in the Olympics and miss the rest of the NHL season?

While players were unwilling to admit their fear of injury, an alert observer could tell it was on the minds of many participants judging by the way they performed during the Olympics. And they may have a good reason to worry.

A case in point: The 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, when then Ottawa Senators goalie Dominick Hasek was injured while representing the Czech Republic. His injury ended his season, and while the Senators finished the season with the Eastern Conference’s best record, they were bounced in the second round of the playoffs.

Of course there are two sides to every issue:

• Why shouldn’t the best players in the world be allowed to represent their country? Players from the other professional leagues such as the KHL, Swedish Premier, and Swish Elite league are coming to the Olympics games why can’t the NHL send its players?

• A lot of the stars in the NHL are of such a young age they are the same age as those amateurs who represented their country in the Olympics before pros do.
• The two week rest for non-participants are therapeutic for some players and teams.
• Many players are in favor of playing in the Olympics. Alex Ovechkin in particular has come out and said he will take a leave from his NHL team if necessary to play in the 2014 games.

To be sure, the threat of injury is real. However, there is also a threat of injury just getting out of bed in the morning. These types of fears shouldn’t be a show stopper to an athlete who loves to compete.

The NHL gets an unbelievable amount of exposure that they would never receive otherwise. They reach a whole new pool of potential fans that are now introduced to this exciting sport.

My conclusion is that the professional hockey, being basically a regional sport, is in dire need of new markets and new potential fans. The Olympics is an ideal stage for showcasing their marvelous sport and reaching out to a previously unreached fan base. Even though this Olympic participation strategy is not without risk, the potential rewards far outweigh the down side.

The NHL is crazy for even thinking about pulling out of the Olympics!