Philadelphia Flyers chairman Ed Snider has said that he 'hates' the Winter Olympics because they cause in a break in the NHL season.

There is just one round of matches left in the current campaign before the clubs have to let go of their players for the Sochi Games.

"I hate them," The AP quotes the 81-year-old as saying. "It's ridiculous, the whole thing is ridiculous.

"I don't care if it was in Philadelphia, I wouldn't want to break up the league. I think it's ridiculous to take three weeks off, or however long it is, in the middle of the season. It screws up everything.

"No other league does it, why should we? There's no benefit to us whatsoever. If anything, I can only see negatives."

The Eagles are currently eighth in the Eastern Conference.