02-24-2006, 04:10 AM
Munkay,Feb 23 2006, 10:10 PM Wrote:Is that a joke?
No joke. The consensus is the NHL is going to allow one more mid-season-Olympics-disruption per a contractual agreement, and then call it quits. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to negotiate out of it sooner. These owners have businesses to run. Besides, we've got the World Cup, why repeat it in the Olympics?
Team USA definitely needs to get younger, and in 2010 it likely will be. It was a big mistake to keep this old corp of aging vets together for another run. A more basic problem is this:
"It was just one of those tournaments," Mike Knuble said after the loss.
"We played good hockey," said center Doug Weight. "I felt like we could have won every game."
These guys are professionals, who quickly learn that defeat is part of the game, deal with it and move on. As in, 'move on to the rest of the NHL season, which is what really matters to us.'
Another problem is Modano's post-game rant about changes needing to take place at the top levels of USA Hockey, not due to hockey issues, but because he felt he didn't get enough assistance in booking flights, hotel rooms, and getting tickets. Modano's a professional, used to be treated in a certain manner.
It's time to get the professionals out of Team USA.