Thread: OT: Kopitar is going to olympic games!

Originally Posted by markm

Originally Posted by pg1067

...and I'm definitely not thrilled about Kings players playing in games for ANY team that isn't the Kings.

If the Kings were the only team in the NHL to have players in the Olympics then I too might have a problem, but every team will see their best players play in the Olympics. Also, Kopitar is Slovenian first, and a King somewhere down below that. The same is true for every other player. Playing for your country is very different than playing for someone who drafted you and pays a lot of money to make sure you stay where you are.

i don't know about that. in North America, kids take that bowl pretty damn seriously.

Where can I get a Slovenia jersey?

Ovechkin already said he is playing regardless of what the NHL says and his owner backed him....there are too many Eastern European players that will play in the Olympics for the NHL to say no

It's funny how the players (and owners) sat out for more money and now the players want to play extra games for free.

Originally Posted by pg1067

Certainly congrats to Slovenia!

That said, as an old fart who grew up in a time when (some/most of) the Olympic athletes were (or at least purported to be) amateurs, I'm still not sure how I feel about having professional athletes in the Olympics, and I'm definitely not thrilled about Kings players playing in games for ANY team that isn't the Kings.

as a young fart, i think a country should send their best athletes to represent them. why send up anything less?

i'm thrilled when i see jmfj and d-brown in team usa sweaters. the entire country has an extra reason to cheer for these sports when known athletes are there competing for them, rather than no-namers

Originally Posted by gobigred

Ovechkin already said he is playing regardless of what the NHL says and his owner backed him....there are too many Eastern European players that will play in the Olympics for the NHL to say no

I think it has more to do with contractual obligations (read : money) to NBC.

Originally Posted by Cup4TheKings

i'm thrilled when i see jmfj and d-brown in team usa sweaters.

Damn...already forgot about Quick huh?

I really enjoyed the junior championships this year. I like having the young amateur players on the ice. Woops, Canada had a pro on their team. I say let the college kids play. We see the NHL players enough.

Originally Posted by USCKingsFan31

It's cool to see how excited you guys are. Here in the USA, while we do jump on the bandwagon to support our national teams come Olympics time, I think most of us take for granted what some countries and athletes must do to even qualify to participate.

People ask "why do these countries even participate when they know they are just going to get embarrassed"... but it isn't always about the score, it's about a team or athlete honoring his or her country by giving it their all. Enjoy seeing your flag in the hockey event!

We do take it for granted. One year, former Kings Corey Millen and Mike Donnelly worked tirelessly completely unnoticed to barely qualify the US team for the Olympics, only to be pushed aside once the time came for the games. Truly selfless, but I'll never forget what they did. Thanks again, guys.