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Let's Get Real: 2018 Olympics

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 The NHL announced today that it will not adjust its schedule to accommodate for the 2018 PyeonChang Olympics. Player reactions ranged from saying it was "disappointing", "crap" and an "opportunity was wasted". The NHLPA said that the decision was "shortsighted", and USA Hockey said that they still planned on competing, even without NHL players. 

 But maybe Gary Bettman is right.

 The NHL has said that the NHL franchises and owners were not interested in shutting down the NHL for four months. Last fall, the NHL tried to offer Olympic participation for the NHLPA if they agreed to a three-year extension of the current CBA, and the NHLPA decline.  The NHL also said they were open to hearing from the NHLPA, IOF, or any group with a reason for the NHL to re-evaluate their decision. They didn't get one, and did the right thing in continuing with the season as regularly scheduled. 

 During the Sochi Olympics, seven players sustained injuries that caused them to miss games in their NHL season. Captain John Tavares of the New York Islanders had a season-ending injury, and so did Detroit Red Wings capitan Hendrik Zetterberg. In December, the NHL ran a poll asking their fans if they would like to see the NHL shut down for 17 days due to the Olympics. 53% of fans said no in Canada, and 73% of fans said no in the United States. Not being in the Olympics isn't a huge change, and no one knows this better than Gary Bettman. He helped the NHL begin to participate in the Olympics in 1998, and now he feels that it's the right time to shut it down. The IOC has not been the most helpful in this situation, and eventually releasing a rude statement saying the IOC felt "very sorry for the athletes" and that it "must be a huge disappointment". 

 You can hate Gary Bettman for the lockouts. You can hate him for his cup presentations, and you can hate him for just about everything that goes on in the league. If your stadium hot dog has too much mustard on it, it's Bettman's fault. Why not? He's the commissioner, right? But this is the right decision for the NHL. For people that go on and on about how this doesn't spread the game globally, the news came out a week before this that the NHL would host games internationally, with two preseason games in China and one regular-season game in Stockholm, Sweden. The NHL also just launched another international tournament-the renewed World Cup of Hockey, which was exciting to watch and didn't require fans to stay up to a crazy hour to watch. Without the Olympics, the World Cup of Hockey now becomes the marquee international event, which doesn't interfere with the season like the Olympics would.

 There's been a lot going around about how "the window isn't closed" and "players might come play in the Olympics over their NHL teams". The NHL has made it clear in a statement-"We consider the matter officially closed." When the NHL says it's closed, it's closed. The NHL is finalizing their 2017-18 schedule right now, and even if there was a window, it's a small one. And let's make this clear:No NHL player would ever leave his team for an international tournament. Ever, and especially in the middle of February, where every point matters. Can you imagine Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby, captains of their teams, leaving for two weeks? And then them walking back into their locker room with their medals, showing everyone that the Olympics matter more than their teammates? Never. 

 Let's get real: The NHL isn't going to the Olympics. If you want to watch international hockey, watch the World Cup of Hockey 2020. In the meantime, let's enjoy the playoffs (unless your team is out. Have fun with the draft lottery), the best time of the hockey year.

 Case closed. 

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