i dont dismiss olympic hockey, i dismiss the olympics as a whole. but im one person. enjoy em. ill do other stuff till the break ends. ive never watched em.

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I concur. I know most here weren't around for the 1980 Gold, but it was truly a moment I will never forget. We're seeing the best of the best (for the most part) and I love the competition on the Country level. It was sweet just watching Forsberg carry the flag for his Sweden in the opening. Let the games begin. I have no issues with NHL players or the Sabres taking part.

My allegiance lies with the United States above all things.

So yes, I'm absolutely pumped to have Ryan Miller wearing the red white and blue.

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Wheelhouse

It'd be sweet if Miller got snubbed for the Olympics. Hello two weeks of rest.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

And an angry Ryan Miller out to prove himself once they're over...

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Wheelhouse

look at what hecht did after everyone thought he got snubbed by the German team. He's been solid for us ever since!

Yes, I would want our area represented in the Olympics. I believe these players earned the right.
Good for them I say, and good for their respective countries that they represent. I have pride that they are Sabres, their countrymen have pride in what they have accomplished or done with their skills.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

I don't care much about the Olympics but looking at it from a players side it is special:

Nationalpride, playing for YOUR country and competing with the best of best. Look at all the so called "world championships" no one really cares b/c tons of the best players aren't participating.

+ 5 players really isn't that much so team should be fine afterwards.

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Sloppy seconds = 6 games "clean" headhunting = nothing
it's obvious Bettman and Campbell are Pens cocksuckers

Agreed. We would not be having this conversation if it were like it used to be - amateur only.

The Olympics were much more interesting in the old days, when the Commies cheated and were the only pros.

It's an exhibition which can seriously damage the fortunes of an NHL team, and for that matter the other players' livelihoods.

I'm against the whole thing.

I disagree.

These professionals have dedicated their entire lives to hockey. They're the best of the best of the best.

Who are we to tell them they're not allowed to represent their countries?

Doesn't seem fair to me.

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Wheelhouse

contractual obligations... say you race cars. would you want to race your best car in a race that means nothing, possibly wrecking it? (i got this analogy from the fast and the furious. its on tv right now, sue me)

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Yes, there are contractual obligations...and you have to acknowledge that. But I think the Olympics is an event that's supposed to showcase the greatest athletes in the world, and I don't think professional athletes as a whole should be denied all because they're pros. Whether a professional athlete chooses not to participate in the Olympics because they have a contract with their professional team should be his own prerogative, not a rule that they all have to abide by.

And I understand the sentiment of people not wanting Miller to participate in the Olympics because he runs of the risk of getting injured, but Jesus. Of course he runs the risk of getting injured. But the risk of him getting injured isn't any larger all because he is competiting in the Olympics. He runs the risk of getting injured every time he steps onto the ice, hell every time he steps out his front door. It's just out of our control and unless you want to wrap him up in bubble wrap and monitor his every move, people just need to stop worrying about it.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

They wanna represent their countries? Let em.

Also, I fully back the growing renegade faction of players who will say "Fuck you, NHL." in 2014 and play in Sochi is the NHL pulls out of the agreement.

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mechaphil

didn't Sakic hurt himself with his snowblower? These guys could get hurt anywhere. The Olympics are a great event that happen every 4 years and it's an honor to be selected to play for your own country. Especially for those NHL players from overseas that get to wear their home countries colors.

Great point, Mel - he did break a couple of his fingers in his snowblower. Also, who remembers Chris Mason messing himself up stepping off the carpet at the Blues game with Sarah Palin? Injuries happen anywhere.

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mechaphil

agree and disagree. when you are payed millions of guaranteed money, there are boundaries. like how football players arnt allowed to ride motorcycles and stuff during season (its becoming year round for some teams) obviously, there is a limit, and hockey is hockey. i mean, junior players participate in the world juniors. but i think professional sports is an investment in its players, and you would hate to see an injury in an exhibition tournament, to the owners.

and its not just miller. perhaps, darcy and lindys jobs are on the line. say miller gets hurt, and the sabres lose 10 games in a row and miss the playoffs, and suddenly, those two are out of jobs. its a damn butterfly effect!

like i already said, i, myself, dont watch the olympics. im not going to feel any more of a patriotic surge because some guy from utah won an event that i couldnt care less about. and i dont care about country tournaments. but, to these players, its important to them to play for their countries. if they want to compete, let them. but have the provision set in the CBA that any injury to a player in the olympics, the player will forfeit any money owed to them for the time period he misses. and if its a very severe injury, the team can terminate the contract. i mean, im not going to get workers comp if im injuried at home, right?

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No group of individuals shall control the destiny of a single individual based solely on "their" wants. That is selfish, that is greedy, and it goes against everything I was raised to believe. These players are more than just NHL players, they are people, and as such should be alloted the respect deserved by making the decision themselves. It is not up to the NHL, Hockey Fans or NHL franchises to choose the path a player should take when it comes to the Olympics. It should be something felt inside ones self as far as the players go.

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Lord Stanley's Cup is what its all about.
Mr. Pegula, your destiny awaits you sir.

as the rules stand, they should be allowed to particapte

since pro's are allowed to compete, there is no reason they should not be

problem is, pros should be in my mind

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.

Mike, your bringing up of the WJC and not displaying any animosity towards it kind of invalidates your argument.

And, if anyone has read or heard what Ted Leonsis has had to say about Ovechkin declaring he is playing in Sochi come hell or high water, then I suggest you do. The man has built a winning, nurturing culture for the Capitals.

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mechaphil

i dont watch the world juniors either, phil.

oh, and so were clear, i think the world classic baseball tournament is super fucking awful.

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