After Canada who is the top hockey nation?

[Tim Vezina Thomas]

"Top hockey nation" is Canada by a lot when you consider their depth, but I think its a lot closer if you do best v best. No one would bat an eyelash if Canada lost to the US, Sweden or Russia in the Olympics, their top end talent is elite. If you were to do the Canada "B team" vs the US "B team" the US gets slaughtered.

Anyway, USA/Sweden/Russia all in the 2nd tier IMO, followed closely by Finland.

 

[X66]

"Top hockey nation" is Canada by a lot when you consider their depth, but I think its a lot closer if you do best v best. No one would bat an eyelash if Canada lost to the US, Sweden or Russia in the Olympics, their top end talent is elite. If you were to do the Canada "B team" vs the US "B team" the US gets slaughtered.

Anyway, USA/Sweden/Russia all in the 2nd tier IMO, followed closely by Finland.

That is true, but those teams will also never be considered the favourite.

Anything can happen in a one game elimination, especially in hockey. But I still believe Canada's top end elite players are still better than every other countries, but that's just me. They have elite first line players on 4th lines, not many teams can say that.

 

[xxxx]

What arrogant title. Canada is not the top nation, more than in media hype world then. I would not say it is one top nation, is usually various between, Russia, sweden, canada and finland. In past czech also. But they have falling little bit behind but have some good player comming up now.

I would rank it this way now

Sweden
Russia
Finland
Canada
USA
Czech

But is very even.

What factors do you consider if I can ask

 

[xxxx]

well lets get rid of nhl and there will be far more best of the best games, and what is even better they will not be as corrupt as when NHL is arrange the tournament like they do in the olympics and world cup and have refs from NHl when usa and canada is playing. that really put down all crediblity of the tournament.

Oh, NHL referees. Haven't heard a while about that. Finally.

"USA is a stronger hockey nation in terms of players than Finland period, doesn't matter they lost the only one game they played together in 4 years with the best possible players."

Says who? should we base it on subjcetive opionion or what they do on the ice? if we shall base on what they do on the ice, it is no question that finland is a stronger hockey nation.

Says me.

We see what they do on ice, in NHL. Again, one game doesn't say anything about being a better hockey nation, as many posters already said, many other factors contribute to it. Was Belarus the stronger hockey nation overall than Sweden in 2002 because of one fluke goal? Yet you seem to apply same principles for the Finland-USA game.

 

[xxxx]

Who in their right mind looks at international sports like that.

we talk about more than internation tournaments. Also about producing better players.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

After Canada?

I get that we're good, but the states are and have been pretty much on par competitively and developmentally for quite a few years now. 'Tis why the most tense games in the olympics are always against our neighbours.

Canada/USA
Sweden/Russia/Finland
Czech Republic/Slovakia
Switzerland

Canada wins the states don't that's what matters

 

[Jablkon]

Let's just say getting to the semis is, IMO, worth a lot more in terms of evaluating a team, than who won the Bronze medal game. I would a team that is less disappointed that they lost their semi game has an advantage.

If you were Canadian, you would understand the "Anything but Gold" attitude better. There is almost literally zero consolation in not winning.

I dont oppose canadian status neither their attitude, but to justify USA position (as others do here)by this attitude is the same as you would say in 1999 that Canada is best hockey nation. The fact is, you need to pick up medals.Since when Spain was considered dominant in soccer?Since the started winning...Btw why is Finnland considered better than Czech republic?Because of Barkov or that guy from Oulu or goaltending?No, simply because CZ sucked in last two olympics anf Finnland picked medals.Btw. you can not even say about USA that its a hockey nation compare to Finnland which is definetelu hockey nation and is even more succesfull...Yes, USA made a big improvement in last 15 years, but they missed a confirmation of this progress...

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

What the hell do you know about American "superiority"?

Well, it's not hard to figure out what it is.