Fans and players alike seem quite disappointed that the NHL won't be heading to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Seeing a best-on-best international ice hockey tournament can always be exciting, but the fact that the league has opted not to attend might actually be a good thing for hockey.
The tournament is suddenly wide open
Anything can happen in sports, it's why the games are played. However, the prospect of another international best-on-best hockey tournament had one likely result: Team Canada winning it all.
Canada has won three straight best-on-best tournaments, coming out on top at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In fact, it hasn't lost a best-on-best game since a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the United States in the round robin stage of the 2010 Olympics.
No country can match Canada's combination of forward depth, star talent on the blue line, and Carey Price between the pipes.
However, with Canada projected to send a roster full of has-beens, the tournament is suddenly wide open. Russia will likely be the favorites thanks to their talent in the KHL, but both Sweden and Finland are rich with talent in their respective leagues. The NHL's absence should provide great parity.
Everyone loves a good underdog story
If Canada, or a Team USA squad full of misfits, were able to pull off a victory, it would be one of the greatest underdog stories in recent memory. Imagine the likes of T.J. Brennan and David Booth leading the U.S. to victory over a Russian team led by Ilya Kovalchuk? It would be reminiscent of the 1980 Miracle on Ice.
Or maybe a team such as Latvia, who lost just 2-1 to a powerhouse Canadian team in the the quarter finals of the 2014 games despite lacking quality NHL talent, could make some noise. The possibilities are endless.
Unknown players will become national heroes
Sidney Crosby's "Golden Goal" from the 2010 Olympics was an iconic moment in hockey history, but imagine if it was scored by, say, Rob Klinkhammer instead?
Klinkhammer's life would change drastically. He would instantly become a beloved figure across Canada, much like how Mike Eruzione, who scored the game-winning goal in the 1980 Miracle on Ice, is beloved by hockey fans everywhere in the United States.
The NHL won't shutdown for three weeks
In the past, the three-week Olympic break has been a burden for those players not participating in the games. It results in a condensed schedule, leading to more back-to-backs. Routinely playing three games in four nights can not only lead to more injuries, but a poorer overall quality of hockey since players are fatigued. It's easy to forget that professional athletes are humans, too.
If you're a hockey-crazed fan, the three-week stretch during the Olympics could actually be pretty awesome. With the time change in South Korea, games will be on TV during times competitive hockey wouldn't normally be televised.
Combined with the NHL's normal scheduling, this could result in entire days of non-stop competitive hockey on TV. Every day could wind up being like football Sundays, only for hockey. This is a dream come true for die hard fans of the game.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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