Olympic Cheaters and No More NHLers in the Olympics

It seems that in the wake up the Olympics ending, controversy and debate have been brought up. A Russian columnist has accused the Canadian men's hockey team of doping and others question whether or not NHLers belong in the Olympics at all.

To start, the accusation against the men's hockey team is that given the history between Canada and the USSR/Russian Federation resulting in close games, the 7-3 blowout must undoubtedly be a result of the Canadian team using performance enhancing drugs for the game against Russia. One might find merit in this had the Canadian team been blowing out every other team in the preliminary round. The columnist looks at the underwhelming performance the Canadians put forth against the Slovakians and thus argues that since they didn't blow out the Slovakians, they doped up for the Russia game and the Russia game alone. It almost makes you scratch your head wondering why not dope up against the Americans in the preliminary round? Had the Canadians won the US preliminary round and forced the US to face the Russians, would we have the same argument? Ryan Miller was a stone wall throughout the tournament and ignoring the Crosby goal in OT, had not let in a goal worth questioning all tournament long. Do we argue HE was on some form of performance enhancing drugs? Is it really unbelievable that the Russians were simply outplayed? After the score hit 2-0, it us hard to argue that the Russian team was amounting to any push back of any kind. You could hardly say the same for the Slovakians who stuck with their game plane and ultimately fought back to a 3-2 end result and almost tying it late. It sounds more like a case of sour grapes for the columnist than anything else. Because the Russians lost a game where they got blown out, the Canadians were then doping for that game alone. I really find it hard to believe they were on performance enhancing drugs let alone on them for that game alone.

Now, the debate for NHLers in the Olympics has been a big one and will always be argued. I remember after the 2006 Olympics, Dominic Hasek's mysterious abductor strain the prevented him from suiting up for the Playoffs with Ottawa. I would have to think the result of that playoff run would have been very different had Hasek been healthy. That being said, are we not willing to watch the best of the best play in a big tournament? With the arrival of the KHL boasting big contracts, the premier players in the world will be torn between the NHL and KHL resulting in a split pool of the worlds talent. It's the Olympics that now bring the highest talent together in a big tournament. I know that's what I want to see but I also acknowledge the strain the NHL players gain from the Olympics. The condensed schedule has already taken a toll on many players resulting in several injuries over the early part of the season. The emotional toll is equally high especially when players like Paul Stastny and Brian Rafalski playing the night after losing the Gold Medal. I would like to see a two day break right after the game but I highly doubt that'll happen. Many of the Russian players have already stated that regardless of the NHL's decision, they will go to Ochi, Russia in 2014. As with most things, it comes down to money. With the NHL trying to grow the game by playing preseason games in Europe, why wouldn't they want to send players to the Olympics? Showcasing the best players in the world for all the world to see would certainly grow the game. The NHLPA will most likely vote to continue sending players but GMs, Owners and the NHL will likely push against it as many teams will want their players fresh and healthy going into the playoff run rather than banged up coming out. I for one am all for the NHL players going to the Olympics. Big stage, every game is vitally important and in a short Tournament format, any team can win (Just ask who thought Slovakia would make it to the medal round).