2014 Sochi Olympics Discussion

[IceAce]

The Olympic boycott is one of the dumbest foreign-policy gestures a country can make. No one cares, outside of the country doing the boycott, especially during the Winter Olympics where a good portion of the World doesnt even compete.

 

[Fantom]

Will Ilya be allowed to play ?

 

[Felix Unger]

The Olympic boycott is one of the dumbest foreign-policy gestures a country can make. No one cares, outside of the country doing the boycott, especially during the Winter Olympics where a good portion of the World doesnt even compete.

Completely agree. It's also totally unprincipled. Enthusiastically go to China, but boycott Russia? Stupid.

 

[The Underboss]

Will Ilya be allowed to play ?

I would imagine so.

 

[LeapOnOver]

-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.

Hmm, so the Olympics aren't more than a gigantic professional sporting event (i agree) yet boycotting them will cause energy prices to skyrocket? Contradiction in it's purest form!

 

[PK Cronin]

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.

It's entertaining and it shows a different style with the best players in the world playing with very top notch talent. It's a great publicity move for the game, I'd imagine the ratings were quite good during the last one for the U.S.

It is really supposed to be fun, and I think it's better than any All-Star game.

 

[Felix Unger]

Hmm, so the Olympics aren't more than a gigantic professional sporting event (i agree) yet boycotting them will cause energy prices to skyrocket? Contradiction in it's purest form!

Never said 'cause'. Even if I did, it wouldn't be a contradiction (merely stupid). And the possessive for 'it' has no apostrophe.

 

[luki here]

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!

dont get me wrong, germany is definetly better at hockey, but it had been coming. the last olympic qualification tournament was really close already. Germany has found it increasingly difficult to beat austria.

ps: please forgive any typing mistakes...tail end of a long night shift in work.

 

[luki here]

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.

That would be completely ridiculous. Its not like russia is acting very surprisingly in giving snowden temporary asylum. Putin surely doesnt side with snowden (considering putin is former kgb) but how would it look if russia were to comply with the US, even moreso considering the negative role the US are perceived to have in the snowden affair.

Russia will try to keep this affair in the media, the US would do them a favour by boycotting the olympics. Not that i ever heard about a hypothetical boycott.

 

[luki here]

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.

i dont think that they will play together on team austria. i am guessing vanek will play first line and all pp time and grabs will play 2nd line and a lot of pk time. perhaps grabs will get 2nd unit pp time meaning he will play with vanek then.

 

[steveat]

So WHO is going to Sotchi? Anyone from our Isles board? If so, then I might be interested in going too.

You can get a Russian Visa which takes 2 weeks at the Russian Embassy There is an express charge..it differs per country, but you can get it in as little as a week.

Anyone up for it?

 

[Hyphistos]

i dont think that they will play together on team austria. i am guessing vanek will play first line and all pp time and grabs will play 2nd line and a lot of pk time. perhaps grabs will get 2nd unit pp time meaning he will play with vanek then.

True, that is what I'm thinking as well. I meant on the same team in general, not necessarily on the same line, although I would love to see that as well (just for the star factor, I don't think that they are the best combination).

 

[Bunk Moreland]

It's official:

@aaronward_nhl: An agreement has been reached with IIHF for NHL participation in Sochi Olympics. Expect announcement soon. #TSN

https://twitter.com/aaronward_nhl/status/358255719037943808

@drosennhl: Gold medal game is Sunday, Feb. 23 at 7 a.m. ET. Plan your Saturday night accordingly.

 

[MattMartin]

Can we ever make it through a NHL season without some sort of work stoppage?????? = )

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Here's the schedule for everyone:

http://www.iihf.com/competition/olympics-2014-men/schedule.html

Gotta be a typo that Slovakia is playing two opponents on the last day at the same time. I'm assuming they mean Slovenia vs USA instead.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Staple:

@StapeNewsday: Safe bets from #Isles to be busy during Olympic break: @91Tavares (Canada), @grabs40 (Austria) and L. Visnovsky (Slovakia).

@StapeNewsday: Longer shot to be busy during Olympic break: @bookerT2116. But guessing he'll be at the U.S. orientation camp next month. #Isles

(BookerT is okposo)

https://twitter.com/stapenewsday/status/358270530270396416

 

[seabass45]

Staple:



(BookerT is okposo)

https://twitter.com/stapenewsday/status/358270530270396416

Here's some speculation on who might be on the team. Okposo may have gotten some attention this year but it's going to be tough for him to get in. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/21670126/olympics-projecting-team-usa

At least it'll be fun to see more Isles in action this time around. Tavares will finally get to play with some elite talent on the wing!

 

[FourRings]

It's entertaining and it shows a different style with the best players in the world playing with very top notch talent. It's a great publicity move for the game, I'd imagine the ratings were quite good during the last one for the U.S.

It is really supposed to be fun, and I think it's better than any All-Star game.

Agreed. There is actually a sense of pride when you're playing for your country.

 

[ScaredStreit]

I'll always cheer against Canada. Just because I used to live there so a bunch of my friends and I talk a lot of trash to each other come Olympic time haha.

 

[CodeE]

staple:



(bookert is okposo)

https://twitter.com/stapenewsday/status/358270530270396416

now can you dig that, suckkkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[duster19]

Here's some speculation on who might be on the team. Okposo may have gotten some attention this year but it's going to be tough for him to get in. http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/21670126/olympics-projecting-team-usa

At least it'll be fun to see more Isles in action this time around. Tavares will finally get to play with some elite talent on the wing!

Tavarres might end up on the wing...

 

[Dutch Frost]

Ofcourse ill see watch the games but after having Mark Texiera out for the season for a wrist injury during the World Baseball Classic.. Last this I want to see is John Tavares get injured trying to win a meaningless game for Team Canada.

Id rather see Amateurs from the NCAA and other leagues compete then see any professional athlete who gets paid millions.

 

[Jester9881]

Lindsey Graham is the Republican version of Chuck Schumer: he'll do anything to get on TV.

Lindsey Graham is no Republican!

Back on topic, I started not liking pros in the olympics after the second year.

1. I hate that it stops the season right in the middle of the stretch run
2. I hate that a player could get injured and screw everything up
3. It's so much more fun watching the amateurs (an actual team) instead of a bunch of glorified allstar teams.

 

[duster19]

Are you guys serious? Entire countries stop what they are doing and watch Olympic hockey.

I love it. I wish there was more best on best..

 

[Benedict Kovalchuk]

I love Olympic hockey, especially living in Vancouver for the last Olympics. Those were two weeks were absolutely amazing, and I've never seen anything like it here. If I had the money, I'd go to Sochi in heartbeat. Back on topic, I suppose as both a Canadian and an Isles fan I am lucky enough to continue cheering for JT. USA of course is my #2 team, Okposo or not, and probably Slovakia as well. Those Slovaks really put up a hell of a fight in the semi-finals, they were on the cusp of tying it up when time finally expired.