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

[Atas2000]

I think the "Best" Russians are in the NHL though, like Ovechkin, Podkozlin and so for.

If Podkolzin was still in the KHL he would not have made the team maybe.

 

[Seiza]

Something like this...

Nobody watches the mens football during the Olympics. It's a really crappy tournament. The women's tournament maybe, but that's because they actually send the best players.

 

[Eye of Ra]

No Oscar Lindberg who is having the 6th best PPG in the KHL this season and no Tim Heed who's also having a great season in the KHL.

Meanwhile you have Leon ''Diver'' Bristedt, Emil Larsson (lol), Gustav Rydahl (lol) and Jacob De La Rose (LOL) on your roster.

oscar lindberg have been horrible for the nt. tim heed has a big chance to make it, yes.

bristedt have great chemistry with everberg and is having a good season.

larsson - rydahl - de la rose is checking line players who where our best line in the recent channel one cup. you are not even watching eht.

 

[BMann]

Nobody watches the mens football during the Olympics. It's a really crappy tournament. The women's tournament maybe, but that's because they actually send the best players.

In your opinion. Many of the best players in their youth are sent there. Most nations take it seriously. Messi remembers his medal in Beijing in 2008 with great fondness. Look at that team it was absolutely top notch with Riquelme and Messi in tandem. More and more teams are using it as a way to development the tournament experience of their youngsters.

 

[BMann]

It really does not matter at all. If it makes you feel better though go ahead and believe it...I will hopefully be busy watching rescheduled NHL games.

It will matter to the players who go and win medals. No matter the circumstances they will have those medals for life. You really have a narrow minded view and this is why the NHL and some fans from North America who are incredibly insular when it comes to sports attract opprobrium from European fans. The hockey universe does not revolve around the NHL and certainly would be less attractive and wealthy if it dod not have the European players who are taken for a pittance from their clubs.

 

[BMann]

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.

And a youth programme heavily borrowing from the Soviet training manual.

 

[BMann]

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

People are either NHL fans or hockey fans. The latter care passionately about seeing the sport develop and grow and more nations develop. It helps the sport in the long term. Then there are the former who want it to remain a closed shop and probably hanker after the big six days. The same sort of mob that has hindered the development of rugby union for example. Let's keep the toy among ourselves and keep everything the way it is. There is a rather big world outside North America.

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

I think the "Best" Russians are in the NHL though, like Ovechkin, Podkozlin and so for.

Podkozlin is really the second name you think of when talking about the best Russians in the NHL?

 

[Seiza]

In your opinion. Many of the best players in their youth are sent there. Most nations take it seriously. Messi remembers his medal in Beijing in 2008 with great fondness. Look at that team it was absolutely top notch with Riquelme and Messi in tandem. More and more teams are using it as a way to development the tournament experience of their youngsters.

One or two good team doesn't make a tournament. Argentina that time around had Australia, Ivory coast and Serbia in the group stage. It's rather meh in general.
More or less the whole Summer Olympics is nowadays, most of the sports noone really cares for.

 

[Jaska]

I don't even care. I will not watch, as I have no interest in following these "games".

 

[BMann]

One or two good team doesn't make a tournament. Argentina that time around had Australia, Ivory coast and Serbia in the group stage. It's rather meh in general.
More or less the whole Summer Olympics is nowadays, most of the sports noone really cares for.

Again in your opinion. No one really cares for ? Many of the team sports are of the highest quality from handball to basketball. Nations celebrate their Olympians with acclaim especially the multiple medal winners. With your arguments why even have the Winter Olympics ? Most of the sports are very restricted given that many require certain climate conditions to have flourished initially and that includes ice hockey. Again many football nations take the Olympics seriously and some of the most renowned.

 

[ItWasJustified]

oscar lindberg have been horrible for the nt. tim heed has a big chance to make it, yes.

bristedt have great chemistry with everberg and is having a good season.

larsson - rydahl - de la rose is checking line players who where our best line in the recent channel one cup. you are not even watching eht.

Oscar Lindberg was part of the only line that did anything of value in the World Championships.

 

[Gsus]

Granlund - Manninen - Hartikainen
Pesonen - Filppula - Rajala
Komarov - Aaltonen - Ojamäki
Mäenalanen - Björninen - Anttila
Pakarinen, Kemppainen

Hietanen - Ohtamaa
Pokka - Kaski
Lindbohm - Kemiläinen
Koivisto - Sund

Olkinuora - Säteri - Heljanko

The best goal scorer outside of NHL should play first line minutes.

 

[karhukissa]

One or two good team doesn't make a tournament. Argentina that time around had Australia, Ivory coast and Serbia in the group stage. It's rather meh in general.
More or less the whole Summer Olympics is nowadays, most of the sports noone really cares for.

That whole Olympic tournament system is so messy that it's hard to understand for casual viewer. Qualification happens on U-21 or U-23 tournaments depending on the continent, and players have to be under 23 with some exceptions. Some countries like Spain, had to pretty much force their top players to join that tournament, while Germany and France didn't bother. I'm a big football fan, but i'd rather watch athletics or swimming than football during olympics.

 

[wetcoast]

Olympics are supposed to be for amateur athletes.
Millionaire professionals shouldn't even be there.....

This take is what 20,30 or 40 years too late.

Heck even before then the Iron curtain countries sent "professionals" to the Olympics in ice hockey.

Russia is exhibit A here.

 

[Silky Johnson]

It will matter to the players who go and win medals. No matter the circumstances they will have those medals for life. You really have a narrow minded view and this is why the NHL and some fans from North America who are incredibly insular when it comes to sports attract opprobrium from European fans. The hockey universe does not revolve around the NHL and certainly would be less attractive and wealthy if it dod not have the European players who are taken for a pittance from their clubs.

Actually, yes the hockey world does revolve around the NHL and North America. All the best players play in the NHL because it is by far the largest hockey market and has way more money moving around. 2/3 of all registered players play there and the majority of fans and fan revenue are there. Look at how much more profitable IIHF events are when they happen in NA even though they are second tier to the NHL. Same as Europe (UEFA) is the centre of the Football world only more pronounced.

Players aren't taken from their clubs for a pittance, they are offered better contracts to play in the best and most important hockey league in the world and they ALL take them if they can.

Even outliers like Ovechkin, who could make as much money in Russia while being able to play in the Olympics, don't leave. He stays in the NHL to break records because that will be his real legacy, being one of the best of the best.

I'm sure the players who win the medals are very happy to get them but I doubt they believe they have proved they are the best by winning them.

Olympic hockey is third tier without NHLers and even with them they are still behind the NHL in terms of importance. The fans and players have already voted on this - with their wallets.

 

[Silky Johnson]

This take is what 20,30 or 40 years too late.

Heck even before then the Iron curtain countries sent "professionals" to the Olympics in ice hockey.

Russia is exhibit A here.

I thought the Red Army Team were a bunch of soldiers who just liked to play hockey on the side...

 

[Silky Johnson]

You could say that, but no one gets recorded in the history books for "would've had the best team, if only...". Winning an Olympic gold, with or without NHL players, is still a very meaningful thing. Certainly for the players involved.

I'm not here trying to sell anything. No one here is suggesting that KHL players or SHL players are as good as NHL players. But still, in the grand scheme of things, players in Europe are professionals and capable of playing entertaining hockey. Otherwise, arenas in the domestic leagues over here would be empty.

And for the record, the IIHF and the World Championships have been around for about 100 years, way before the NHL seasons were 82 games + playoffs and progressed into june. Pretty much any other league, in any other sport (I guess the "big 4" in the U.S. being the exception) make schedules that gives players room to take part in international events. But in ice hockey, the NHL has outgrown the sport, and does whatever it wants - including hosting international events where national teams aren't even allowed to pick what players they want.

You are missing the point. The best way you can say you are the best is by beating the best. Canada is currently the best. There are no best on best tournaments this year, so sadly no opportunity for that to change. All other evidence points to Canada and the US being the best.

The Olympics (without NHLers) are not very meaningful, at least in North America. NA may only be two hockey countries but it represent the MAJORITY of fans, hockey revenue and players.

I don't really care when the WC schedules were set. The NHL, NHLPA and its fans hold all the cards. Their primary objective is the success of NHL season and playoffs. As they hold all the best player contracts they can basically do what they want.

It is to the great benefit of the IIHF and fans globally for the NHL to participate, not the other way around. If the IIHF didn't have its head up its ass we, the global hockey community, could have great best on best hockey annually.

I for one would be happy if the NHL took the lead in properly constructing a World Cup of Hockey with the inclusion the other national leagues and associations. Given a bit of time, consistency and proper execution it would become the only important International senior mens title.

Until then I will content myself with watching the NHL season, Stanley Cup playoffs and U20 WJC knowing its the best hockey has to offer.

 

[Eisen]

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.

It's the Olympic tournament. The Olympics is the most prestigious tournament. Also, there are no answers in any tournament, only games.

 

[Silky Johnson]

It's the Olympic tournament. The Olympics is the most prestigious tournament. Also, there are no answers in any tournament, only games.

Sure there are answers, like who is the best. Who are the winners and losers. Every best on best tournament contributes to answering those questions.

In North America the Olympics had almost no prestige for hockey until the NHL joined. NA is the majority of hockey players, fans and revenue. Prestige came with the NHLers and is leaving with them.

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

It really does not matter at all. If it makes you feel better though go ahead and believe it...I will hopefully be busy watching rescheduled NHL games.

I kinda agree with a lot of what you're saying. But IF the Olympics are actually happening, I'll at least give it a glance.

But I kind of wish my countries athletes would'nt even bother with it at all.

It's potentially not safe, and it's potentially not safe because this shit started in China and them getting screwed on their Olympics seems fair enough to me.

Especially them calling for 3 week quarantine for any covid cases.

f*** that.

But that's just me.

 

[Eisen]

Sure there are answers, like who is the best. Who are the winners and losers. Every best on best tournament contributes to answering those questions.

In North America the Olympics had almost no prestige for hockey until the NHL joined. NA is the majority of hockey players, fans and revenue. Prestige came with the NHLers and is leaving with them.

I never answers who is best, it only answers who won the game. And if it's like that in NA, it's like that. For many it does still matter.

 

[Bondurant]

Beer League USA.

 

[JAS 39 Gripen]

Cant they just make it into a U19-tournament or something?

 

[Silky Johnson]

I never answers who is best, it only answers who won the game. And if it's like that in NA, it's like that. For many it does still matter.

I said "contributes" to answering these questions. And of course it does. Maybe not completely but certainly a contribution.

I will stipulate that it matters to some people. I just take issue with the prestige that some people automatically give it. For many years it was used as a propaganda tool for communist block countries who unfairly used professionals while others could not. It was good for a the five best on best versions but I don't think that is enough to clean up its ugly past. Without NHL and AHL players it is a third tier tournament at best