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2014 Sochi Olympics Discussion

Will be rooting for the USA (obviously), Canada (JT), Switzerland (a friend has had family on the team in the past), and Norway (friend is from Norway, and I always like to root for the underdog). USA of course will be my #1 team though.

Edit: Looking at the Isles roster, we'll have a bunch of possible Olympians playing; Tavares (Canada), Visnovsky (Slovakia), Grabner (Austria), Nielsen & Regin (Denmark).
 
Let's not forget an outside chance for Okposo if he shows up from day 1.
 
Also pulling for Okposo even though he's a longshot. Problem is, Team USA is so deep at forward, he's about #14/15 on the depth chart.

He does have some national team experience and if he continues his play from the second half of the season, they'll be forced to give him a look.
 
bvon44 said:
Will be rooting for the USA (obviously), Canada (JT), Switzerland (a friend has had family on the team in the past), and Norway (friend is from Norway, and I always like to root for the underdog). USA of course will be my #1 team though.

Edit: Looking at the Isles roster, we'll have a bunch of possible Olympians playing; Tavares (Canada), Visnovsky (Slovakia), Grabner (Austria), Nielsen & Regin (Denmark).
Click to expand...

Unless I totally missed the boat, I don't think Denmark qualified.

I can tell everyone that Germany also did not qualify. The others you mention are looking like likely Olympians.

If he can manage to start next season like he finished last, Okposo may even have an outside shot at Team USA. Maybe.
 
Chapin Landvogt said:
Unless I totally missed the boat, I don't think Denmark qualified.

I can tell everyone that Germany also did not qualify. The others you mention are looking like likely Olympians.

If he can manage to start next season like he finished last, Okposo may even have an outside shot at Team USA. Maybe.
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Denmark didn't qualify. The last three in were Austria, Latvia and Slovenia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_2014_Winter_Olympics_–_Men's_qualification
 
ZMan17 said:
Denmark didn't qualify. The last three in were Austria, Latvia and Slovenia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_2014_Winter_Olympics_–_Men's_qualification
Click to expand...

Denmark failed (again), as they lost out to Slovenia despite home ice during the qualification tournament. Had the NHL lock-out lasted just one more month, I'm fairly sure Denmark would have qualified (Frans Nielsen, Peter Regin, Lars Eller, Mikkel Boedker, Jannik Hansen, Philip Larsen and Oliver Lauridsen would have made the team quite a bit better). Very frustrating.

At least Kopitar is a better player than any of the Danes, and I'm glad he gets a surprise chance to shine in the Olympics. Also, Germany losing out to Austria was probably an even bigger surprise. Looking forward to seeing Grabner!
 
I'm diggin the love for JT obviously. Looking forward to a Canada-USA gold medal game... And I've been pushing for a Canada-USA showdown 7 game series on NA ice for years now. I think its time we start pushing this idea on both sides of the 49th.
 
I would love to see Grabner together with Vanek. I'm not sure if that ever happened yet, but if, then it had to be a very rare occasion, because almost at every world championship one of both was either injured or in playoffs or just didn't get the green light from his team for whatever reason.
 
Bunk Moreland said:
Will be one of the rare times I'm fully rooting against JT!
Click to expand...

This is why I think the current Olympic hockey is a waste of time. I am an Islanders fan 24/7/365,but for 2 weeks every four years I am supposed to suspend my loyalties to a team and players and root for US born players who I watch play for other teams and root against every day? I am supposed to root for that right wing nut job Tim Thomas because he is wearing the USA jersey but root against JT? Not happening.

The time for the Olympic hockey is long gone. Add in the time difference in Sochi and we will all know the scores before the games are even broadcast or will to skip sleep or work to watch live.It is all not worth it. The NHL should have said no to 2014. It is an unnecessary side show designed to capture the casual fan who doesn't give a crap about hockey to begin with. 1980 will never ever happen again. Time to move on.
 
Will be rooting for JT on Team Canada. Will be interesting how he does on another team, with different line mates.
Slovakia and Austria are teams I followed on international tournaments in the past, so would be nice to see Vis/Grabs with them. Slovakia did well in the last Olympics. :nod: Besides Vanek (if healthy) Grabs won't have a lot of support I fear.
Too bad Denmark didn't make it, could have been a lot of Islanders at the tournament.
 
leaponover said:
Quite possible there won't be an American team to route for depending on what happens with Snowden.

Not saying it's likely but it's certainly not something to ignore.
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-If the US boycotts Sochi, we'll have far more to worry about than the Olympics. Like worldwide energy price spikes.

-If Russia materially assisting a despot killing his own people (Assad) doesn't cause an Olympic boycott, nothing will. So, this won't either.

- The idea that the Olympics stands for something more than a gigantic professional sporting event with countries as proxies for Pro Teams is a fantasy we engage in with the most shallow of pretenses. The Olympics is like summer blockbuster, where there are enormous explosions, but only the bad guys die.
 
leaponover said:
Quite possible there won't be an American team to route for depending on what happens with Snowden.

Not saying it's likely but it's certainly not something to ignore.
Click to expand...

Dan-o16 said:
-If the US boycotts Sochi, we'll have far more to worry about than the Olympics. Like worldwide energy price spikes.

-If Russia materially assisting a despot killing his own people (Assad) doesn't cause an Olympic boycott, nothing will. So, this won't either.

- The idea that the Olympics stands for something more than a gigantic professional sporting event with countries as proxies for Pro Teams is a fantasy we engage in with the most shallow of pretenses. The Olympics is like summer blockbuster, where there are enormous explosions, but only the bad guys die.
Click to expand...

"American senator threatens boycott that would derail NHL’s Olympic dreams"

http://nhl.si.com/2013/07/17/american-boycott-nhl-olympics/
 
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