By Jordan Long
The NHL will not participate in the 2018 Olympics in Pyeonchang, South Korea. NHL players had been part of the Olympics since 1998. This was the right choice.
The NHL players seemed to enjoy being in the Olympics, playing for their native country with pride. It was a chance for them to bring home a medal. They were playing against teammates as the top players from around the world.
The downside was that they had to stop the NHL season for 2½ weeks. The season ended up being a few weeks longer. Besides the schedule, owners have concerns about injuries. A star player could have been injured in this tournament and ended his season, hurting their chances of making the playoffs or winning the Stanley Cup.
Some players are disagreeing with this decision. They want to play for their country. Washington Capitals’ captain Alex Ovechkin is still planning to go. According to ESPN.com, Ovechkin said, “I think everybody wants to play there. It’s the biggest opportunity in your life to play in the Olympic Games. So, I don’t know, somebody [is] going to tell me ‘don’t go,’ I don’t care, I just go.”
The hockey competition won’t be the same without these NHL players. They are the best at the sport. This might all semi-professional or even college players to partake in the Olympic games.
The NHL is making the best decision possible for the league. They don’t want to shut down for 2 weeks and extend the season. The NHL has an alternative for these skaters to represent their country. They created the World Cup of Hockey. It may not be as big as the Olympic stage but they still have a chance to represent their country and earn a medal. The next one is in 2020. It is still the best option for them to compete.
What do you think of the NHL’s decision to not play in the 2018 Winter Olympics?
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