Money Before Patriotism?
That sense of pride one feels when they pull on that sweater, lace up their skates, grab their sticks, and hit the ice. All while wearing their nation’s colors is a feeling like no other.
You will represent your country as one of the greatest athletes in your sport, against the greatest athletes in the world. Only few have had the pleasure of experiencing this, and many of them in the most recent past, are members of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Roster was composed of 25 NHL athletes. This is now a problem, because on April 4, 2017 the NHL announced that it will not take its usual mid-season break during the olympics.
What does this mean? This means that since NHL will no longer take its 17-day break in February, athletes involved in the league will not be able to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics hosted in PyeongChang. They believe that this a valuable time in the league, as it falls between when football season has ended, and baseball has yet to begin.
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said during NHL All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles this January, “Quite frankly we don’t see what the benefit is from the game standpoint or the League standpoint with respect to Olympic participation.”
No benefit from the league standpoint? A whooping 76% of Americans tuned into the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, that is 178 million possible viewers. NHL viewings show a definite rise after each Winter Olympics, and viewings mean money. Money also coming from a rise in merchandise and ticket sales.
Players like Alex Ovechkin, left wing and is the captain of the Washington Capitals, disagree with the league’s decision and reasonings.
“Yeah, I didn’t change my mind and I won’t,” Ovechkin said. “Because it’s my country. I think everybody wants to play there. It’s the biggest opportunity in your life to play in the Olympic Games. So, I don’t know, somebody [is] going to tell me ‘don’t go,’ I don’t care, I just go.”, as reported by Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com. Other players such as Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres have also voiced their opposition to the league’s decision.
If the NHL had always restricted their athletes from competing in the Olympics, many iconic Olympic memories would cease to exist.
2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Sidney Crosby, of the Pittsburgh Penguins, scores the Golden Goal against fellow league member Ryan Miller, of the Buffalo Sabres, with 12:20 remaining in overtime lifting Canada 3–2 over the U.S..
2008 Winter Olympics in Turin. Henrik Lundqvist, goalie for the New York Rangers, makes a spread-eagle stick save with 30 seconds left to play, sealing Sweden’s 3–2 win over Finland.
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, TJ Oshie, then of the St. Louis Blues, scores four times on six attempts in a shootout for the United States, helping his country defeat host Russia 3–2.
Without NHL participation in the Winter Olympics, moments like these would never happen.
Not only is the NHL depriving the members of their teams from a chance at a once in a lifetime experience, but the fans as well.
