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Gary Bettman's defence to not letting hte players go to Sochi was that he would have to shut down the league for two weeks, he was reluctant for 2010, but since it was in Vancouver, in an NHL and hockey mad city, he wouldnt mind. At the same time, US/Canada final was the cream of the crop for Bettman, another all north american final means the greatest exposure of the game for his own selfish needs.
Professionals in Olympic Hockey will always be in the game. So if hte NHL decides to not go, than the SEL, KHL and all the swiss league will be sending their players to Sochi.
back to bettman, as i said, the IIHF wants to grow the sport of hockey of course, and we have seen the success of countries like Slovakia and the Swiss coming to Vancouver to compete, and getting better year after year. The NHL sets the bar for professional hockey and international competition. If the NHL isn't participating or sending their players to the biggest world stage there is, the world will nto notice this great sport.
If Gary Bettman's goal is to successfully gain marketshare in the US, the NHL must be an active player with any event in which the IIHF has participation in, the european leagues have done this and the NHL needs to continue.
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