Do you wish that your nations NHL players don't make it far in the play-offs...
- Thread starter Laineux
- Start date
Some countries probably don't care because they'll have enough good players regardless. For example: Canada, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden all have enough good players playing in Europe or that didn't make it past the first round of the NHL playoffs that it isn't a really big deal. However, big countries like USA, Slovakia, Switzerland and smaller hockey nations like Germany, Denmark, Norway, Slovenia, France, etc. will all rely heavily on their North American talent to elevate their team to be competitive (or avoid relegation).
Look at the leading scorers of Slovakia and Switzerland in their silver medal finishes in 2012 and 2013 for examples of what the difference between having NHL talent and not having it on the roster can do.
Look at the leading scorers of Slovakia and Switzerland in their silver medal finishes in 2012 and 2013 for examples of what the difference between having NHL talent and not having it on the roster can do.
What's a big deal is that the players who are naturally eliminated do show up. That is, for example, the reason why last spring's Team Finland looked so crappy. Only a handful of players were in the contention for Stanley Cup, but there was a crapton of declinations.
Though in retrospect, when nine skaters (and that's not counting late addition Granlund) from said squad give a repeat performance in the most recent best-on-best tournament and both its starter and backup goalie are now in the NHL, one kinda has to question if it was so crappy at all. Behind Kontiola, a little weak down the middle, nothing more. A single centerman away from greatness. And even then there was no need to hope for NHL talent because without some unfortunate accidents and family issues, one of Kapanen, Immonen, Lehterä or Barkov would have done just fine to plug that hole.
So yeah, no. There really is no reason to hope that some teams deliberately do badly. Sometimes one just gets a freak year when there are a ton of declinations - and that is really the issue that leads to a weak team, not the fact that there are not enough good players available at all.
Though I suppose a regular couch-warmer who only tunes in for the yearly games could figure that the team is crappy because of the NHL playoffs - so it could be a big deal to them. But in reality it really is not.
The point is that there is a reason to care about a player who is available. Whether one shows up or not is a big deal. But just like smitty10 alluded, in a normal environment there should be enough quality players available that you don't really have to concern yourself with those still stuck with their day jobs and hope they'd do poorly. Which was your original question.
Laineux
Registered User
- Aug 1, 2011
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It makes a huge difference for Finland if say Minnesota doesn't make it. And it's still a huge thing in Finland if any decent NHL player becomes available for the national team, and many Finns most likely wish for that.
Of course i do. As a German it doesn't really matter, though. After all we suck with our NHlers and we suck without time.
If i were Swedisch, Finish, Czech, Russian, ect. I'd obviously hope that everybody is available for the national team.
It's a no brainer really. Your national team>>>>>> A random team owned by a billionar in a foreign country far away.
If i were Swedisch, Finish, Czech, Russian, ect. I'd obviously hope that everybody is available for the national team.
It's a no brainer really. Your national team>>>>>> A random team owned by a billionar in a foreign country far away.
1Gold Standard
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- Jun 13, 2012
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No. NHL playoffs are more important than World Championships.
There is one caveat however; once players do become available, I'd prefer they accept the invite to rep. their country. Within reason of course, i.e. a player like Tavares, (forgetting for a moment the Sochi Olympics) but Tavares has already competed in 3 WHC and has publicly stated he would always accept the invite when called upon. Having already played in 3 WHC, I'd prefer a young player of that ilk make waves in the NHL playoffs and is ultimately way more important and valuable in a player's development than 8 or 9 games in a spring tournament in some European capital imo.
There is one caveat however; once players do become available, I'd prefer they accept the invite to rep. their country. Within reason of course, i.e. a player like Tavares, (forgetting for a moment the Sochi Olympics) but Tavares has already competed in 3 WHC and has publicly stated he would always accept the invite when called upon. Having already played in 3 WHC, I'd prefer a young player of that ilk make waves in the NHL playoffs and is ultimately way more important and valuable in a player's development than 8 or 9 games in a spring tournament in some European capital imo.
Dave is a killer
Dave's a Mess
especially in Olympic year, indeed. But WC is still interesting for me. rare to get all best available players from NHL there is a chance for completely different team than the olympic one.
When it comes to international competition, the WHC ranks last for me behind best-on-best and WJC, but I still find it more interesting than the NHL.
Maybe its because I live in Toronto, but I really don't care about the fate of any given club team, and usually look at the standings and scoring leaders primarily to see who is available for the national squad.
Maybe its because I live in Toronto, but I really don't care about the fate of any given club team, and usually look at the standings and scoring leaders primarily to see who is available for the national squad.
tony d
New poll series coming from me in June
I like the World Championships and always like seeing Team Canada getting good players for the team but I got to think the NHL players would rather be competing for the Cup then competing for the Gold Medal at the World Championships.
Don't know. Don't care (about the WC). I just wish the first round of the playoffs went on F-O-R-E-V-E-R !!!!
Aye buddy...
As someone who lives in Europe (Russia), I have a question...
When Canadians say they don't care about the WC, do Europeans believe us or do they think it is just an excuse because we don't do well?
I know, of all the tournament on the calendar, this is the one I care about least - and by a wide margin. However, I get the impression that European posters don't believe / understand how little Canadians care.
Well said.
Jussi
Registered User
Yes for those who would be most useful to the team. Some players with a good team and chance to win a Cup (like Teemu), not so much. Koivu and Ruutu would be great since we always medal with those two in the team.
On the other hand Canadians don't belive us that many hockey fans here don't care about NHL and that BIG 4 (Gretzky, Orr, Howe and Lemieux) are not universaly considered 4 best players ever here
1Gold Standard
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Glad to say that my expat residency days are behind me...now just extended trips to that area of the world, no more than 5 months out of the year.
In answer to your question, they really don't care what we think, it's important to them and to win it is a big deal w/ grand receptions at Red Square and the IIHF trophy gets a grand tour of the country with photo opps for fans. They routinely point out that the 2008 and 09 versions of Team Canada for all intents and purposes were as close to being Olympic caliber as possible. That's their argument. whether or not they believe it themselves or are just arguing the point, I really don't care.
How they judge Team Canada's relative strength or weakness at these tournaments, you have to remember, NHL is not broadcast on Russian TV, you have to be a hard core follower of the NHL and subscribe to specialty cable or on-line packages to get it, so unless you really are an NHL fan you don't know all that much about the players. i.e. Seguin was practically unheard of last year, but put him on a line with Nichushkin in Dallas this year, and what do you know, some Russian fans questioned why Seguin wasn't on the Olympic team. Online sports sites highlight for the most part what Russians are doing in the NHL and not much else. i.e. Columbus wins 2-1, Johansen scores 2 goals, but the headline is Bobrovsky stops the Wings. Pittsburgh wins and the headline reads Malkin' goal and assist leads to victory. or if it is a loss, Malkin's goal and assist can't save Pittsburgh. that sort of thing.
Theokritos
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- Apr 6, 2010
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Accurate account of the mass media coverage. It's the same in other countries too.
Franck
eltiT resU motsuC
Honestly, as a Swede I don't really care that much because Tre Kronor always seems to under-perform badly whenever we end up with a really star-studded roster.
The 2012 World Championships was a good example of that, apart from the goaltending and the fourth line that team was as good as the team we sent to Sochi, if not even better and they were eliminated unceremoniously in the quarter-finals. By comparison the 2013 and particularly the 2006 teams that won gold medals were heavy on European-based players.
So much like one of the Finnish posters said, I don't really care that much about who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, I only care about whether guys accept the invitation when they are available. I have absolutely no respect for serial decliners like Tobias Enström, for example.
I do have to admit that I prefer not to have any Swedish players on the Canadiens though, especially not any really good ones.
The 2012 World Championships was a good example of that, apart from the goaltending and the fourth line that team was as good as the team we sent to Sochi, if not even better and they were eliminated unceremoniously in the quarter-finals. By comparison the 2013 and particularly the 2006 teams that won gold medals were heavy on European-based players.
So much like one of the Finnish posters said, I don't really care that much about who makes the playoffs and who doesn't, I only care about whether guys accept the invitation when they are available. I have absolutely no respect for serial decliners like Tobias Enström, for example.
I do have to admit that I prefer not to have any Swedish players on the Canadiens though, especially not any really good ones.
1Gold Standard
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Except in Canada (TSN) where the game headline/story/article goes to whomever is most deserving of it. i.e. from Tuesday night, Landeskog leads Avs to win. The headline wasn't "Mackinnon's assist helps Avs end their skid.
Fluff pieces not directly related to game results, then ya sure...media will concentrate on "their" player. marketing 101.
Theokritos
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And you think European media don't cover their OWN leagues the same way? I was talking about coverage of a far-away league, like the NHL from a European perspective.
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