A Look Ahead To Pyeonchang

It may seem like a long time, but the 2018 Olympics in Pyeonchang are only seven months away. Much of the talk surrounding the Olympics is on hockey, amidst the recent decision of the NHL deciding to not let their players participate in the Olympics. The NHL had stated that they did not see any benefit to the game if they participated. This decision caused backlash from fans worldwide and the NHLPA, who thought otherwise on the subject, stating that there is a benefit in going. Not doing so "impedes the growth of the game worldwide". Regardless, the decision of the NHL is final, and it means that fans will not get to see the big names participate, such as Crosby, Kane, Backstrom, Koivu, Tarasenko, and McDavid. The decision also hurts powerhouses such as Canada, Sweden, and the U.S, as they will not be able to select those big names. However, the players that do get to play are players playing on pro teams in Europe and players on two way contracts in the American hockey League. Despite the fact that the players aren't the big names that fans are accustomed to, 2018 Olympic Hockey may turn out to be exciting. For most of the players, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and wearing the sweater of their nation may raise their level of play. For the teams, this tournament will be about as even as it gets. Canada, the U.S, Russia, and Sweden are not stacked with players who can take over and change the game in an instant. This may bring opportunities for the smaller nations, such as Switzerland, Denmark, and Latvia to produce some upsets. But from an Olympic perspective, the 2018 Olympics will be as close as it gets to a hockey tournament full of "amateur" athletes, something that hasn't been in existence since the 1994 Olympics. Without pros, this tournament will hopefully capture the true spirit of the Olympics- athletes who are just happy to compete and represent their country. This tournament has a ton of potential to produce entertaining hockey, but questions will still remain up to the start of the tournament. Will the players be capable of playing good hockey? Did the NHL make a good decision, or a bad decision? Only time will tell.