Will NHL players compete during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea? That’s a decision the NHL hasn’t made quite yet, but the league’s upcoming World Cup of Hockey in 2016 may signal an end to players making the journey to compete for their country. Fans appear to be fairly split on the topic, but former NHL goaltender Dominik Hasek believes the league should embrace the Olympics.
Hasek’s comments came during his 2015 IIHF Hall of Fame induction, via IIHF:
“To win it all for your country is to win for everyone and everything that is at the heart of who you are. To bring back the gold medal from Nagano was indescribable. I encourage the NHL to embrace it and give players like Jaromir Jagr one more shot at a party in the Old Town Square.”
Jagr actually announced his retirement (again) from international competition, but Hasek’s point is still valid. Hasek believes that Olympic competition is special and that every NHL great should have the opportunity to represent their country and take home the gold.
Logistically, the NHL’s participation in the Olympics may not make sense. Those strongly in favor likely haven’t seen one of their team’s best players suffer an injury, jeopardizing a bid for the Cup. Add in travel and schedule disruptions and the return of the World Cup of Hockey and you have a lot of reasons for the NHL to sit out in 2018.
