NHL will ruin International hockey

[cleveland408]

What exactly is the problem? Former NHL players like staying in the city they played for and there sons represent the country they grew up in.

It's not "ruining international hockey" at all.

 

[Boot]

What exactly is the problem? Former NHL players like staying in the city they played for and there sons represent the country they grew up in.

It's not "ruining international hockey" at all.

That's what I was thinking. Just because their dad was of a different nationality, they can't play for the country they group up in?

 

[tsanuri]

Something that has been sticking in my craw for the last 5 or 6 years is the unfair advantage the NHL is providing the United States in international hockey. It was bad enough as a Canadian to see many sons of Canadian players playing for the Stars and Stripes but now we are seeing history repeating itself with the offspring of Euro players. A quick look at the present roster of the USA youth Olympic team (2000 birthdate) shows at least 5 players who fathers earn or are earning their living at the NHL level. This type of roster has become quite typical. Before people go crazy, yes Canada has taken advantage of this as well. Case in point is Darnell Nurse whose father came to Canada to play professional football however the ice is certainly tilted in the USA's favour as 23 out of the 30 teams are in the USA.

Anybody care to discuss.

And how many of those players could or have dual citizenship? I'm sure most could have dual if they had chosen to. And the fact they aren't is telling.

 

[FinPanda]

Yeah some of those USA players dads are from Sweden but the kids play for the US.

I don't think that ruins the international hockey.

 

[SpookyTsuki]

I don't get it.. If your dad and mom are canhadienz but you are born in america, you are american.

Maybe im reading this op thing wrong


And anyway is this ruining it?

 

[Fragmuffin]

I personally think that the bigger problem lies within the IIHF national team eligibility rules. The issue the OP stated is pretty irrelevant. Neither the US nor Canada is in any way hurting.

 

[NJN225]

Found Don Cherrys hf account

 

[JackSlater]

If Gretzky's son represented USA if he was good enough to play hockey, I can't help but think that Canada would be going crazy. The same thing is happening except with less popular players. Al MacInnis was a big name so it will be interesting to see if Ryan MacInnis creates some talk about this topic if he can reach a USA roster at the Olympics. I wonder then if it will create some talk in Canada.

No one cared that much when Mark Howe, a far better player than Ryan MacInnis and the son of a far better player than Al MacInnis, played for USA. The geographic nature of the NHL benefits USA hockey by giving them players who are by far the easiest to develop (rich, athletic kids who have parents very knowledgeable about hockey) and more importantly access to countless hockey experts. That's not a problem though, it's the way the world works.

 

[Canuckistani]

The NHL is ruining the international game, but it has nothing to do with the kids of Canadian players and everything to do with the "World Cup" and a possible NHL withdrawal from the Olympics.

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

3 american/swedes on USA's YOG roster!!!

Oliver Wahlström
Mattias Samuelsson
Adam Samuelsson

 

[VictorLustig]

I'm fine with this, as long as the SWE/USA players don't become star players.

 

[nickschultzfan]

This just screams of a Canadian fan being fearful of the US surpassing Canada.

Players will always play for the country where they can (1) make the team and (2) have the best chance to win.

That will always shift and balance out the countries.

 

[Classic Devil]

So let me get this right: people who are born and raised in the United States should not be allowed to represent the United States in international competitions?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Yeah, that's the difference between hockey and soccer. Soccer has a lot of leagues with different style and culture, so the game always has a choice of ways to move forward. Hockey is all about the same league, same standarts, same everything. Boring.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Agree, it's too Americanized, no substance at all in the league. Really ruined it, in a sport so global they can do many things yet fail at everything trying to be like those other 3 American sports they compete with instead of knowing where Hockey's true roots lie.

There's no culture whatsoever, every team is the same whether playing, coaching, every crowd is the same, every thing is the same everywhere, the ''Mcdonalization'' of the league is complete. That's why it's more fun watching European Hockey, the styles and uniqueness of crowds and atmosphere, that magic still exists. The nhl lost it years ago and it's getting worse year by year.

 

[MXD]

You have to ask yourself why Canadian players don't return home after their careers are over.
The majority stay in the US. However Finnish, Swedish, Russian etc players usually return home.
Can't be the weather, can't be taxes.



Five of the all time greats in the game, Gretzky, Howe, Orr, Lemieux, Hull all Canadian born are now US citizens.

The problem isn't the NHL, it's Canadian players.

Two words : THE WIFE.

 

[Jerkini]

If Gretzky's son represented USA if he was good enough to play hockey, I can't help but think that Canada would be going crazy. The same thing is happening except with less popular players. Al MacInnis was a big name so it will be interesting to see if Ryan MacInnis creates some talk about this topic if he can reach a USA roster at the Olympics. I wonder then if it will create some talk in Canada.

Yea, seems like the entire Gretzky family identifies as an American. Wayne Gretzky, the greatest Canadian to ever play the sport.

 

[Jablkon]

Juste several players whose kids would possibly represent USA came to my mind. Neckar, Prospal, Hejduk, Lang,Havlat, Vokoun, Petr Svoboda,Hejda,they all settled in USA. Fischer will probably stay in Detroit too.Paul Stastny from Slovakia, from youngsters one of Musils brothers who chosed to represent Canada. Prospal and Hejduk are already coaching, thats certainly knowhow you would rather see at home. Still its up to every single person to decide where he wants to live. 40 degrees and palms is bit different than foggy 18)

Despite above mentioned number of players staying in NA is quite high (they are basically from one generation). I would rather see them to help hockey in CZ, but its up to them and I dont blame anybody for it.....

 

[1Gold Standard]

Can't say that I blame them. I'll be joining them when it's my time to retire... as far south as I can get... but with rising sea levels, I just hope it's not submerged by the time my retirement comes.

 

[jdhebner]

Juste several players whose kids would possibly represent USA came to my mind. Neckar, Prospal, Hejduk, Lang,Havlat, Vokoun, Petr Svoboda,Hejda,they all settled in USA. Fischer will probably stay in Detroit too.Paul Stastny from Slovakia, from youngsters one of Musils brothers who chosed to represent Canada. Prospal and Hejduk are already coaching, thats certainly knowhow you would rather see at home. Still its up to every single person to decide where he wants to live. 40 degrees and palms is bit different than foggy 18)

Despite above mentioned number of players staying in NA is quite high (they are basically from one generation). I would rather see them to help hockey in CZ, but its up to them and I dont blame anybody for it.....

I remember reading an interview with Prospal about Czech National Hockey a few years back. The National Team (or a representative) said that Prospal declined to participate, and Prospal answered that he was never asked. Seems like there was some falling out also. Prospal has also coached his son's team to 1 or 2 national championships.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Remember when all those Caribbean born track and field stars were representing Canada in international competition, I wonder if the OP thinks that was ruining international track and field?

 

[kalle wirsch]

Erich Kühnhackl and Peter Draisaitl were born in the CSSR,
Both Played for West Germany and their sons are playing in the NHL and for Germany

 

[Xokkeu]

Kids playing for the country they grew up in. SHOCKING


I suppose guys like Iginla, Subban etc should be playing for Nigeria and Jamaica right?


No competition in international hockey LOL!

The US has two silver medals and a World Cup of Hockey win in 1996. Three U20 wins. Impending dominance is inevitable!

 

[Get North]

No one cared that much when Mark Howe, a far better player than Ryan MacInnis and the son of a far better player than Al MacInnis, played for USA. The geographic nature of the NHL benefits USA hockey by giving them players who are by far the easiest to develop (rich, athletic kids who have parents very knowledgeable about hockey) and more importantly access to countless hockey experts. That's not a problem though, it's the way the world works.

Good point. I can't speak for anyone else but I'd be pretty shocked if Gretzky's kid was playing for the U.S, wouldn't it be odd and become a topic? I don't know.

It's just the way it is and well, it challenges Canada a little more to continue to produce great hockey players. There's still couple of kids who grew up in Canada that have dads that played in the NHL.

 

[doncherrysgrill]

Crazy that another country getting better at hockey so it's not just Canada dominating is somehow bad for the game internationally....

Fact is the majority of these kids are born, raised, and trained in the US. Having an NHL dad only gets you so far. Genetics only get you so far. The advantages you get from having an NHL father are essentially the same you get from being rich.

BTW, using the Youth Olympics roster as a barometer for where the US talent is coming from is pretty shallow and ignorant of the politics in hockey. There's a hell of a lot of American kids in that birth year that have 0 NHL ties and will probably make a greater impact at the next level than the ones with name recognition.