Flyers' Voracek: NHL's indecision on Olympics is 'ridiculous'

Add Jakub Voracek to the list of those in favor of the NHL's participation in the Olympics.

At this week's general managers meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., Gary Bettman remained coy on the subject, hinting at the likelihood that NHLers won't participate at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. That isn't sitting well with the Philadelphia Flyers star.

"It's stupid and I find it absolutely ridiculous," Voracek said, according to CSNPhilly.com's Tim Panaccio.

Voracek also referenced comments made by deputy commissioner Bill Daly about the league likely not participating, suggesting he forgot who would actually be playing.

"Absolutely ridiculous. We have it once every four years," said Voracek. "I read something that Bill Daly said we're not going. Nobody wants you to go.

"The players want to go. Why you're saying you're not going? You're not part of the players association. ... Nobody wants you there. They want the players."

Voracek represented his native Czech Republic at the 2014 games in Sochi, and while he's adamant about his participation, he feels the league might have an even more difficult time convincing patriotic Russians such as Alex Ovechkin to stay home.

"It's the Olympics," Voracek said. "It's not just about business. You want to be part of the Olympics. And trust me, players want to go. And the players who don't go get a week off to recharge their batteries. If you have bumps and bruises, you can heal and recover.

"The players want to go, I guarantee you that. I want to see how you are going to hold Ovechkin back. The Russian players. Tell them they can't go."