Olympics: What does your nations roster look like if NHLers don't go?

[GermanSpitfire]

Who gives a crap...

I can speak for most countries outside the western hemisphere when I say “me”.

 

[Lartsaman]

You forgot Vatanen? There are 4 players in this team that played in the NHL last season, and arguably could still play there.

Then there are many KHL top tier players, including one of the best line combos in the whole league (1st line-Ufa players) etc.

Very good team and second best on paper after Russia.

Yeah I simply forgot him. He can replace Sund or Kemiläinen. I understood that Mikko Lehtonen is injured and won´t be in fit during the Olympics, so I didn´t include him either.

 

[Silky Johnson]

I can speak for most countries outside the western hemisphere when I say “me”.

Really? Why would you care? Its such a pointless tournament without NHLers, and AHLers for that matter. It answers absolutely no questions, while being in a generally bad time zone for most hockey fans, while having a mediocre level of hockey and it all takes place in a country that should not be hosting any international event. All it does is make me hate the IIHF and IOC even more.

 

[Silky Johnson]

the vast majority outside north america

I guess the exclusion of the top two hockey countries best (NHL) and second best (AHL and other) players increases your odds of winning a meaningless medal in a mediocre tournament. Yay for you!

 

[Silky Johnson]

the vast majority outside north america

Too bad for the Olympics that the majority of players and fans are in North America.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Really? Why would you care? Its such a pointless tournament without NHLers, and AHLers for that matter. It answers absolutely no questions, while being in a generally bad time zone for most hockey fans, while having a mediocre level of hockey and it all takes place in a country that should not be hosting any international event. All it does is make me hate the IIHF and IOC even more.

Because hockey fans not living in North America deal with bad time zones all the time and are far from as spoilt as NA hockey fans (or more like worshippers of business franchises). European fans take what they can get even if it's only the scraps after the NHL has eaten all talent, year after year.

Kids could be grownups until they see the big stars of their countries put on the national jerseys for the first time for them. Or do you mean they should just quit following hockey instead? Maybe they should. It's not like the NHL or the fans give a damn if the milking cows run dry. Until it actually happens that is.

And the NHL players care. They WANT to represent their counties, especially European players. That NA NHL fans nor the NHL don't give a damn doesn't change that. This was a decision by the NHLPA and the NHL and not the players themselves.

 

[Eye of Ra]

What, nooo…

Omark has been the bomb this year. He’s not tearing up the scoring table like some were dreaming, but having watched every single game of his it’s hard to fault him for the huge amount of chances he’s created for teammates to waste. Fröberg has often carried a grim look on his face despite being in a prime environment to score a ton of points, because he knows he’s not converting nearly enough of what Omark’s creating for him. Fröberg hasn’t been too bad really, but he’s the weak link on a line that could cause serious damage had the center been more comfortable finishing plays than Fröberg is.

Omark’s also been a workhorse and not at all a floater off the puck, which has been a very pleasant surprise for me (I tended to take a defensive position towards Klasen when other Luleå fans were whining about his defensive efforts, but with Omark there’s just nothing to complain about: he’s a surprisingly complete player at this point in his career): he’s going into corners and battling hard for pucks, tends to be thrown to close out PK’s for his upside in transitions, mainly, but also because he’s a terrier off the puck, and with the puck on his stick he’s generally untouchable.

Omark was averaging upwards of 25 minutes per game earlier on when the rest of the team was struggling, but lately the team has been winning, other lines have got going, and Bulan has been able to distribute more ice time down the line-up: still, Omark is the best player in the league on any given night.

So where do you see him on the olympic team (if it happens), on the first line?

 

[Eye of Ra]

I would take Nicklas Lasu to the fourth row. a player of his type is valuable in every team. What about Elmer Söderblom? Are there better players? Only Edvinsson will represent the youngsters. Although I understand that OG are not a good place to build young men fot NT.

I love Lasu but we have players who does what he does but are better players. For exemple, Rydahl, Friberg, Klingberg, Everberg, Bengtsson..

About youngsters, i can see Eklund make it

 

[karhukissa]

I guess the exclusion of the top two hockey countries best (NHL) and second best (AHL and other) players increases your odds of winning a meaningless medal in a mediocre tournament. Yay for you!

This song we'll hear a lot during Olympics. If Canada or USA wins = HAHA we won without our stars. And if Canada loses = Who cares about this crap tournament, whatever.

Nobody likes that NHL players are out, there would be nothing better than to see Sidney Crosby, McDavid and other guys playing together against rising European nations, but that amount of discredit we'll hear during that tournament is almost as annoying.

 

[DeysArena]

I vote that Canada sends the Allen Cup winners, just like the old days.

 

[Rob]

This song we'll hear a lot during Olympics. If Canada or USA wins = HAHA we won without our stars. And if Canada loses = Who cares about this crap tournament, whatever.

Nobody likes that NHL players are out, there would be nothing better than to see Sidney Crosby, McDavid and other guys playing together against rising European nations, but that amount of discredit we'll hear during that tournament is almost as annoying.

I’m not going to go out of my way to discredit the tournament. If an player wins an Olympic gold medal good for them. I just don’t think the tournament itself holds any significance in the hockey world.

 

[karhukissa]

I’m not going to go out of my way to discredit the tournament. If an player wins an Olympic gold medal good for them. I just don’t think the tournament itself holds any significance in the hockey world.

You are correct. But whatever country wins this tournament, i hope that they don't have to read how crap and worthless this tournament is, just to discredit their win. Especially if country like Germany, Slovakia or Switzerland wins (which is possible).

 

[Rob]

You are correct. But whatever country wins this tournament, i hope that they don't have to read how crap and worthless this tournament is, just to discredit their win. Especially if country like Germany, Slovakia or Switzerland wins (which is possible).

True. If anything good comes out of this it would be a country winning gold in hockey for the first time.

 

[Czechboy]

I’m not going to go out of my way to discredit the tournament. If an player wins an Olympic gold medal good for them. I just don’t think the tournament itself holds any significance in the hockey world.

I value it higher than the last World Cup.

When you say hockey world... I think you mean leafs fans. Or NHL fans. 12 nations going and 2 are on this side of the pond. 10 aren't. Hockey world is a little bigger than all of Canada and a handful of states.

Also, those 10 other nations all wanted a best on best imo. From a Czech view I wanted best on best despite having a significantly worse chance of medaling (I'd say Czech medal hopes went from 0 to 50 percent).

 

[Czechboy]

Too bad for the Olympics that the majority of players and fans are in North America.

10 out if the 12 countries aren't from north America.

USA has several states that couldn't tell you who Austin Matthews is or what a Stanley Cup is.

You've come to a non NHL discussion to let people from all over the world know that their views and opinions don't matter. Please stop.

You also said US is number 2... At the senior level their last gold was in 1996. Last Olympic gold was 1980. Canada is absolutely number 1 at the senior level... won the last 3 best on best. No argument. Not sure what you are using to say states are dominant at senior international hockey... But I'm guessing it is NHL rosters and U18 results.

 

[bigdog16]

Because hockey fans not living in North America deal with bad time zones all the time and are far from as spoilt as NA hockey fans (or more like worshippers of business franchises). European fans take what they can get even if it's only the scraps after the NHL has eaten all talent, year after year.

Kids could be grownups until they see the big stars of their countries put on the national jerseys for the first time for them. Or do you mean they should just quit following hockey instead? Maybe they should. It's not like the NHL or the fans give a damn if the milking cows run dry. Until it actually happens that is.

And the NHL players care. They WANT to represent their counties, especially European players. That NA NHL fans nor the NHL don't give a damn doesn't change that. This was a decision by the NHLPA and the NHL and not the players themselves.

You do know what the NHLPA is right?

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

So where do you see him on the olympic team (if it happens), on the first line?

I’m not sure, I think you are much more knowledgeable on non-NHL (and especially non-SHL) Swedes than I am, but Omark outscored the next best Swedes by 4 points the last time so I can’t imagine there are too many guys ahead of him despite his age, and based on his performance in the SHL this season.

 

[Silky Johnson]

10 out if the 12 countries aren't from north America.

USA has several states that couldn't tell you who Austin Matthews is or what a Stanley Cup is.

You've come to a non NHL discussion to let people from all over the world know that their views and opinions don't matter. Please stop.

You also said US is number 2... At the senior level their last gold was in 1996. Last Olympic gold was 1980. Canada is absolutely number 1 at the senior level... won the last 3 best on best. No argument. Not sure what you are using to say states are dominant at senior international hockey... But I'm guessing it is NHL rosters and U18 results.

I've come to a Olympic hockey discussion to say that the Olympics don't mean s%$t without NHL players. Furthermore it also sucks for the two biggest hockey markets that there second best place to find player isn't available, making these games even more irrelevant.

2 out of 10 countries (Canada + US) = 66% of global registered players. The TV rating at previous NHL participation Olympics show how important the US and Canadian markets are, 42 million viewers for the Vancouver final.

As for the US, regardless of previous results, they are clearly #2 to Canada generally in Hockey based on their roster. I am saying this as a Canadian, they are clearly our biggest rival now.

Without the NHL the Olympics are an even more pitiful side show then the World Championships. They mean nothing.

 

[Silky Johnson]

This song we'll hear a lot during Olympics. If Canada or USA wins = HAHA we won without our stars. And if Canada loses = Who cares about this crap tournament, whatever.

Nobody likes that NHL players are out, there would be nothing better than to see Sidney Crosby, McDavid and other guys playing together against rising European nations, but that amount of discredit we'll hear during that tournament is almost as annoying.

You really hear that alot? When has Canada won at the Olympics without our NHLers? What you really hear is...nothing, because it barely registers in Canada without the NHL.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I’m not sure, I think you are much more knowledgeable on non-NHL (and especially non-SHL) Swedes than I am, but Omark outscored the next best Swedes by 4 points the last time so I can’t imagine there are too many guys ahead of him despite his age, and based on his performance in the SHL this season.

Something like this perhaps:

Mathias Brome - Anton Lander - Carl Klingberg
Linus Omark - Fredrik Olofsson - Pontus Holmberg
Anton Bengtsson - Leon Bristedt - Dennis Everberg
Emil Larsson - Gustav Rydahl - Jacob De La Rose
Max Friberg, Jesper Olofsson

Henrik Tömmernäs - Christian Folin
Lawrence Pilut - Lukas Bengtsson
Christian Djoos - Niklas Hansson

Lars Johansson
Magnus Hellberg
Adam Reidenborn

Not a sexy forward corp but all of them done good everytime they play for Tre Kronor. Lots of grit.

 

[Rob]

Too bad they didn’t have tone to put together a more exciting tournament concept. Like real amateurs. ie -University players.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Its a bad ttime zone for everyone who cares, except me ironically as I live in the middle east (by the way I get up at 4am for about 40 games a year). This is why I would prefer a properly constructed World Cup rather than the Olympics. It would stay in Hockey markets and not neo-fascist totalitarian states like China.

I understand the players wanted ro go and to be honest so do I. Its great best on best hockey which is for me only second to my team being in the Cup final.

I have no beef with Euro-fans in principal. Just stop saying that the NHL not being there doesn't render the tournament pointless. Why have a best on best tournament without the best?

Its a double whammy for NA fans as we cannot even bring our AHL players. It takes something pointless and makes it insulting for the by far largest hockey market. Yay.

Alright, then we can scratch my argument you don't know the tough handling of time zones. And yes, I absolutely agree with you in the strongest argument that this has become a total shit show now. So ok, I argued a bit with you as a start of leaning against your points, but if you come down to your base points, I have no problem saying I absolutely agree with you.

And of course I'm also absolutely pissed off it will be another "world tournament" with garbage players. Again.

 

[Czechboy]

Something like this...

 

[EK47]

NHL:s handling of all matters relating to international hockey is going to spur the creation of a competitive euro-based leauge. They are really hell-bent on cementing their image as the controlling and abusive boyfriend of proffessional sports.

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Too bad they didn’t have tone to put together a more exciting tournament concept. Like real amateurs. ie -University players.

I don’t know that college hockey is even a thing in Sweden for example. High schoolers, sure, but we already have J18 and J20 worlds, what’s the point?