So if NHL players aren't going to the Olympics who's playing for Canada and the US?

[Jesus Take the Wheel]

Maybe there are a few of those but a good NCAA or top 18-20 yo CHLer is better than older players who couldn't make the NHL. Young legs, similar to what the US did in 1980 with the Miracle team.

Overall I have to disagree with this, unless they're are top prospects you go with the older guys

 

[neXis]

Really takes a lot of the intrigue and interest out of it. What's the point of hockey in the Olympics then if it's not the best in the world vs. the best in the world? The quality of play will be lower than we're accustomed to seeing in the Olympics.

Disagree. Olympics has been one sided (Canada) for years. Maybe a bunch of nobodies from lower leagues will make it more interesting and competitive across most nations.

 

[CurtisLoew]

How about they get the IOC to get back on board first. The NHL isn't the bad guy here as much as some uneducated fans seem to think it is.

The old provide no facts and claim everyone who disagrees doesn't know what they're talking about tactic.

 

[radapex]

The old provide no facts and claim everyone who disagrees doesn't know what they're talking about tactic.

The facts are that the IOC decided that they wanted the NHL to pay the shot -- travel, food, etc -- and get nothing in return. Literally nothing. They got no kickbacks (financial or otherwise), no advertising or media rights, no partnership rights...

 

[ToneBone03]

Think Spengler Cup. All ex-NHLers playing in Europe.

I doubt that AHL players will be eligible either.

 

[Number 57]

Maybe there are a few of those but a good NCAA or top 18-20 yo CHLer is better than older players who couldn't make the NHL. Young legs, similar to what the US did in 1980 with the Miracle team.

Are you serious?

 

[Number 57]

US and Canada arn't the only ones affected by this. Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, etc also have their top guns playing in the NHL, thus ineligible. Russia will have a clear advantage given the number of good players they have in the KHL.

While it's always nice to see the world's best vs best, the tourney will be very, very interesting to say the least. And it will still be good hockey. The Olympics stage will make most of the players play over their heads. It will be just as exciting as a WJC tournament. I know a lot of people are complaining and saying they won't watch, but I bet it ends up being quite a fun tournament. Everyone will be out to get the Russians.

BTW I doubt we see more than 2-3 juniors per team. The top ones like Hischier, Patrick, Heiskanen, Dahlin, Dubois, Svechnikov may have a shot, plus a couple of older NCAA star players, but aside from that, veterans from Europe are still miles better than any good CHLer.

 

[Territory]

Imagine Canada and USA have scrub teams but Russia still loses lol.

 

[BlueBaron]

Disagree. Olympics has been one sided (Canada) for years. Maybe a bunch of nobodies from lower leagues will make it more interesting and competitive across most nations.

Yes it will be quite interesting watching the Russians win the Olympics like the good old days. Interesting for Putin and Trump maybe....

 

[Cancuks]

Petr Nedved should be lacing them up for Canada.

 

[VoynovsParoleOfficer]

Think Spengler Cup. All ex-NHLers playing in Europe.

I doubt that AHL players will be eligible either.

anyone have the last roster? i am unfamiliar with the Spengler Cup in general

 

[al secord]

Joey Juneau, Pat Falloon and Hnat Domenichelli.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Scary thought.
Hopefully a dismal showing by Canada will get Hockey Canada to make the NHL get back on board with this.

Personally I didn't care 1/10th as much about the World Cup of Hockey last fall. I didn't even watch the Final (just the highlights). The whole Team North America thing kind of took away the luster of cheering for your country.

And now were getting an Olympics that will be BS... sigh.
Maybe will get a 94 Olympics situation with young "Lindros and Kariya" type players on the team?

How can Hockey Canada possibly MAKE the NHL get back on board with this?

 

[patnyrnyg]

The facts are that the IOC decided that they wanted the NHL to pay the shot -- travel, food, etc -- and get nothing in return. Literally nothing. They got no kickbacks (financial or otherwise), no advertising or media rights, no partnership rights...

Waiting for someone to respond to this with, "..but everyone else is doing it. Why is the NHL so special they should get special treatment from the IOC? If the KHL can deal with the IOC, why can't the NHL?" with some whining about how much the NHL has ruined hockey.

 

[BruinsBtn]

You send the best players that are eligible, which means it will mostly (if not entirely) be pros from Europe. They're better than the guys in the CHL and NCAA with maybe two or three outliers like Dubois or Barzal.

 

[ybnvs]

Jon Blum.

 

[COHawk]

Miracle 2.0

College kids

Dylan Gambrell and Troy Terry are ready to rip

 

[le_sean]

Nigel Dawes... wait, doesn't he play for Kazakhstan now?

Wow you're right. I had no idea. I remember him as a force for Canada at the WJC.

 

[BruinsBtn]

What I'm really interested to see is who Canada has in goal. If they could find someone good, they'd have some kind of chance.

 

[stepdad gaary]

they will begin training the chimps now

 

[Dead Thing Fan]

Why don't they just send the junior teams? Cancel the WJHC for the year and send them to the Olympics instead.

This. Would maintain a truer competitive balance than any other solution.

 

[edog37]

couldn't care less....won't watch any of it anyhow....

 

[Syek]

Spengler Cup 2.0

 

[QnebO]

I hope Gretzky and Lemieux dress and Kurri and Teemu for Finland

 

[blood gin]

Disagree. Olympics has been one sided (Canada) for years. Maybe a bunch of nobodies from lower leagues will make it more interesting and competitive across most nations.

Well it's not like the other nations don't have talent, it hasn't exactly been the Canadian NHL All Stars rampaging everybody. 2010 was wonderful, and it generated that kind of buzz and excitement because it was the best vs the best. 2002 was awesome as well.