Olympics without NHLers.. Is it even worth it?

[Gubbhornet]

I mean, we are not even talking B-team for most of the big countries... and for Canada, is it even your D-team?

IIHF WC is in general even more exciting since atleast a few stars tend to show up. For me they could skip it or make a U20 tournament out of it.

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[SoundAndFury]

It is worth it from the perspective that in countries like Lithuania, where I live, the final/medal round of the Olympics is the only time people will tune in to watch hockey because it's on the major TV network and the Olympics and all that. Hockey will have 100 times bigger exposure than it would have otherwise (which is basically 0). And some people will pick up legitimate interest in it. Germany is the biggest example in recent history. More people watched the Finals in 2018 than know that Draisaitl exists.

Other than that, for big hockey nations, and especially in NA, no, it's not worth it. But you can always just not care about it, no harm done.

 

[Namejs]

I mean, we are not even talking B-team for most of the big countries... and for Canada, is it even your D-team?

IIHF WC is in general even more exciting since atleast a few stars tend to show up. For me they could skip it or make a U20 tournament out of it.

Why on Earth would there be a U20 tournament instead?

The Olympics don't have to be canceled just because the NHL only cares about money. If you are a North American hockey fan, go on and watch NHL games during the Olympics.

Problem solved.

 

[Lambo]

Yes of course! The value of hockey tournaments needs to be reassessed anyway since the NHL is retiring from international hockey. In Europe, national teams play an important role and North Americans have their own world. They can hardly prove that they are so much better anyway. Therefore, this Olympic tournament without NHLers is still very valuable.

 

[Gubbhornet]

Why on Earth would there be a U20 tournament instead?

The Olympics don't have to be canceled just because the NHL only cares about money. If you are a North American hockey fan, go on and watch NHL games during the Olympics.

Problem solved.

I'm Swedish. The reason I don't think it's worth it because it's just so bored with national tournaments where none of the best players are represented. What does a gold even mean? An youth tournament (maybe even u18), could atleast be the best within a category.

 

[Lambo]

I'm Swedish. The reason I don't think it's worth it because it's just so bored with national tournaments where none of the best players are represented. What does a gold even mean? An youth tournament (maybe even u18), could atleast be the best within a category.

So is the gold medal won by Sweden in 1994 worthless?

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

If the NHL stopped playing for the Stanley cup, would it be any less meaningful? Not in my eyes.

An Olympic gold transcends even the athletes that compete for it.

 

[Puck Dogg]

Sure its worth it, after all its the Olympics. It is just not the kind of tournament expected.

 

[Eye of Ra]

it is

olympics is still olympics

 

[Gubbhornet]

So is the gold medal won by Sweden in 1994 worthless?

It's clearly less impressive then the 2006 one. Although, in 1994 the NHL didn't have the same monopoly on good players. But sure, the NA teams were far from their best.

 

[Beau Knows]

Might as well let somebody play for an Olympic medal if NHLers aren't going to. Yeah it probably won't be a great tournament to watch, but it's a hell of an opportunity for some of these guys who would never get a shot at playing in the Olympics.

 

[Gubbhornet]

Might as well let somebody play for an Olympic medal if NHLers aren't going to. Yeah it probably won't be a great tournament to watch, but it's a hell of an opportunity for some of these guys who would never get a shot at playing in the Olympics.

That is why U18/U20 or something would be fun. Maybe it could be a U20 + a few top players per team. Similar to olympic football.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

So is the gold medal won by Sweden in 1994 worthless?

At least in 1994 we had some star power. Forsberg was becoming regarded as the “best player outside of the NHL”, Loob had a case for being the best Swedish player maybe ever, both him and Mats Näslund chose to play in Sweden years before they were done as NHLers, and it was just a different era. Just recently, the tournament did mean a whole deal since it featured the mighty Soviet Union and most of the best European players were still in Europe.

People forget, but Canada were not the favorites to win that tournament, or to make the finals even. Finland were primed to win the gold, they had a better team than Sweden but chose to rest Myllys in the semifinals against Canada, which of course paved the road for their upset in the hands of exciting young stars like Kariya and Nedved.

I wouldn’t say any gold medal is worthless, but there’s a difference between international hockey in 1994 and international hockey in the last few years which makes this watered down Olympic tournament feel very empty.

 

[Lartsaman]

Yeah it´s worth it. For us finns the olympic gold would be a great thing to achieve(not huge though). I have to admit that I was very disappointed the last time(2018) when our tournament ended in quarterfinals.

 

[Czechboy]

I'm personally very excited for it. It really stinks that no NHL.

When it was a best on best - 5 countries in the hunt.

Now we have about 8 that can win Gold.

I can't wait to see Team Canada and who they bring. Imagine a guy like Staal coming out of retirement and winning gold with a kid like Power? How about an ultra fast NCAA team from the US - they will be a massive pain in the ass. Some of my all time favs on a very old Czech team. Can Jalonen sisu his way to a gold? Stacked Russian team for back to back golds? Slovaks should be very competitive and have a few kids that are going to be part of a nice rebirth (I hope). Swiss team has no real weaknesses. Swedes and their perfect brand of hockey. Can the German's get that final win and get Gold?

The scores should be much closer, the games should be very exciting.

For those saying not a best on best.. last one was in 2014 and I don't know when the next one is. It's not like hockey has some best on best standard and I have zero issue cheering for my country when they play other countries. The level of hockey will be very good IMO.

 

[Czechboy]

At least in 1994 we had some star power. Forsberg was becoming regarded as the “best player outside of the NHL”, Loob had a case for being the best Swedish player maybe ever, both him and Mats Näslund chose to play in Sweden years before they were done as NHLers, and it was just a different era. Just recently, the tournament did mean a whole deal since it featured the mighty Soviet Union and most of the best European players were still in Europe.

People forget, but Canada were not the favorites to win that tournament, or to make the finals even. Finland were primed to win the gold, they had a better team than Sweden but chose to rest Myllys in the semifinals against Canada, which of course paved the road for their upset in the hands of exciting young stars like Kariya and Nedved.

I wouldn’t say any gold medal is worthless, but there’s a difference between international hockey in 1994 and international hockey in the last few years which makes this watered down Olympic tournament feel very empty.

I remember watching all those Olympics as a kid and loving it! Lindros and Juneau. Czechs on Team Canada?! Kariya as you mentioned. Forsberg with his legendary goal.

I totally understand if we were like soccer and had a best on best every 2 years (Euro then World). We don't. I don't understand how all these hockey 'fans' aren't watching. The alternative is nothing.

 

[FiLe]

Would I have preferred a best-on-best with NHLers rather than this? You bet. But there definitely is its own kind of curiosity value in these games as well, at least from the Finnish perspective. Some of my countrymen might deride this as "glorified EHT" - but that's not exactly true, if you ask me. As no EHT team is truly a "best of Europe" squad. Regular EHT legs always feature a number of experimental players that might never feature in the NT again. But this Finnish squad is 100% proven names.

Simply put, it's a setup we've had, like what, three times in the last three decades? So, yeah, it's not what any of us wanted, but let no one say it isn't a novelty.

Furthermore, it's not like it's the fault of the tournament organizers that the NHL isn't participating - or even the players in the league. It was the commissioner and the franchise owners who made the decision to withdraw. So, if Bob is the coolest kid in the school but he can't make it to the party because his parents grounded him, should the rest of the kids just go home and pretend they're grounded too, or try and have some fun without him?

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Swedes and their perfect brand of hockey

Thank you. I also enjoy the style if not always the results. And I appreciate your excitement.

This time around, if we’re to believe Eye of Ra who knows more about the bums we have in Europe than I do, I’m afraid there will be little bedazzlement stemming from the Swedish team. If the idea is to try and sisu the team to an Olympic gold medal, I’m against it. Put our most talented NHL busts on the ice and have them pass the puck around for ages and never finish plays and lose to the Danes like a Swedish C-tier squad should.

 

[Czechboy]

Thank you. I also enjoy the style if not always the results. And I appreciate your excitement.

This time around, if we’re to believe Eye of Ra who knows more about the bums we have in Europe than I do, I’m afraid there will be little bedazzlement stemming from the Swedish team. If the idea is to try and sisu the team to an Olympic gold medal, I’m against it. Put our most talented NHL busts on the ice and have them pass the puck around for ages and never finish plays and lose to the Danes like a Swedish C-tier squad should.

I'm a fan of Ra and the point that there are 150 Swedes in North America is very fair. I'd say, of the Euro's, this hurt you the most. However, you are a nation with 150 players in North America and top 5 picks every year. So I"m positive there are still some very good Swedes in Europe. SHL is also right behind KHL for quality and then a gap for the rest. I also think a Swede is near the top of the Czech league and NLA right now.

I'm assuming it'll be a very good combo of up and comers who were drafted high and old vets who either were very good in NHL or dominate Euro leagues.

That's the thing I like... this is the most balanced hockey tournament in decades. World Juniors, U18's are 5 team races. World Championships are maybe 6 teams. Best on best is 5 teams. This is essentially a 9 team race! No offence to the KHL China team (who I think will be competitive). There should be no 11-0 victories by Canada over Denmark for instance. Tonnes of adversity and drama.

What can I say, I'm a geek for this stuff.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

I totally understand if we were like soccer and had a best on best every 2 years (Euro then World). We don't. I don't understand how all these hockey 'fans' aren't watching. The alternative is nothing.

My head is painfully racing on hockey between September and June each year, I was looking forward to the Olympics but with what we’re getting my head can at least use some rest. But I’m not on Team Why Should SHLers Go If NHLers Can’t, even though I’m half relieved national teams didn’t plunder Luleå’s roster (despite the fact I actually might have had some interest in the tournament had some of my favorite players gone, but Omark said no, and our super Finns weren’t selected, so the only one remaining is Erik Gustafsson and while I’m a huge fan of his Lidström lite-two way defensemanry and leadership on our team, it’s not enough to make Team Sweden exciting for me).

I think I’m rooting for Slovakia, especially Cehlarik. I hope you’re right in that they’re a dark horse gold medal candidate.

 

[iginlafan77]

Personally I'm still excited to watch. If you aren't , then don't.

 

[Czechboy]

My head is painfully racing on hockey between September and June each year, I was looking forward to the Olympics but with what we’re getting my head can at least use some rest. But I’m not on Team Why Should SHLers Go If NHLers Can’t, even though I’m half relieved national teams didn’t plunder Luleå’s roster (despite the fact I actually might have had some interest in the tournament had some of my favorite players gone, but Omark said no, and our super Finns weren’t selected, so the only one remaining is Erik Gustafsson and while I’m a huge fan of his Lidström lite-two way defensemanry and leadership on our team, it’s not enough to make Team Sweden exciting for me).

I think I’m rooting for Slovakia, especially Cehlarik. I hope you’re right in that they’re a dark horse gold medal candidate.

3 good goalies for Slovakia that can all run hot (and cold). Some good forwards, some good youth and I really like their D. Gernat and Marincin are personal favs of mine as they were Oiler picks. I'm always cheering for them. Curious how Slafkovsky looks amongst the men this time. Huge fan of his and my Oiler's now suck so I'm hoping we get him around 5.

 

[GJB]

It is pointless, just an absolute random mix of players playing against each other.

 

[Lambo]

It's clearly less impressive then the 2006 one. Although, in 1994 the NHL didn't have the same monopoly on good players. But sure, the NA teams were far from their best.

Well! Ultimately, the NHL withdraws from the international tournaments and you just adapt again. I'm glad that Finland has a lot of good players in Europe too. I'm still enjoying the tournament (hopefully if it takes place in full/Corona).

 

[Mantis]

f*** no. 100% irrelevant