"I don't care...I'll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can't play, see ya."

Alex Ovechkin, further clarifying his position on Sochi '14 (LeBrun).

over 2 years ago Bald Pollack 15 comments 0 recs |

Comments

And when the IIHF says that any player from a League that hasn’t granted its players permission to play in the Olympics is ineligible, what then?

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Sep 9, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Well, if the IOC was consistent (hah!), they’ll kick hockey out of the Winter Games because not all of the best players are there. I’m sure if Canada gets clobbered in 2014 with an AHL squad while Russia dominates with a KHL squad, expect the NHLers back in 2018 to restore Canadian pride.

by apk3000 on Sep 9, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Can the IIHF say that? Their rules don’t make that distinction, do they? All they need is approval from their national hockey org. If team Russia is willing to have him there’s no much the IIHF can do.

by brs03 on Sep 9, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure there is. The IIHF “is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey” – they decide who’s eligible and who isn’t.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Sep 9, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions

They have rules that govern this kind of thing, though, and from reading it sounds as if the NHL’s consent doesn’t matter. All that’s required for him to be eligible, in this sense, is for Russia to accept him.

It’s a different animal from international contract disputes. Or so it seems that way.

by brs03 on Sep 9, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

The IIHF says that players that breach contracts to go play in another league are ineligible to play in international tournaments. It doesn’t seem like too much of stretch to imagine they would say that players that breach their contracts by playing without club permission are also ineligible. If so, Russia and everyone else would have no choice but to abide because the IIHF will disqualify you for violating. I don’t see it getting to that point though. I think AO and the other Russians will talk a big game just to make clear that this is very important to them and the NHL will participate in Sochi without much, if any, fight.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 9, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions

And better to have this convo five years early, IMO.

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Sep 9, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

The problem there is that they’re trying to sign a new contract. That’s not at all the case with the Olympics. There may be a different set of rules with more specific details about this type of issue, but as I’ve seen it spelled out the eligibility issue doesn’t involve the NHL, at least on the face of it.

by brs03 on Sep 9, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I think you’re right that as of now the league has no say in it, but if the NHL said to the IIHF “don’t let our players play” I think the IIHF would and could enforce that wish.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 9, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

This is my point – if the most powerful League in the world flexes, will the IIHF tell them to pound sand?

Frankly, I think it’s a moot point – NHLers will be there and everyone will be happy. It’s much ado about nada.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Sep 9, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Not nada. AO is singlehandedly stripping Bettman of one of his prime CBA bargaining chips.

It remains to be seen if that will be to the players’ benefit, of course. Or if the NHL ever even planned to use that chip.

It’s like that Vulcan 3-D chess…

IS PAЯTY NOW

by EmilyB on Sep 9, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions

AO is singlehandedly stripping Bettman of one of his prime CBA bargaining chips.

Considering 700+ other players are probably thinking about escrow and TV money, I’d say it’s maybe less a chip and more a crumb.

"The worst thing you can be is a liar...Okay fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but THEN, number two is liar. Nazi 1, Liar 2."

by Bald Pollack on Sep 10, 2009 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, der Kommisar opened the door, and simply put, closing it is going to be foolish and may potentially present a problem.

Whomever takes over the PA full-time or permanently should take note of this.

"The worst thing you can be is a liar...Okay fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but THEN, number two is liar. Nazi 1, Liar 2."

by Bald Pollack on Sep 9, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

Whomever takes over the PA full-time or permanently should take note of this.

It’ll be interesting. The majority of the NHL players are in favor of participating in the Olympics, but they are going to have more pressing financial matters to bargain over when the next CBA negotiations go for.

If it comes down to reducing the escrow % in exchange for no more participation in the olympics, I imagine the PA as a whole (most of whom do not play for their countries) will bite. But then again I doubt the owners will give up some escrow % for just the peace of mind of no injuries/benefit for them for players playing in the Olympics.

I hope it shakes out so they can play in 2014 and beyond.

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by Hooks Orpik on Sep 9, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m going to the penalty box now: 2 minutes for code failure. Time to feel shame.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 9, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

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