By Matt Vachlon
You’re NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and you’re under pressure from your peers to commit your players (a tradition only started in 1998) to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. You ask yourself, “Is it ever a good idea for a professional sports league to go on a two-week hiatus nearly three-quarters of the way through its season?”
When considering the factors, there’s admittedly a lot at stake. But don’t overanalyze Gary, just look at this year:
You’ve put together the perfect All-Star game.
In his defense, I was originally conflicted with NHL players participating in the Winter Olympics too. As a Chicago Blackhawks fan I’ve waited all my life to finally have a great team. Coming off last year’s run to the Western Conference finals, the Blackhawks haven’t disappointed and currently have the third highest point total in the league standings. That just doesn’t happen in Chicago!
But when I found out that six Blackhawks would be participating in the Olympics my interest was piqued. Sure I was afraid that they might wear themselves out or, even worse, get injured, but I was also curious to find out the extent of their patriotic pride, to see how they would play against some of their other teammates.
That fear of injury and fatigue still exists by the way. But these games have been so captivating that the reward is well worth the risk.
Now I can’t get enough of them.
Take Wednesday, where three of the four quarterfinal games were decided by two goals or less. Goalie Ryan Miller put together a solid 19-save shutout to advance the top-seeded United States to the semifinals, while defending silver-medalist Finland advanced to face them with a shutout of its own. Meanwhile, defending gold-medalist Sweden couldn’t quite rally back as it was eliminated 4-3 by Slovakia.
Ironically, the only game that wasn’t close may have been the most exciting of them all. Canada’s 7-3 victory was its first against Russia in 50 years. The game featured an international version of the NHL’s best rivalry as Alexander Ovechkin of Russia squared off against Canadian Sydney Crosby. Despite the one-sided affair, the two teams combined for a total of 70 shots while putting together an offensive clinic.
The benefits go way beyond drama though.
First, these games are being watched, not just by hockey fans, but fans of all sports, as evidenced by these ratings from last Sunday’s United States-Canada game. Second, the rosters are stacked, meaning the product has a chance to be as good as the one that’s showcased in the World Cup in soccer. And finally, players like Ovechkin have said they will play in the Olympics anyway, regardless of the rule, so Bettman would be wise to shut the league down anyway, rather than play without one of his signature stars.
As a fan of the Blackhawks, I realize that one key injury could mean trading a potential Stanley Cup for a chance at a gold medal. But as a hockey fan, and a sports fan in general, I realize that I have had a chance to see a real All-Star game, and that is truly special.
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