Olympic Reactions: NBC, Flames, Senators, Avalanche

NBC Sports released a statement yesterday regarding the NHL’s decision to not participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics:

The Olympics have long been the world’s greatest international hockey tournament irrespective of whether professionals or amateurs are playing. Although we’re disappointed that NHL players will not get the chance to experience and compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics next February, we’re confident that hockey fans and Olympic viewers will tune in to watch the unique style of play that occurs at the Olympic Winter Games when athletes are competing for their country.”

As our own Gavin Lee noted yesterday, NBC had recently agreed to air the entirety of the Olympic hockey tourney. While the NHL would presumably install their new bye week system during the event, NBC will still be unable to air any NHL games between February 9th-25th, a crucial time of the season.

Let’s check out some more reactions from around the NHL…

• Michael Frolik of the Flames expressed disappointment that he wouldn’t be able to interact with some of the best hockey players in the world. “You have a chance to meet the other athletes and sit with them, and that was cool. And just the experience and the atmosphere there was great,” Frolik, who previously represented the Czech Republic, told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Herald. “As a little kid, we won gold in Nagano and I know how big it was at home, so always Olympics were really special…It was a little bit of a surprise for me. I thought they were going to make a deal. It’s a little disappointing. I’ve been lucky to play Olympics once, so at least I have that under my belt. But going for a second time, to have that chance would be nice.”
• Flames teammate Mark Giordano, who has been on Team Canada’s radar for several years, implied that he was more focused on his NHL’s team success. “It’s a little disappointing,” he said. “Obviously, growing up, as a kid, you’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics. It’s kind of a dream. But right now, it’s something I try to keep my mind off of. I don’t think my answer, my opinion is going to change anything. So I think just worry about the Flames right now.”
• Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson was a bit more abrupt when discussing the decision. “It is crap. That’s pretty much what I think. It’s going to do more damage to this sport than people realize, and whoevert made that decision obviously doesn’t know what they are doing,” the former silver medalist told Nick Wells of CTVNews.ca. “I just feel like we’re misrepresenting our sport on a pretty huge scale and a pretty huge level. I think the players do want to go, but I think it should be of interest to the players and the league. I think the NHL should be in the Olympics.”
• Finally, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon seemed to place the blame on the higher-ups. “I think it’s obviously the owners’ decision,” MacKinnon told Terry Frei of the Denver Post. “It’s too bad. It’s a time for us to showcase the best players in the world and grow the game in places where hockey’s not very big, such as Korea. … This is an opportunity for us to grow it, with Beijing coming up in 2022 as well. Korea and China are places we haven’t really tapped yet, and I think that’s important. Hopefully something gets resolved and maybe they’ll change it, I’m not sure. Obviously, it’s unfortunate.”