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Olympic ice hockey and the NHL: the good, the bad and the ugly Olympic ice hockey and the NHL: the good, the bad and the ugly
(35 minutes later)
The goodThe good
Representing your country on the biggest stage is something sports-mad children dream of. Even when they make it to the big leagues, that next step still matters. When the Montreal Canadiens goalie PK Subban was chosen to play for his country at the Sochi Olympics, he said it wasn’t just a big deal for him, but for his parents too. Representing your country on the biggest stage is something sports-mad children dream of. Even when they make it to the big leagues, that next step still matters. When the Montreal Canadiens' PK Subban was chosen to play for his country at the Sochi Olympics, he said it wasn’t just a big deal for him, but for his parents too.
“They weren’t born here in Canada,” he said. “For two people that came from the Caribbean and started a family here and had to work extremely hard to provide for that family – by all means, my parents had great jobs and they’ve worked extremely hard, but I’m sure when they first came to Canada they never thought about having three boys play hockey, let alone have one play for the Olympic team.”“They weren’t born here in Canada,” he said. “For two people that came from the Caribbean and started a family here and had to work extremely hard to provide for that family – by all means, my parents had great jobs and they’ve worked extremely hard, but I’m sure when they first came to Canada they never thought about having three boys play hockey, let alone have one play for the Olympic team.”
His Montreal teammate, Andrei Markov, will also be playing in Sochi. As a Russian, he feels an extra pride:His Montreal teammate, Andrei Markov, will also be playing in Sochi. As a Russian, he feels an extra pride:
It’s great. It’s a big honour to represent your country and it’s going to be fun to play in your own country.It’s great. It’s a big honour to represent your country and it’s going to be fun to play in your own country.
It also matters to those who are not chosen. The Carolina Hurricanes captain, Eric Staal, didn’t make the cut this year, despite being a part of the 2010 Canadian team. “To be honest,” he said, “my gut feeling, yeah I’m bitter about it. Being there last time and knowing what it takes to win a gold and feeling like I was a good contributor to the group … I wanted that opportunity again.” It also matters to those who are not chosen. The Carolina Hurricanes captain, Eric Staal, didn’t make the cut this year, despite being a part of the 2010 Canadian team. “To be honest,” he said, “my gut feeling, yeah I’m bitter about it. Being there last time and knowing what it takes to win a gold and feeling like I was a good contributor to the group … I wanted that opportunity again.” 
But then there are the caveats – and that list is long, particularly this year.But then there are the caveats – and that list is long, particularly this year.
The badThe bad
For the National Hockey League, the cons of the Olympic Games probably outweigh the pros. Here’s NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, via the Wall Street Journal: For the National Hockey League, the cons of the Olympic Games probably outweigh the pros. Here’s NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, via the Wall Street Journal: 
Our experience with the Olympics has been a mixed bag – it’s not our tournament, we’re not in control of it, it’s a time of year that doesn’t work in our regular-season schedule.Our experience with the Olympics has been a mixed bag – it’s not our tournament, we’re not in control of it, it’s a time of year that doesn’t work in our regular-season schedule.
There’s a lot to unpack in that quote, starting with the (possibly cynical) viewpoint that perhaps part of the NHL’s dislike of the Olympics tournament is simply that it can’t make as much money from it as it might from say, the World Cup of Hockey, which it organizes. That doesn’t mean the NHL doesn’t experience some kick-back from the Olympics. Daly conceded that “on the positive side, we’re on a world stage” – one that is surely more likely to bring new fans than any other.There’s a lot to unpack in that quote, starting with the (possibly cynical) viewpoint that perhaps part of the NHL’s dislike of the Olympics tournament is simply that it can’t make as much money from it as it might from say, the World Cup of Hockey, which it organizes. That doesn’t mean the NHL doesn’t experience some kick-back from the Olympics. Daly conceded that “on the positive side, we’re on a world stage” – one that is surely more likely to bring new fans than any other.
And the fans are a big part of the decision every time its made. There is a good history of hockey fans moaning about the quality of Olympic hockey – that it’s not physical enough, or that it lacks the promised energy and excitement (it’s not usually as good, for example, as the NHL playoffs) – and yet every time there’s any sort of debate over whether NHL players ought to be involved, more often than not the possibility for national glory tends to overwhelm all other concerns. After all, if you’re going to claim to be the best hockey country on Earth, shouldn’t that title be bestowed at Earth’s biggest sporting event?And the fans are a big part of the decision every time its made. There is a good history of hockey fans moaning about the quality of Olympic hockey – that it’s not physical enough, or that it lacks the promised energy and excitement (it’s not usually as good, for example, as the NHL playoffs) – and yet every time there’s any sort of debate over whether NHL players ought to be involved, more often than not the possibility for national glory tends to overwhelm all other concerns. After all, if you’re going to claim to be the best hockey country on Earth, shouldn’t that title be bestowed at Earth’s biggest sporting event?
Still, Daly raised the biggest issue of all, even if he didn’t actually mention it. There’s another aspect to controlling the tournament, aside from the cash: injuries. It’s something that concerns plenty of fans, too.Still, Daly raised the biggest issue of all, even if he didn’t actually mention it. There’s another aspect to controlling the tournament, aside from the cash: injuries. It’s something that concerns plenty of fans, too.
In LA, for example, they are hoping for one more Stanley Cup with a talented generation of players. They might be looking ahead to the Olympics with dread. The Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is back from that “lower body” injury (and fighting his Olympic team-mate Jimmy Howard), but will he have the capacity to backstop his team through a tough Western conference from here to June, post-Games? In LA, for example, they are hoping for one more Stanley Cup with a talented generation of players. They might be looking ahead to the Olympics with dread. The Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is back from that “lower body” injury (and fighting his Olympic team-mate Jimmy Howard), but will he have the capacity to backstop his team through a tough Western conference from here to June, post-Games? 
In Tampa Bay, where the Lighting still cling to a playoff spot, they may be equally worried that even if Steve Stamkos, their clutch goal-scoring forward, has fully recovered from his broken leg, he could probably use an extra two weeks’ rest, rather than risking re-injury at the Games in Sochi.In Tampa Bay, where the Lighting still cling to a playoff spot, they may be equally worried that even if Steve Stamkos, their clutch goal-scoring forward, has fully recovered from his broken leg, he could probably use an extra two weeks’ rest, rather than risking re-injury at the Games in Sochi.
Such fans are surely not alone. As happy as everyone was in Montreal that Subban made the Canadian team, surely everyone must have noticed by now that he’ll join three other Canadiens’ defencemen in Russia (the others: Markov, Alexei Emelin, Rafael Diaz). That ups the chances that at the end of the tournament, the Habs back line could be depleted. Still, even then, the Canadiens aren’t risking as much as the St Louis Blues, 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, who will see five forwards depart for the Olympics (TJ Oshie, Patrik Bergland, Alexander Steen, Vladimir Sobotka, Vladimir Tarasenko), along with David Backes, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaro Halak, Jay Boumeester and Alex Pietrangelo. That’s 10.Such fans are surely not alone. As happy as everyone was in Montreal that Subban made the Canadian team, surely everyone must have noticed by now that he’ll join three other Canadiens’ defencemen in Russia (the others: Markov, Alexei Emelin, Rafael Diaz). That ups the chances that at the end of the tournament, the Habs back line could be depleted. Still, even then, the Canadiens aren’t risking as much as the St Louis Blues, 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, who will see five forwards depart for the Olympics (TJ Oshie, Patrik Bergland, Alexander Steen, Vladimir Sobotka, Vladimir Tarasenko), along with David Backes, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jaro Halak, Jay Boumeester and Alex Pietrangelo. That’s 10.
And players do get injured at the Games. Though the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were reasonable on that front – only 22 injuries were recorded – you only have to look back to 2006 to see how bad things can get. That year, the International Ice Hockey Federation recorded 47 injuries at the Turin Games. Though that still seems low, the names on the sweaters were important. Most prominent of all was the Senators goaltender Dominik Hasek, who suffered a groin injury that kept him out of the lineup back in Ottawa, introducing us all to a younger Ray Emery. Before he left for the Games, Hasek was tied for second-best in both GAA (2.09) and save percentage (.925) in the NHL.And players do get injured at the Games. Though the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were reasonable on that front – only 22 injuries were recorded – you only have to look back to 2006 to see how bad things can get. That year, the International Ice Hockey Federation recorded 47 injuries at the Turin Games. Though that still seems low, the names on the sweaters were important. Most prominent of all was the Senators goaltender Dominik Hasek, who suffered a groin injury that kept him out of the lineup back in Ottawa, introducing us all to a younger Ray Emery. Before he left for the Games, Hasek was tied for second-best in both GAA (2.09) and save percentage (.925) in the NHL.
Turin also saw Patrick Elias and Mattius Ohlund suffer rib injuries. Simon Gagne got a bruised knee, Pavol Dimitra injured his eye, and Alexander Frolov damaged his shoulder. Jaromir Jagr suffered a groin injury in the bronze medal game and, though he returned to the ice back in North America, he wasn’t on there long, being forced to leave a game agains the Flyers soon after.Turin also saw Patrick Elias and Mattius Ohlund suffer rib injuries. Simon Gagne got a bruised knee, Pavol Dimitra injured his eye, and Alexander Frolov damaged his shoulder. Jaromir Jagr suffered a groin injury in the bronze medal game and, though he returned to the ice back in North America, he wasn’t on there long, being forced to leave a game agains the Flyers soon after.
After all, it’s the NHL that pays the bills, in good times and bad. Revelations dropped this week that the league forks out more than $200m every year when players are sidelined with injuries. Leg or foot injuries cost almost $70m. Head and neck (including concussions): $60m. And while, in either case, players are on the ice for virtually the same fans, one could argue that it’s those season-ticket holders to whom these guys owe their careers, for good or ill. The Olympics are a (potentially expensive) luxury.After all, it’s the NHL that pays the bills, in good times and bad. Revelations dropped this week that the league forks out more than $200m every year when players are sidelined with injuries. Leg or foot injuries cost almost $70m. Head and neck (including concussions): $60m. And while, in either case, players are on the ice for virtually the same fans, one could argue that it’s those season-ticket holders to whom these guys owe their careers, for good or ill. The Olympics are a (potentially expensive) luxury.
But forget injuries, even. What of pure momentum? January was looking like a bad month in Chicago, until recently. The Blackhawks had dropped six of 10 going into last Friday’s tilt against Anaheim, where they finally turned out a 4-2 win. The Blackhawks, like the Blues, are sending 10 players to Russia. Is that wise? Or what about Detroit, fighting to stay in the playoff hunt? They’re also sending 10 guys over to Sochi. How does anyone justify it?But forget injuries, even. What of pure momentum? January was looking like a bad month in Chicago, until recently. The Blackhawks had dropped six of 10 going into last Friday’s tilt against Anaheim, where they finally turned out a 4-2 win. The Blackhawks, like the Blues, are sending 10 players to Russia. Is that wise? Or what about Detroit, fighting to stay in the playoff hunt? They’re also sending 10 guys over to Sochi. How does anyone justify it?
The uglyThe ugly
With Sochi specifically, there is that question of security. There was no doubt a thought or two about security in Vancouver or Turin and, certainly, following the September 11 attacks, it was an issue in Salt Lake City. But Sochi seems very different. Since October, three suicide bombs have been detonated in Volgograd, a major city that while some 900km from the Games site is where two of the blasts were carried out by insurgents who also reportedly promised to send a "present" to Olympic visitors. Police in Sochi are on high alert, looking for as many as three women believed to be suicide bombers – those so-called Black Widows.With Sochi specifically, there is that question of security. There was no doubt a thought or two about security in Vancouver or Turin and, certainly, following the September 11 attacks, it was an issue in Salt Lake City. But Sochi seems very different. Since October, three suicide bombs have been detonated in Volgograd, a major city that while some 900km from the Games site is where two of the blasts were carried out by insurgents who also reportedly promised to send a "present" to Olympic visitors. Police in Sochi are on high alert, looking for as many as three women believed to be suicide bombers – those so-called Black Widows.
It presents an entirely different kind of bind.It presents an entirely different kind of bind.
Over at the National Post, Bruce Arthur finds himself hopeful that all the things we dislike about Vladimir Putin (the strong-arm tactics, the apparent willingness to have Russia drift into a quasi-police state) might be those that end up saving everyone:Over at the National Post, Bruce Arthur finds himself hopeful that all the things we dislike about Vladimir Putin (the strong-arm tactics, the apparent willingness to have Russia drift into a quasi-police state) might be those that end up saving everyone:
Here is what the IOC has done: It has made me hope that Vladimir Putin is strong and ruthless and vicious enough to protect everyone at his imperial Olympics. It has made me selfishly hope that I am not in the wrong place at the wrong time – or that anyone is in the wrong place at the wrong time – because I want to come home to my wife and kids.Here is what the IOC has done: It has made me hope that Vladimir Putin is strong and ruthless and vicious enough to protect everyone at his imperial Olympics. It has made me selfishly hope that I am not in the wrong place at the wrong time – or that anyone is in the wrong place at the wrong time – because I want to come home to my wife and kids.
Perhaps there’s something to that. Still, if that’s what is now good about the Games, maybe those of us who wanted a boycott over social issues, like Russia’s anti-gay laws, ought to wonder whether one might now be necessary for a million other reasons, including not lending legitimacy to an authoritarian leader like Putin. Then again, there’s the simplistic argument that if nobody turns up to the Olympics, the terrorists “win” … or whatever. Maybe they already have. Who knows? It’s the unanswerable question, like a zen koan of sports.Perhaps there’s something to that. Still, if that’s what is now good about the Games, maybe those of us who wanted a boycott over social issues, like Russia’s anti-gay laws, ought to wonder whether one might now be necessary for a million other reasons, including not lending legitimacy to an authoritarian leader like Putin. Then again, there’s the simplistic argument that if nobody turns up to the Olympics, the terrorists “win” … or whatever. Maybe they already have. Who knows? It’s the unanswerable question, like a zen koan of sports.
"You don't like seeing what's going on but there's no doubt that what's happened lately is certainly – they're trying to obviously shake us and probably in a lot of cases they are succeeding. But that is the thing that we have to do: We have to try and fight through that,” Team Canada assistant coach Claude Julien said before his Bruins played the Kings Monday night. “At the same time, you have to hope that the people in charge are doing the best they can. There's never any guarantees in this life and you'd like to make it as safe as possible. That's basically all I can say, because my job is to go there and help coach a team and hope that the people in charge of that are going to do the best job they can and make it a successful Olympics.”"You don't like seeing what's going on but there's no doubt that what's happened lately is certainly – they're trying to obviously shake us and probably in a lot of cases they are succeeding. But that is the thing that we have to do: We have to try and fight through that,” Team Canada assistant coach Claude Julien said before his Bruins played the Kings Monday night. “At the same time, you have to hope that the people in charge are doing the best they can. There's never any guarantees in this life and you'd like to make it as safe as possible. That's basically all I can say, because my job is to go there and help coach a team and hope that the people in charge of that are going to do the best job they can and make it a successful Olympics.”
And maybe that’s enough. Maybe all we can hope for is that everyone does their job.And maybe that’s enough. Maybe all we can hope for is that everyone does their job.
As for concrete numbers on how the Olympics actually affect NHL teams? There aren’t a lot. But, because he’s Eugene Melnyk, the Ottawa Senators owner looked into it after the Hasek debacle. The same man who had forensic scientists attempt to determine whether Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Cooke deliberately stomped down on Erik Karlsson’s heel (thus slicing into his achilles tendon), apparently says the advantage is to have players not go to the Games. According to SenatorsExtra, Melnyk “commissioned a study to look at the relative gains and weaknesses for NHL teams based on how many of their players went to the Olympics.” The result? There was a reverse correlation, apparently. As for concrete numbers on how the Olympics actually affect NHL teams? There aren’t a lot. But, because he’s Eugene Melnyk, the Ottawa Senators owner looked into it after the Hasek debacle. The same man who had forensic scientists attempt to determine whether Pittsburgh Penguin Matt Cooke deliberately stomped down on Erik Karlsson’s heel (thus slicing into his achilles tendon), apparently says the advantage is to have players not go to the Games. According to SenatorsExtra, Melnyk “commissioned a study to look at the relative gains and weaknesses for NHL teams based on how many of their players went to the Olympics.” The result? There was a reverse correlation, apparently. 
The more players you had that went to Olympics, the less success you had in [the playoffs]. It’s mainly because guys go over there and get tired.The more players you had that went to Olympics, the less success you had in [the playoffs]. It’s mainly because guys go over there and get tired.
That sounds about right. They, too, are just trying to do their jobs.That sounds about right. They, too, are just trying to do their jobs.
Is Melnyk’s logical evidence enough to stop the players from going? Doubtful. It just adds to the argument between team and country that comes up every four years. It will come up again in 2018. Is Melnyk’s logical evidence enough to stop the players from going? Doubtful. It just adds to the argument between team and country that comes up every four years. It will come up again in 2018.