Allan Walsh and Connor McDavid call out Gary Bettman after incredible World Baseball Classic
Last night, the World Baseball Championship game took place, resulting with the underdog Japan beating the USA by a score of 3-2. Ending with a showdown between two teammates and the best players in baseball, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, the dramatics and weight of international baseball was thriving last night. So Allan Walsh has asked, where is that moment for hockey?
For NHL players, international competition hasn't been possible due to the efforts of Gary Bettman. Players have been barred from the Olympics, last participating in 2010. We were given the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, but even that doesn't compare to true best-on-best international hockey. Players' participation has been blocked by Bettman due to injury concerns from team owners and General Managers, a selfish stance that hurts both the players and fans.
Connor McDavid, undoubtedly the best player in the world at 26 years old, hasn't played for his country since the World Juniors Tournament when he was 17 years old. As Walsh says, it's a lost opportunity for everyone not to be able to witness the spectacle of best-on-best. It's meaningful to players, meaningful to countries, and most importantly, grows the game of hockey internationally.
Today McDavid chimed in on the matter.
With the intense player and fan demand surrounding international hockey and the change of power within the NHLPA, hopefully there will be enough pressure on Bettman to surrender his position and allow international play.
| POLL | ||
Does the NHL need international best on best tournaments? | ||
| No, the Stanley Cup is enough | 125 | 20.1 % |
| Yes, we definitely need best on best play | 498 | 79.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
