GDT: USA vs FIN Final - 2/22/14 @ 7:00am PST (NBCSN)

[MsMeow]

I know Ken Campbell and in real life he's one of the funniest people I've met. It just seems like he hates hockey. It's like he's the print version of Glenn Healey.

 

[Bandit]

Only positive I can take from this fiasco is maybe Kane comes back from this tournament with shattered confidence and doesn't destroy us in the playoffs this year. That's all I got.

 

[Ron*]

Ridiculous....Brown has been **** for about a year straight, and all of a sudden he's supposed to be a MVP? I'm not sure I would have even put him on the team the way he's played this season.

I don't think anyone mentioned anywhere Brown was the MVP. How do you go from "character player" to "MVP" anyway?

 

[Ron*]

Why are you so against having nhl players in the olympics? Personally, I'm ok either way. To me, there has been no other sporting event close to being as exciting as the 1980's men's hockey team defeating the soviet union and then eventually winning the gold. However, if the other nations are bringing their professional athletes, why don't US?

You just made my argument for me.

It's better, and much more satisfying, to beat their pros with our amateurs. Having NBA and NHL pros in the Olympics ruins it for me.

I don't know, maybe its generational, and maybe you grew up with NBA and NHL players in the Olympics. For me, its just a farce, and won't be anything more than a farce. Ever.

 

[Ron*]

Only positive I can take from this fiasco is maybe Kane comes back from this tournament with shattered confidence and doesn't destroy us in the playoffs this year. That's all I got.

IMO then you don't have much. I think these players are pretty good about putting the past behind them. With the miserable season the Kings were having in 2011-12 as late as February, and to see what they did after that, is proof positive players don't let disappointments affect their future play.

I think that is what makes them professionals. Their ability to move on from game to game.

I'd much rather avoid Chicago altogether if we get to that point again. I knew going in to last year's playoffs that we weren't going to get past them. They have our number, much as we have had Vancouver's number the past three seasons.

 

[Degenerate]

IMO then you don't have much. I think these players are pretty good about putting the past behind them. With the miserable season the Kings were having in 2011-12 as late as February, and to see what they did after that, is proof positive players don't let disappointments affect their future play.

I think that is what makes them professionals. Their ability to move on from game to game.

I'd much rather avoid Chicago altogether if we get to that point again. I knew going in to last year's playoffs that we weren't going to get past them. They have our number, much as we have had Vancouver's number the past three seasons.

Let's not forget that in the 11-12 season there was a major (much needed) coaching change, as well as trades that had a big effect. Right?

 

[Degenerate]

You just made my argument for me.

It's better, and much more satisfying, to beat their pros with our amateurs. Having NBA and NHL pros in the Olympics ruins it for me.

I don't know, maybe its generational, and maybe you grew up with NBA and NHL players in the Olympics. For me, its just a farce, and won't be anything more than a farce. Ever.

I probably wouldn't enjoy, and possibly not even watch the Olympic tournament if it was all amateurs. The change I think is really needed is NHL sized ice. The bigger rink is unnecessary.

 

[Herby]

I said a North American team winning gold in Sochi would guarantee NHL participation in Pyeongchang and I still believe that.

No way does the NHL not let Canada defend it's gold with NHL'ers. The public outcry would be massive.

 

[Ron*]

Let's not forget that in the 11-12 season there was a major (much needed) coaching change, as well as trades that had a big effect. Right?

The coaching change was a full two months before they really turned it around. The Carter trade was more in tune with the rally in the late season and in the playoffs.

 

[Ron*]

I said a North American team winning gold in Sochi would guarantee NHL participation in Pyeongchang and I still believe that.

No way does the NHL not let Canada defend it's gold with NHL'ers. The public outcry would be massive.

I seriously doubt this statement.

 

[Degenerate]

The coaching change was a full two months before they really turned it around. The Carter trade was more in tune with the rally in the late season and in the playoffs.

Do you think another similar trade would create that same type of spark we saw before the Stanley Cup run? If so, it needs to be done soon. Personally I think it would have a positive effect. But I think another change that needs to be made simultaneously to a trade is for Brown to unfortunately lose his captaincy. It's nothing against the guy, I like him a lot. But it's time.

 

[LAKings88]

Wjc is great. Let the juniors play in the Olympics too.

 

[Herby]

I seriously doubt this statement.

You don't think the outcry in Canada would be massive?
Have you ever been to Canada, do you know that the sport is seen as a religion up there, the whole country pretty much shut down for the Gold Medal games in 2002 and 2010.

We know you hate NHL'ers at the Olympics, but are you to stubborn to acknowledge that you are in the vast minority in your opinion? Not only with fans, but with players also.

The NHL is not going to piss off it's largest and most dedicated fanbase by making them send people like Kevin Dallman and Nigel Dawes to defend their Gold Medal in 2018.

 

[Herby]

Wjc is great. Let the juniors play in the Olympics too.

Against European pros?

Not going to happen. Team USA and Team Canada would be made up pros based in Europe. Team USA would consist of guys like Brandon Bochenski, the NA teams would be slaughtered because Russia, Czech Rep, Sweden and Finland have much better players playing overseas and the European leagues are all going to shut down to send their best players.

If the NHL is stupid enough to stop going USA and Canada are going to have a tough time winning any medal, much less gold.

 

[Tadite]

Then the public can figure out a way to pay for the injured players.

I think it's insane that we can be in an era that someone makes 9 + Million dollars a year, gets injured in a exhibition game, and still makes his yearly salary. Which no conception that this is a crazy idea.

If the IOC/NBC wants the NHL players they had better pay for some insurance. Otherwise it's just a tax on the teams. Worse this doesn't' even excuse the damage caused by a concentrated schedule. Something that hurts west coast teams more then the east. Travel is bad enough in a normal season but this is back to back seasons of no practice, nearly no recovery time, and constant concentrated amount of games. It's not fair.

 

[Tadite]

Against European pros?

Why use a straw man argument.

You knew what he means making it a WJC. You knew very well that means U-20.

It's not like this doesn't exist in other sports.... like soccer....

 

[Ron*]

You don't think the outcry in Canada would be massive?
Have you ever been to Canada, do you know that the sport is seen as a religion up there, the whole country pretty much shut down for the Gold Medal games in 2002 and 2010.

We know you hate NHL'ers at the Olympics, but are you to stubborn to acknowledge that you are in the vast minority in your opinion? Not only with fans, but with players also.

The NHL is not going to piss off it's largest and most dedicated fanbase by making them send people like Kevin Dallman and Nigel Dawes to defend their Gold Medal in 2018.

I've been to Canada numerous times and visited the Hockey Hall of Fame in September 2012, principally because the Kings run to the Cup was significantly displayed and presented.

As to your point, yes the NHL will piss off its largest and most dedicated fan base if the owners feel its costing them more in player safety and revenue by sending players to the Olympics. Did you read the article?

 

[Herby]

Why use a straw man argument.

You knew what he means making it a WJC. You knew very well that means U-20.

It's not like this doesn't exist in other sports.... like soccer....

That is never going to happen though, so why even bother discussing it, this tournament means to much to the European countries and players (who make up a significant percentage of NHL players), they do an U-23 at Olympic soccer because it will always play second fiddle to the World Cup and in Europe the European Championships.

The WJC's are played every year, why make one out of every four years significantly more important?

 

[Herby]

As to your point, yes the NHL will piss off its largest and most dedicated fan base if the owners feel its costing them more in player safety and revenue by sending players to the Olympics. Did you read the article?

Well you got it half right.

Again, where are these player safety concerns when it comes to allowing bare knuckle fighting, despite all we know about concussions. Or scheduling to many pre-season games and wanting to play a World Cup in the summer right before training camps when the players aren't in game shape. Oh yeah, because those line the owners pockets.

Let's not pretend this is about player safety, that's BS.

 

[Travtera]

Bettman and the NHL have never had a problem sticking it to Canadian fans, that simply won't factor in their decision to send the players in 2018. What will and Bill Daly mentioned it, is who ends up with the broadcasting rights for the next Winter Olympics. If Rogers and NBC secure them, with how much they've invested in the NHL you got to think they'll put some pressure on Bettman and crew.

It'd be a shame if they don't go back, IMO. But I also see how anything but USA in the final is a fail for the NHL and their infinite mission of growing the game in the States. I'm ok if they decide to go with the World Cup of Hockey instead going forward but only if they commit to it and make it a meaningful tournament that we can count on every 4 years.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Right.

My big beef with the owners here is wanting out if the Olympics but in to the World Cup. If that doesn't tell you exactly what their motivation is, I don't know what will.

Funny, because I absolutely guarantee both common hockey fans and new/non hockey fans are paying more attention to the Olympics than they ever would to the World Cup. Shortsighted owners like snider only see the immediate bottom line and don't see the growth of the game (not just in na--but also a foothold in Europe) via the Olympics. Injuries will happen games or not; I agree maybe IOC or otherwise should pick up insurance, but that's a bad reason to not go

If you don't like the gameplay that's a different thing entirely.

 

[Quattro]

Exactly - no non-hardcore hockey fan will ever pay attention to a World Cup.

I think a good rule of thumb with regards to what's best for hockey is to do the exact opposite of whatever Ed Snider thinks.

 

[MsMeow]

I seriously doubt this statement.

Me too. Not that there wouldn't be a public outcry in Canada but that Bettman would have a change of heart because of it.

 

[Ron*]

Me too. Not that there wouldn't be a public outcry in Canada but that Bettman would have a change of heart because of it.

Exactly. The NHL owners could give a **** less about defending a gold medal when it comes to paying a star $10 million to sit out a season because he got hurt in an Olympics game.

 

[Herby]

Exactly. The NHL owners could give a **** less about defending a gold medal when it comes to paying a star $10 million to sit out a season because he got hurt in an Olympics game.

So are you going to answer the questions?

If they care so much about player safety in meaningless games why so many exhibition games?

Why play a WC two weeks before camps open when players aren't in game shape?

Why allow bare knuckle fighting with all we know about concussions?

It's not a player safety issue with people like Snider, it's a pure greed issue. Snider has no problem risking injury for a joke of a tournament like the World Cup because it's a cash grab for the NHL. No one cares about a World Cup, the tournament is seen as a joke, it's why they have had two of them in 18 years.