Olympics: Could USA be the favorite heading into PyeongChang 2018?

[SanDogBrewin]

USA will never catch or have as much depth as Canada has and will have.

That's a fact.

Not a fact just exuberant patriotism.

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

and everybody automatically assumes that Canada is in 1st place purgatory with no room to improve and incapable of tackling some of the challenging issues like participation numbers and affordability...

There's room for the game to grow in Canada. You can improve on 1st place. If only we can get Hockey Quebec sorted out....watch out.

Could be getting some good goaltenders from Hockey Quebec in this draft. So it's a start.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

There's an untapped market in Canada that if realized can provide a massive boost to Canadian Hockey. The next gen Canadians whose parents immigrated here in the 70's and on, their children's children's are the first to live the ''Canadian'' lifestyle, it's never been more apparent when you go across minor Hockey rinks and see the diversity of children playing , whether Chinese, Indian, Black etc.

The grassroots program is such nearly every province in any given year can produce elite players. From coast to coast pretty much.

Do Americans have more population, yes, but it's what you do with what you have. And no one will surpass Canadian Hockey in that.

And I mean, even if we lose an International tournament here or there, it doesn't take away from the fact that this is Canada's game and it's a thread that connects everyone in this country from coast to coast, that's something the neighbours down south will never have. That nationwide culture and love for Hockey and I think that plays apart into development of players and the elite talent.

 

[helax]

Should some of the Swedish Ds make it in the Canadian roster?

 

[canuck2010]

OMG. It seems that 1 out of 5 US hockey players has Canadian roots. Bellows, MacInnis, Barratt, Fowler Wilde, Turgeon etc. etc.

You can't help but catch up and pass us soon. Thank the NHL for that.

 

[arrbez]

The best players in the world playing against each other and you can't see a scenario where Canada doesn't lose a single game.... c'mon man.

We've never lost a game ever, look it up.

 

[stavs*]

Should some of the Swedish Ds make it in the Canadian roster?

OEL, Karlsson, Hedman could all earn a spot. Maybe not all 3, but at least 2 of them.

 

[Foltronic]

Is the US even the clear cut number 2? The Swede's look just as good on paper and then there's always Russia.

 

[Scotty B]

Is the US even the clear cut number 2? The Swede's look just as good on paper and then there's always Russia.

When has US ever won a Best on Best tourney?

Oh Yeah, World Cup 1996. Long time ago...

That Golden Generation is LONG GONE!

As good as the new crop of Yankee kids are, our kids are still better + our talent pool is still deeper!

More things change, more they stay the same...

 

[Canuck21t]

Canada barely beat the USA the last 2 times. Add Eichel, Mathews and Larkin at center and that drastically improves the US's chance of beating Canada or Sweden.

The scores were not representative of the games. Canada dominated the US in both games, especially in Sochi where it was a total domination by the Canadians. What the game again, Canada's defence was near perfect spending the majority of the 60 minutes in the American zone. I don't call that barely.

 

[AD1066]

When has US ever won a Best on Best tourney?

Oh Yeah, World Cup 1996. Long time ago...

That Golden Generation is LONG GONE!

As good as the new crop of Yankee kids are, our kids are still better + our talent pool is still deeper!

More things change, more they stay the same...

And it will likely stay that way for another decade or two. Thinking it will last forever though?

I'd bet on seeing a lot more parity 2030 and beyond, based on current trends.

 

[BIitz]

The scores were not representative of the games. Canada dominated the US in both games, especially in Sochi where it was a total domination by the Canadians. What the game again, Canada's defence was near perfect spending the majority of the 60 minutes in the American zone. I don't call that barely.

The score is what matters though. Adding 3 explosive talents down the middle like that is something the US has lacked for a while. Canada won by 1 goal? That's just 1 shot.

 

[Velo]

Canada AINEC

Center

Crosby
Mcdavid
Stamkos
Tavares
Getzlaf
Toews
Bergeron

Defense

Pietrangelo
Weber
Doughty
Keith
Subban
Seabrook/Bowmiester/Hamhuis

Goaltenders

Price

Realistically as said before the only place it's close is at the wings


The Russians would be as much a favourite as the USA
with there current injection of young talent also.

Recently every country has produced more talent that ever...and its only a matter of time before the NHL expands again.

Wouldn't restrict it to just the wings, Canada has the best G in the world at the moment in Price but I'd say the US and maybe even Sweden and Russia have better G depth, and 2018 is a long way away so who knows how effective Price will still be, plus possibilities of injury, etc (course, you can say the same for any player). Canada used to produce bumper crops of goalies but now it seems like the country's weakest position.

That C and D depth is impressive, though.

 

[JackSlater]

The score is what matters though. Adding 3 explosive talents down the middle like that is something the US has lacked for a while. Canada won by 1 goal? That's just 1 shot.

Canada has better players to add in 2018 than the United States does. For the topic of the thread, there is no reasonable criteria by which the United States would be the favourite in 2018.

 

[Mike2000z28]

Not even close.

Canada vs. Russia is what epitomizes Hockey.

Who cares about the Americans, it's just another rivalry like Finland or Sweden vs the Russians it's so much more. It can't be explained.

It feels good beating the Americans because we're stuck with them but beating the Russians...incomparable.

Canada vs Russia equals boring Hockey. First off Russia tends to stink it up vs Canada and it generally isn't even a close game compared to a Canadian/USA game and that goes for Jrs as well.

 

[Mike2000z28]

I somewhat agree. The Russian international team doesn't like the Canadians for sure. But that because whenever we play best-on-best Canada crushes Russia.

That said in International hockey it's become Canada-USA that's the biggest rivalry. The new years eve game at the WJC has become somewhat of a classic. Canada and the USA always seem to meet in critical games and generally play really exciting hockey. The US is just a deeper, tougher team then the Russians are right now and they present more of an obstacle to Canada, and thus they are our biggest rivals.

Bingo, somebody watches hockey. Maybe it WAS Canada-Russia back decades ago, but lately Russia is a pretty soft team. The hype is always there and it tends to be a let down. Obviously Canada is the favorite but my American team holds its own against anyone for the most part.

 

[xxxx]

Canada vs Russia equals boring Hockey. First off Russia tends to stink it up vs Canada and it generally isn't even a close game compared to a Canadian/USA game and that goes for Jrs as well.

Nope.

Three games I can name from top of my head that were absolutely exciting and three of the best I've ever seen:

Canada - Russia 2009 WJRs SF (6-5 SO with Eberle tying it with 5 sec. to go)
Canada - Russia 2012 WJRs SF (Canada was down 1-6 ten minutes before the end, then came back and lost just 5-6 but was SO close to tie the game - actually they hit the post in the final minute)
and the best game I've ever seen EVER from Canada:
Canada - Russia 2010 Olympics QF (7-3)

 

[Stats01]

OMG. It seems that 1 out of 5 US hockey players has Canadian roots. Bellows, MacInnis, Barratt, Fowler Wilde, Turgeon etc. etc.

You can't help but catch up and pass us soon. Thank the NHL for that.

if 1 out of 5 Americans have Canadian roots then that's even better for Canada. lol How is that a bad thing. It means the Canadian pipeline as massive as it is now reaches into U.S soil.

 

[Stats01]

Nope.

Three games I can name from top of my head that were absolutely exciting and three of the best I've ever seen:

Canada - Russia 2009 WJRs SF (6-5 SO with Eberle tying it with 5 sec. to go)
Canada - Russia 2012 WJRs SF (Canada was down 1-6 ten minutes before the end, then came back and lost just 5-6 but was SO close to tie the game - actually they hit the post in the final minute)
and the best game I've ever seen EVER from Canada:
Canada - Russia 2010 Olympics QF (7-3)

the Canada-Russia final in last year's World Championship was fun too score was lopsided but boy was it entertaining. the 2009 WJR SF and the 2010 Olympic QF are the 2 that I will never forget.

 

[Scotty B]

And it will likely stay that way for another decade or two. Thinking it will last forever though?

I'd bet on seeing a lot more parity 2030 and beyond, based on current trends.

People were saying same thing circa 1996, and u could argue that that golden generation was a Bigger threat in Best on Best competitions than the current crop.

Having said that, Yanks really do have a plethora of blue-chip youngsters...But better than Canada?

NOT for the foreseeable future, and nobody knows beyond that..

lotz can happen btwn now and 2030...including a total loss of sovereignty/ borders...as the psychopathic architects of the globalist police state have sway...

Have a Nice Day

 

[Scotty B]

Bingo, somebody watches hockey. Maybe it WAS Canada-Russia back decades ago, but lately Russia is a pretty soft team. The hype is always there and it tends to be a let down. Obviously Canada is the favorite but my American team holds its own against anyone for the most part.

Head to head...In the last 8 World Jr Gold Medal Games, Canada vs Russia are tied at 4 wins a piece. And less we forget, Canada evened things up, LAST YEAR.

As great as those Can/USA WJ , New Years Eve games have been. USA has only won the World Jr's What? Three Times.That's mighty pedestrian compared to the Maple Leaf and/or Bear

In Junior, Canada's ARCH NEMESIS = RUSSIA!

 

[PWiz30]

The only game they came close to losing last year was against ****ing Latvia.

It's no secret that despite every nation having their best players on the ice, Canada's best are still far better.

Yeah, Canada really had that Finland game in the bag from the opening faceoff.

 

[Samcanadian]

Canada is the Favorite until the human race no longer exists

Came in this thread to say this, and also to drop a few AINEC's

 

[Jablkon]

The score is what matters though. Adding 3 explosive talents down the middle like that is something the US has lacked for a while. Canada won by 1 goal? That's just 1 shot.

And all neutral fans who watched it knew after first 15 minutes that Canada gonna win it in Sochi.....one shot: Then you should win 20:1

 

[AD1066]

People were saying same thing circa 1996, and u could argue that that golden generation was a Bigger threat in Best on Best competitions than the current crop.

Having said that, Yanks really do have a plethora of blue-chip youngsters...But better than Canada?

NOT for the foreseeable future, and nobody knows beyond that..

lotz can happen btwn now and 2030...including a total loss of sovereignty/ borders...as the psychopathic architects of the globalist police state have sway...

Have a Nice Day

I wouldn't assume something will never happen just because it hasn't happened yet.

The Roman Empire fell, so guaranteeing Canadian superiority in hockey until the end of time may be shortsighted. And barring a major sociopolitical upheaval and/or nuclear crisis, things seem to be trending towards increased parity.

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