Olympic Hockey Thread Part II

[Lime]

Hagelin will probably just throw on a bubble and be fine.

I'm excited to watch the Czechs and Slovaks go at it tomorrow, should be a good game. I'm not concerned about either of those teams for the US. Switzerland has me sweating for Canada though. Flashbacks of Darth Gerber in 2006

 

[Lime]

Personally it wouldn't bother me at all if the NHL pulled out of the Olympics after this year. I'm sure the players wouldn't be happy about it but even so…You want your players in--they want in then be prepared to pay the price if one or more come back hurt and not 100%. A major injury to Lundqvist would be catastrophic to the Rangers this year. Zuccarello, Stepan, Nash, McDonagh would have a huge effect as well--Callahan and Hagelin less so. The IIHF is not paying the players a dime--in the case of those players playing for NHL teams--their NHL teams are paying the players and taking all the risk for a championship that has nothing to do with the NHL. It's a little bizarre to me.

I'm with you there. I'd like to see the World Cup in it's place or whatever RangerBoy posted about a while back. Especially if they kept it in North America.

 

[Raspewtin]

This is one of the many reasons women hockey is a joke.

Because one team is better than the other?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I get what you're saying eco's as an NHL fan.

But I personally love the fact that these guys are not only not getting paid, but in some cases risking big money (Callahan) by giving their all in this tourney. It's all about the game and national pride. I really enjoy that aspect.

 

[silverfish]

Oh my goodness. The goal was a lucky bounce, but that 3 on 3 rush by the USA Women's team just now for the sixth goal was absolutely beautiful.

 

[aufheben]

Final shots: 70-9

 

[eco's bones]

I get what you're saying eco's as an NHL fan.

But I personally love the fact that these guys are not only not getting paid, but in some cases risking big money (Callahan) by giving their all in this tourney. It's all about the game and national pride. I really enjoy that aspect.

National pride? They could do a 4 year hitch in the service. I did.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

National pride? They could do a 4 year hitch in the service. I did.

Much respect, and obviously it's on a different level than that.

 

[Ola]

Jagr was injured during the Winter Classic in Philly. Said his groins didn't approve of the cold weather. Was afraid of being hurt this last outdoor game too.

Should we shut down the out door games too? A lot of teams has also had WC back lashes. How about the European starts? Unfair and injury risk.

It's just stupid and shortsighted for the NHL to not participate in the OGs. It's free world stage publicity.

The NHL doesn't get paid for lending it's players to the OG? The money from the OG goes to each federation that develops these players. How much does the NHL pay the clubs that are developing their players? Nothing. They are funded by others. They he world class talents for free.

Doesn't matter, financially it's just stupid and short sighted not to go.

 

[Mikos87]

Jagr was injured during the Winter Classic in Philly. Said his groins didn't approve of the cold weather. Was afraid of being hurt this last outdoor game too.

Should we shut down the out door games too? A lot of teams has also had WC back lashes. How about the European starts? Unfair and injury risk.

It's just stupid and shortsighted for the NHL to not participate in the OGs. It's free world stage publicity.

The NHL doesn't get paid for lending it's players to the OG? The money from the OG goes to each federation that develops these players. How much does the NHL pay the clubs that are developing their players? Nothing. They are funded by others. They he world class talents for free.

Doesn't matter, financially it's just stupid and short sighted not to go.

Yeah it would absolutely be stupid for them to not go. Would hurt the sport tremendously since it would be highly unlikely USA or Canada would medal icing minor league teams below the AHL level. It wouldn't help in growing the sport at all.

 

[Ola]

I love that the Canada Cup is an option but the Olympic is hell and will ruin the sport. Some are just stupid.

Players can't be hurt during the Canada Cup or what lol? What is the benfit? You do not have to shut down the league for 10-14 days? Well there is also no gain since nobody cares about a tournament played in Canada during the summer.

The Olympics is the Olympics. The KHL is expanding in Asia. Give it 20 years and they got a hockey interest too, it's not starting from scratch, it's been building up for a while. Slovenia got going in a hurry.

The NHL can opt to get the exposure from the OGs or they can opt to not get it. Try to get it right.

 

[NYRKindms]

Jagr was injured during the Winter Classic in Philly. Said his groins didn't approve of the cold weather. Was afraid of being hurt this last outdoor game too.

Should we shut down the out door games too? A lot of teams has also had WC back lashes. How about the European starts? Unfair and injury risk.

It's just stupid and shortsighted for the NHL to not participate in the OGs. It's free world stage publicity.

The NHL doesn't get paid for lending it's players to the OG? The money from the OG goes to each federation that develops these players. How much does the NHL pay the clubs that are developing their players? Nothing. They are funded by others. They he world class talents for free.

Doesn't matter, financially it's just stupid and short sighted not to go.

The only people who seem to feel strongly about it is the European fans. The olympics just dont hold the same level of importance to north Americans. We have the best leagues here for the sports that North Americans care about.

I really question folks who say this is important or good hockey. Out side the top 4 teams the others are made up of a mix of players who couldnt crack an NHL lineup and older former stars if they are lucky. So for Sweden, USA, Canada and maybe Russia it is the best NHLers who are from those countries. Everyone else is fodder.

 

[slipknottin]

I disagree with the Olympics not holding value to North Americans.

I think there are a ton of casual fans of the game who would prefer watching the Olympics to the nhl any day.

 

[NYRKindms]

I disagree with the Olympics not holding value to North Americans.

I think there are a ton of casual fans of the game who would prefer watching the Olympics to the nhl any day.

I didnt say no value I said importance. There is a difference

I think the Olympic hockey does pick up the casual fan because it is one of the few sports in the olympics not based on style points. It is one of the few sports in the Winter Olympics that a sports fan could watch and figure out what the hell is going on

But to the casual fan a country playing a country is more important than a regular season game to determine seating for the real tourney so sure. But the hockey is going to be better in the NHL as the players on the whole are more talented and just better. For fans of Sweden, USA Canada and Russia we get to see which country comes out on top and an argument can be made that those were the best the countries have to offer at that sport but it really is just a 4 or 5 country tourney

 

[Ola]

NYRKindms- Yeah, because you don't seem to understand how fragile the interest of hockey is outside NA and maybe Finland.

Sweden drew a 5k crowd for the WCHs on home ice two seasons ago. HFD atmosphere. Nobody cared. The last Canada Cup? No viewings anywhere. Hockey is big in a few small city's here.

I work in STHLM, there is zero hockey interest here. I talked with a collegue this morning. He saw the US play Russia. His comment was literary "hockey can be so damn fun to watch". First hockey game he had seen in several years. He is young and interested in sports. It's the same in all European countries cept Finland and to a big extent Switzerland. Soccer is kicking ass and then some.

 

[RangerBoy]

The next winter Olympics are in South Korea. 13 hour time difference. Its bad enough the gold medal game will be played at 7:30 in the morning on Sunday. World Cup of hockey. Bill Daly said the NHL will make a decision this summer on the next Olympics. The NHL and the PA have discussed the World Cup. They need a decision on the Olympics to prepare for the World Cup. They get the money from that event. If Lundqvist suffered a torn ACL this morning it would not have been a nothing incident. The media likes the Olympics because they get a free trip to cover hockey and get away from their spouses for three weeks. They spend the night at the bar with their hockey writing friends for three weeks.

 

[Kakko]

So, do injuries not happen in the NHL?

Do players only get hurt at the Olympics?

 

[NYRKindms]

NYRKindms- Yeah, because you don't seem to understand how fragile the interest of hockey is outside NA and maybe Finland.

Sweden drew a 5k crowd for the WCHs on home ice two seasons ago. HFD atmosphere. Nobody cared. The last Canada Cup? No viewings anywhere. Hockey is big in a few small city's here.

I work in STHLM, there is zero hockey interest here. I talked with a collegue this morning. He saw the US play Russia. His comment was literary "hockey can be so damn fun to watch". First hockey game he had seen in several years. He is young and interested in sports. It's the same in all European countries cept Finland and to a big extent Switzerland. Soccer is kicking ass and then some.

Its not that I dont understand about the fragility of Hockey interest outside of NA, I just don't care. I'm sure the same is felt by the Scandinavian countries when it comes to the US's interest in cross country skiiing or whatever.

And if your buddy got excited about USA v Russia then I am going to guess he got worked up over the geo-political back story because the hockey was just OK. It was a fairly boring game 5v5

 

[eco's bones]

Much respect, and obviously it's on a different level than that.

Seriously--the ones that are playing I want to see do well. I don't want to see them come back banged up. Zuccarello is the key guy on his line and IMO the Rangers best forward this year. Hagelin is thin enough without needing to eat milkshakes through a straw for the next month or so and playing with a full cage because he has a broken jaw?--if that's what he has.

As far as waving the flag--I'm really cold to that whole idea. I did my 4 years more or less because the economy had tanked back then and I needed another job. I needed to see something else besides my own home town. There was nothing particularly special about it. I'm an American with a small a--not a god fearing, flag waving, make as much as you can and to hell with everyone else capitalist. I am a huge Rangers fan even so going back to the 71-72 season. Maybe that's part of my problem. I grew up seeing our college and junior kids playing in the Olympics. Back then just the idea of a North American professional hockey player playing in the Olympics was anathema. The Olympic committee back then would break out the garlic and the crucifixes just at the hint that something like that was in the offing. How things change and $ has a lot to do with why things change.

 

[haohmaru]

The next winter Olympics are in South Korea. 13 hour time difference. Its bad enough the gold medal game will be played at 7:30 in the morning on Sunday. World Cup of hockey. Bill Daly said the NHL will make a decision this summer on the next Olympics. The NHL and the PA have discussed the World Cup. They need a decision on the Olympics to prepare for the World Cup. They get the money from that event. If Lundqvist suffered a torn ACL this morning it would not have been a nothing incident. The media likes the Olympics because they get a free trip to cover hockey and get away from their spouses for three weeks. They spend the night at the bar with their hockey writing friends for three weeks.

Best solution for the NHL would be to add Hockey to the summer Olympics. No NHL players would hurt the Olympics AND the NHL. Summer is the solution - it's played indoors anyway.

 

[Ola]

I definitely understand die hard fans being against the OGs. I don't care that much myself and would much rather watch the NYR.

But for the NHL it's shortsighted not to go. There is the interview with Daly at TSN.ca. The argument he makes are really short sighted. They want 100% of the gate and TV money which you get with the Canada Cup. But that's all they get from that tournament. You can still do the CC every 4th year and the OG every 4th year.

The NHL shuts down 2.5 days on avg per year to participate in the OGs.

 

[Ola]

Its not that I dont understand about the fragility of Hockey interest outside of NA, I just don't care. I'm sure the same is felt by the Scandinavian countries when it comes to the US's interest in cross country skiiing or whatever.

And if your buddy got excited about USA v Russia then I am going to guess he got worked up over the geo-political back story because the hockey was just OK. It was a fairly boring game 5v5

But the NHL should care. I definitely understand I you don't care.

But a significant portion of the talent in the NHL don't come from NA and it's a big market for the NHL.

I would understand if the NFL had little interest in tryin to grow and sat back and looked 6 month ahead.

I just don't think the NHL is in that position.

Believe me, it's just much more rewarding to watch a sport that is doing well or at least surviving.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Because one team is better than the other?

Because in Men's hockey you don't get this disparity between any team and there are only 2 good teams in women's hockey. Not to mention that the quality of play is a joke in general.

 

[Ail]

It's being widely reported that after EK crased Henrik he got in Henrik's face and said "Tell Boyle I said 'Hi'." It's even on espn and yahoo.com's main page. Big stuff and all these big sites are redirecting to HFboards too.

I can't find this quote being reported anywhere on any of the articles I just read about the incident.

If you are going to post something like this, please cite your references.

 

[Ail]

NYRKindms- Yeah, because you don't seem to understand how fragile the interest of hockey is outside NA and maybe Finland.

Sweden drew a 5k crowd for the WCHs on home ice two seasons ago. HFD atmosphere. Nobody cared. The last Canada Cup? No viewings anywhere. Hockey is big in a few small city's here.

I work in STHLM, there is zero hockey interest here. I talked with a collegue this morning. He saw the US play Russia. His comment was literary "hockey can be so damn fun to watch". First hockey game he had seen in several years. He is young and interested in sports. It's the same in all European countries cept Finland and to a big extent Switzerland. Soccer is kicking ass and then some.

Sounds like baseball, and football vs hockey here in America.

Hockey is a niche sport, a growing one, but still ranked pretty far behind football and baseball.