Well, the 2018 Winter Olympics just got much less interesting.
For the first time since 1994, we won’t be cheering on NHL stars at the Winter Games.
The league released a statement Monday afternoon saying it “considers the matter officially closed” and that it won’t be going to Pyeongchang, South Korea.
You can point a finger at NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman all you want, but what you should be doing is pointing a finger at your favourite franchise.
Remember, Bettman is, at the end of the day, working for 31 team owners including the new Las Vegas franchise.
And it’s the owners who are pulling the plug on a three-week break during the NHL’s 2017/18 regular season.
And can you blame them?
What do the owners gain by their players participating in the Olympics?
More exposure = more fans?
I’m not sure about that math.
I agree that having NHL players in the Olympics has grown the game globally.
But the time change with South Korea, the pause in the NHL’s schedule, and the thought of their star players getting injured are things the owners didn’t want to put up with.