Will be interesting to see what they do to guys that make this decision.  Maybe the NHL was planning on it, and will just carry on business as usual for those two weeks without the stars.

Posted by TreKronor on 04/04/17 at 02:14 PM ET

If all the Stars go what can Bettman really do?  Crosby Mc David etc leave to play with Canada.  Kane, Matthews etc leave to play with US?

Posted by Henry on 04/04/17 at 02:39 PM ET

i’ve indicated that i could care less about the nhl playing or not playing in the olympics.

never been a huge Ovechkin fan either.

However, i love when anyone tells Lil gary & Lil bill to stuff it. 

Posted by Down River Dan on 04/04/17 at 02:44 PM ET

That’s okay, Alex. When the Caps get bounced in round two this year the experiment of the Ovie Era will be over, and the Caps would be happy to shed you and your salary.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie, MI on 04/04/17 at 02:45 PM ET

If all the Stars go what can Bettman really do?  Crosby Mc David etc leave to play with Canada.  Kane, Matthews etc leave to play with US?

If the league continues to play it will create some serious issues unless they come to agreements to waive the salary cap and waiver rules during this time. Teams will have to fill out rosters from somewhere and they aren’t going to want to lose players to waiver wire claims when they have to send them back down.

As much as I want to see the NHL players in the Olympics the players ARE under contract with their NHL teams. Going to play in the Olympics could be seen as breach of contract or of the collective bargaining agreement. Ovechkin is basically saying he is going to work for a competitor for a couple of weeks.

Posted by evileye on 04/05/17 at 09:41 AM ET