National Hockey League decision on Olympics regrettable — IOC

The comments presumably were directed toward Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin, who has represented Russian Federation in past Olympics and presumably wants to continue doing that in 2018.

“Because it’s my country”, Ovechkin added.

“As a player, the level of hockey there (I know it’s high in the playoffs, but.) when you’re in a one-game-takes-all and you’re on Canada playing the USA, there’s no better hockey you’re going to be a part of”, Keith told ESPN.

The women are facing a first Winter Olympics without National Hockey League players there. I don’t really know what to say. “That’s why I’m hoping to get into one or two or three before we have to worry about that”.

“We are continuing to try to find solutions”, the governing body’s general secretary Horst Lichtner told The Associated Press on Tuesday, after the National Hockey League said it would not take part in the games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Many hockey fans, blessed with the best-versus-best worldwide tournament every four years since Nagano, in 1998, were quick to cry offside.

“There’s still a long time”, he said. “But in my mind, like I said already, I’m going and it doesn’t matter what”. On Tuesday, Alex Ovechkin made it clear that he’s going to represent Russian Federation in PyeongChang, anyway. For them to make that statement this early is a little unusual I think. “But it is what it is”.

Which is to say, he still intends to go.

“We’ll deal with it if it comes up in February”, Trotz said. “We’ll see what happens from now until then”.

New Capitals defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, who played for the U.S.in 2014, also isn’t happy with the NHL’s decision.

The decision has many players unhappy. (In 2014) Canadians, Swedes, even Americans watched the finals even if it was overseas. On top of all that, it’s good for hockey to have the best players in the world at the Olympics. That’s wrong. That’s not what the Olympics is for.

“If you don’t go, you feel like an (expletive) for not going for Czech”, Voracek said. “It’s just really frustrating”. You don’t ever give up. “It’s a great thing for hockey to be grown at that Olympic level”. “It’s disappointing to see the decision but hopefully it can be salvaged”.

The NHL reached a decision on Monday to not release its players for the Games, saying talks to find a solution to the problem of halting its league mid-season to accommodate the Olympics in the past had not been successful.

Hockey Canada and USA Hockey get millions each year from the NHL, making it hard to imagine many North American players under contract in the league would be allowed on those rosters. “Let alone winning, so you know that was a moment I’ll always cherish making that team”.

“For me, it’s a great experience to be around NHLers”, Rougeau said.

“It’s a hard situation to be in, there’s no doubt”, Crosby told the Post-Gazette. But I’m not sure if I’m thinking quite that far ahead yet.

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin has stated that he plans to attend the 2018 Olympics.

Shattenkirk didn’t commit to either staying or going, but he doesn’t have a problem with a teammate playing.

One team, the Montreal Canadiens, said it hadn’t considered how it might react just yet. “I think that’ll be based on the individual and the team”. “We don’t have to get into that kind of debate and argument now”. Caps winger T.J.

For now, there is also nothing in the CBA barring players from leaving their teams – potentially on unpaid suspensions – to go so Ovechkin isn’t changing his mind.

“I bit my tongue and just put out the photo”.

“I guess you have to respect your employers, your owner’s decision”.

Swedish star Nicklas Backstrom said he was disappointed but was noncommittal when asked whether he’d be willing to go no matter what.

“We want to see the best against the best”, Sittler said in an interview with Matt Galloway on Metro Morning.