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Pittsburgh Penguins: What the NHL’s 2018 Olympics Decision Means for the Penguins

By Shane Lunnen

Sep 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Sidney Crosby is introduced during a press conference and media event for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Sidney Crosby is introduced during a press conference and media event for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea might not feature the best hockey players on the planet.

This past Monday, the NHL announced that they would not be allowing their players to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang, South Korea.  Per ESPN’s Scott Burnside, the league’s owners were increasingly unhappy with the league shutting down for two weeks every four years to participate in the games.  The owners were looking for something in return from the International Olympic Committee.

This will be the first time since the 1994 Olympics the NHL has not allowed their players to participate.  On one hand this is disappointing news because the Olympic tournament has always been a great spectacle of the games biggest stars. But on the other hand, one can understand the league’s reluctance to shut down for two weeks.

The Impact on the Pittsburgh Penguins

From a Pittsburgh Penguins fan perspective, seeing their stars on the ice playing for their home countries has always been fun to watch.  When Sidney Crosby scored the game winner for Team Canada during the 2010 Olympic ice hockey final, it was exciting even though I was rooting for Team USA.

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Undoubtedly Crosby would have been playing for Team Canada again in 2018, probably alongside his teammate Kris Letang.  Crosby already has two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014.  He stated he was disappointed in the league’s decision per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  Crosby did not commit to playing in the Olympics regardless, but is keeping the option open.

Per the same source, Penguins right winger Patric Hornqvist said having a few players miss two weeks of NHL games would be odd.  He went on though that if given the chance to go to the Olympics, he would like to go.  Hornqvist played for Sweden in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Evgeni Malkin would also be another Penguins player locked in for another Olympic appearance for his home country of Russia.  After being snubbed by the World Cup, Phil Kessel would most likely suit up in the red, white and blue for Team USA.

Overall it’s disappointing that we may not get to see the game’s biggest stars play in the Olympics.  With so many of the league’s players disappointed in the decision, the league may reverse it’s decision. For now, the NHL says the matter is closed.

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