from Ken Campbell of The Hockey News,

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who will represent Canada for the fifth time as an NHLer in the World Cup, is of two minds on the matter. He loves the idea of playing both tournaments in theory, but wonders if it can be possible in practical terms, particularly for players whose teams go on long playoff runs.

“I think the Olympics still being a special thing for the players, that has to hold some ground somewhere,” Toews said. “I’m not completely discounting this tournament. Someone asked me about the tradition of the World Cup and, to be honest with you, there’s not necessarily much of a tradition. For me, I grew up watching the World Juniors and the Olympics and that was a special thing. Until it becomes a consistent thing…I think that’s when it starts to become a tradition.”

And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the rub. The Olympics is a vehicle for growing the game. The World Cup is a vehicle for growing the coffers of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. And if the league and NHLPA want the World Cup to be a premier event, logic would dictate that it doesn’t make much sense for them to continue playing in the Olympics. Then again, perhaps they skip Pyeongchang and jump back in when they’re held in Beijing in 2020. (“I would say anything is possible,” said an executive close to the situation.)...

“I think everyone still wants to play in the Olympics, that’s for sure,” Kane said. “I would be happy to participate in both. I don’t see a problem with that. As a player, you’re always happy to represent your country any chance you get.”

And Anze Kopitar, a player who has to add the responsibility of simply qualifying to play in the Olympics to all that hockey, doesn’t think it is too much of a good thing. And he’s not even playing for his own country in this tournament. “The sense is, in my opinion, the guys want to play in the Olympics,” Kopitar said. “I just think guys are proud to represent their countries and I don’t think at any point that it’s too much. You always come and want to play with your buddies.”

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