More NHL offseason: | | | | The Winter Olympics in Sochi, Ru sia, next February are sure to be interesting. From a sporting standpoint it will be as fun as always, especially after the NHL and IOC came to an agreement to allow the players to head to Ru sia to compete for the gold. There's nothing like international hockey when the best players are representing.But, this time around, things will be just as intriguing off the sporting stage. First, there were concerns about whether Sochi would even be ready to play host to the Games (concerns many still have). Now, we have a human-rights i sue standing front and center. Specifically, Ru sia's new law banning homosexual activism (i.e. propagandizing), which results in arrest.On Wednesday, the IOC saying that the Olympics are free to anybody; no matter their race, gender or sexual orientation. Included in that statement was this: "We would oppose in the strongest terms any move that would jeopardise Hurricanes Custom Jersey this principle." Well, it looks like that edict might be put to the test, because on Thursday, Ru sian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said the new law will be enforced during the Olympics, as well. :Sounds like the IOC and Ru sia are at a standstill, yet I doubt either side goes through with their threats, unle s the IOC's definition of opposition in the strongest terms is just to i sue another statement. But you never know, and just the threat should be enough to elicit a big response.So how does this all tie into hockey? There are no openly gay hockey players who will be playing in Ru sia, right? While that is indeed the case, what hockey does have is a large number of players who are openly supportive of gay rights and equality in sports through their affiliation with the You Can Play Project, founded by Patrick Burke, son of former Maple Leafs GM (and part of USA Hockey's Olympic staff) Brian Burke.Many players have been on record before in support of LGBT rights, and as one of, if not the highest-profile sport in the Winter Games, hockey and its athletes could play a major role in how this i sue plays out. Would any feel up to taking a stand in Sochi? And, if a player did stand up, would Ru sian officials dare arrest somebody of high profile like, say, ? (Chara has done a video .) Imagine the stir that would cause.Meanwhile, the boycott i sue keeps popping up. People are wondering if this is reason to skip the Games and try to make a statement. , citing an example from the 1968 games that were boycotted by Kareem Abdul-Jabaar but are remembered for the . Johnny Weir, an openly gay figure skater, . And I agree with them. I don't think a boycott is the right approach. However, if something were to happen to a player who tried to make a statement, then I would be fully in favor of a country pulling the whole team, or even the entire delegation, from the Games.Though they often are, the Olympics aren't supposed to be about politics or other similar i sues. But this one just won't go away, and it shouldn't. Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey