These high paid players should stay home instead of playing in Olympics

davidb · Guru

These high paid players should stay home instead of playing in Olympics

AB Habman · Guru

davidb wrote:

All these high paid players (who are not living up to their side of the bargain) should stay home and have a mid season training camp to improve their play. These players pulling down the big salaries and playing lousy need some more training and practice. Never mind some are subject to injury like Koivo and others. What happens if somone gets a season ending injury and screws up the season for their teammates. I say some should step up and put aside their pride and stay home -- Edited by davidb at 21:29, 2006-01-12

This may be a deeper issue than what you post. Maybe we should be asking if NHL players should qualify to play in the Olympics at all?

Sure it's in their CBA but does it make it right? The NHL is a big bussiness as we witnessed in the lock out. Should your boss allow you a leave of absense to go risk injury and work for another company in a physical job?

If you watched the Spangler Cup this year, these guys played their hearts out and don't come near making the millions that the NHL players make! Should they further represent our Country at the Olympics?

How do you stop anyone from playing for their Country especially for Russians where winning gold may be more important than a Stanley Cup ring?

Sure, there is great hockey in the Olympics but does it distract the NHL players too much while they wait? Are they playing to not get injured? For Kovy, Is he playing safe so he can soon impress his Country?

Power · Veteran Member

I tell you what happens if you told Kovalev to not participate to Russian Olympic team, you have case Malakhov in your hans again what means that totally healthy player faking injury or otherwise playing poorly. Kovalev is one of the few older Russian players who are ready to represent his country every time he is able to do that and that is one point why I like Kovalev, because he is one of the last Russian players who are ready to do that Without Whining about money because they don´t get any compensation. Patriotism is not so common thing among the Russian Players anymore.

I say they should let Kovy to play with his country Because your country goes ahead of your job, or what is your opinnion on that case? Atleast only thing what goes ahead of my home country is my family, but that is only my opinnion.

If Koivu is told not to participate olympic tournament that is last nail to Finlands casket, because Chicago and Calgary have told to Tuomo Ruutu (3rd line Center) and Miika Kiprusoff ( number one goalie) not to participate because they are injured and still both are playing for their teams

AB Habman · Guru

You're bang on Power!

davidb · Guru

Good, let them all get injured and screw the nhl season and their teams

-- Edited by davidb at 13:54, 2006-01-13

Power · Veteran Member

If you are afraid that they get injured, would it be better that no one in NHL could go to Olympics, like AB Habman said? Americans too? I`m up to that, it improves Finland`s chances to win

barry33 · Guru

davidb wrote:

All these high paid players (who are not living up to their side of the bargain) should stay home and have a mid season training camp to improve their play. These players pulling down the big salaries and playing lousy need some more training and practice. Never mind some are subject to injury like Koivo and others. What happens if somone gets a season ending injury and screws up the season for their teammates. I say some should step up and put aside their pride and stay home -- Edited by davidb at 21:29, 2006-01-12

As I said in a post a few weeks ago it is a joke that millionaire athletes are allowed to go to the Olympics. Compare an NHL player to some poor bugger from Calgary who is a shot putter for instance. Working 2 jobs and trying to train. It is a pathetic joke that the Olympics has allowed this to happen. It all started when the Americans could not deal with losing in basketball every year to teams like Greece, so they lobbied and whined until they weer allowed to put the "dream team" together. That set a precedent and the floodgates are now open. I agree with David in that guys who are hurting should not be allowed to go. Last time I checked, Kovalevs Salary was not being paid in Russian currency nor Koivu's in Finnish dollars, finbacks, yen, or whatever they use. What will really PEEVE me is if guys like that go to the. Olympics and stand on their heads. They certainly have not done it this year in North America.

AB Habman · Guru

Power wrote:

If you are afraid that they get injured, would it be better that no one in NHL could go to Olympics, like AB Habman said? Americans too? I`m up to that, it improves Finland`s chances to win

I was merely asking questions to get all your opinions! Makes for interesting read. All good points especially Barrys'