“We have a lot of players who would like to play, but they can’t play without the support of the ownership.”

That sounds like passing the buck to me.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 05/20/10 at 04:56 PM ET

U.S. general manager Brian Burke believes the International Ice Hockey Federation should abandon holding a world championship in Olympic years.

No kidding. It makes no sense.

We just crowned a “world champion” this past February. Do we really need another international tournament 12 weeks later?

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 05/20/10 at 06:00 PM ET

We just crowned a “world champion” this past February. Do we really need another international tournament 12 weeks later?

Amen. Especially when many of the world’s best players are either too physically and/or psychologically worn out to participate or still involved in the NHL playoffs.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/20/10 at 06:12 PM ET

I always hate agreeing with Brian Burke, but… sometime he does get it right.

In this case, he’s clearly right.

And no, I could really care less what Europe thinks.  As soon as they begin holding the financial sway North American hockey does, they can sit at the grown-ups table.  Until then, they’ll just have ot deal with the fact that nobody really cares about their little Tournament of NHL Players That Couldn’t Make the Playoffs And Nobodies.

Posted by Primis on 05/20/10 at 06:17 PM ET

Whatever.
BTW,Canada isn’t having a good showing this year and in the Quater-Finals right now they’re losing 4-1. Tavares (a bright spot for Canada) has the goal-his 7th in 7 games at the WC.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 05/20/10 at 06:18 PM ET

Well, Rene Fasel’s called Sidney Crosby’s agent and apologized, so all’s well, right?

What about the other players Szemberg called out?  Nicklas Backstrom, Mark Streit, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Niklas Kronwall, do they receive apologies, too?

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/20/10 at 06:25 PM ET

What about the other players Szemberg called out?  Nicklas Backstrom, Mark Streit, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom, Niklas Kronwall, do they receive apologies, too?

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/20/10 at 04:25 PM ET

Of course not.  Lil’ Gary isn’t sucking thei—- up to them.

Posted by Primis on 05/20/10 at 06:48 PM ET

This is turning into a pissing match and I actually agree with Brian Burke.  A LOT of the NHL players are burned out.

Posted by SYF from a viewing moratorium of NBC's hockey coverage on 05/20/10 at 06:49 PM ET

Whatever.
BTW,Canada isn’t having a good showing this year and in the Quater-Finals right now they’re losing 4-1. Tavares (a bright spot for Canada) has the goal-his 7th in 7 games at the WC.

Yeah, not a good showing, but let’s be honest, pretty much an ‘A’ team for Russia versus a ‘C’ team for Canada today.  That said, Varly was great between the pipes and Chris Mason was shaky, it was a closer game than the score indicated.

Posted by dash_pinched on 05/20/10 at 06:51 PM ET

@ Primis
Congrats on the new addition to your family. Hope mother and child are doing well.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 05/20/10 at 07:14 PM ET

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/20/10 at 04:25 PM ET

Isn’t Kronner supposed to have his knee operated on too?

Posted by MOWingsfan19 from I really like our team on 05/20/10 at 07:19 PM ET

Of course not.  Lil’ Gary isn’t sucking thei—- up to them.

Thank goodness this new registration system is doing away with inappropriate comments.

Posted by Claude from Colorado on 05/20/10 at 07:42 PM ET

Yup…A little “clean up the area and look for trouble” scope, but he wasn’t medically cleared by the Wings to go.  Franzen pulled out because his knee was still bugging him as well, and that’s why Holmstrom deferred.  Zetterberg was believed to be dealing with the after-effects of his separated shoulder.  Lilja didn’t go because he couldn’t afford to pay the insurance premiums himself (free agents with expiring contracts have to pay a big chunk of change to get temporary insurance, whose premiums can exceed $10,000!).

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/20/10 at 07:43 PM ET

Thank goodness this new registration system is doing away with inappropriate comments.

Posted by Claude from Colorado on 05/20/10 at 05:42 PM ET

Nice avatar.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 05/20/10 at 07:44 PM ET

I think the only things players should be obligated to do is play in the games they are paid to play in, plus the playoffs. EVERYTHING else - Olympics, all-star schmoozing, World Championships - should be up to them whether they want to participate or not.

If they are able and willing to go, great.

If they are not, then the insignificant little pissants in suits should shut the #*$& up, quit their bitching and whining, and maybe think that they would have every right to say something about being tired if and only if their own jobs involved a more strenuous task than stapling.

Small-minded petty little ingrates.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/20/10 at 08:55 PM ET

“It’s nothing short of based on greed in my opinion. The IIHF doesn’t want to acknowledge that,”

Oh, and I guess the NHL and its players participate in the Olympics purely out of patriotic duty???

Posted by Down River Dan on 05/21/10 at 03:31 AM ET

The whining has spread . Would it had made any difference last night if Rosby did play?

Posted by Lucce from Kingdom of Zweden on 05/21/10 at 06:25 AM ET

Would it had made any difference last night if Rosby did play?

Of course.  He’s “clutch” in big games.

Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Where free agents no longer want to go. on 05/21/10 at 09:49 AM ET