Whats wrong with Russia !!!

[Alexander the Gr8]

Wow.

He's right. The Capitals-Rangers series was boring as hell. It was only stressful for me because it was my team fighting for its life.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

He's right. The Capitals-Rangers series was boring as hell. It was only stressful for me because it was my team fighting for its life.

It was an excellent series. As was the WAS-NYI series prior to that. If you don't appreciate NHL playoff hockey, that's cool. Doesn't make you "right" and it doesn't make me "wrong" for enjoying it. But for me personally, it doesn't get any better as a hockey fan.

I mean hey, some people prefer Kid Rock over Eric Clapton, a shot of Southern Comfort over a glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape or a Marlboro red over a Montecristo #2 Habano.

 

[Uno Bench]

There is not much "wrong whit Russia"-Russian hockey. Compared whit the past couple of decades, its the other way around, Russian hockey seem to be blossoming. Sadly for me as a Swede they become more difficult to beat at int. level. again. Not like in the Soviet days yet, but still. And now they have the KHL too. This thread/op was made in the heat of the moment of a loss.

 

[Canuck21t]

ok




those darn canadians sure don't like ankles, eh?

Yes, Canadians can be shamefully dirty sometime, but hopefully with the emphasis on skill nowadays, we'll see less of that. No matter what the Canadians did in the past, it doesn't excuse the Russians' classless post-game no-show.

 

[Davebo*]

IMO there's nothing wrong with Russia. They embody what hockey should be about - speed, skill, scoring, excitement. It's the North Americans that are ruining the game. People actually think hockey should be about grit, defense, and shot blocking. The NHL overvalues 3rd/4th line grinders for some reason. And it ruins the product. NHL hockey is boring for the most part, especially in the playoffs.

Clearly typed by someone who DID NOT even see the gold medal game. Canada outskilled and basically outdid the Russians in every aspect of the game.

If anything the russians looked like a bunch of slow grinders!

 

[General Fanager]

whats wrong with Russian hockey?

Too many bosses and not enough workers......

 

[Canuck21t]

IMO there's nothing wrong with Russia. They embody what hockey should be about - speed, skill, scoring, excitement. It's the North Americans that are ruining the game. People actually think hockey should be about grit, defense, and shot blocking. The NHL overvalues 3rd/4th line grinders for some reason. And it ruins the product. NHL hockey is boring for the most part, especially in the playoffs.

That's the NHL. The WHC is a different thing and if you saw the North American teams this year, they were far from ruining the game. It was the North Americans who were skilled and fast.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

It was an excellent series. As was the WAS-NYI series prior to that. If you don't appreciate NHL playoff hockey, that's cool. Doesn't make you "right" and it doesn't make me "wrong" for enjoying it. But for me personally, it doesn't get any better as a hockey fan.

I mean hey, some people prefer Kid Rock over Eric Clapton, a shot of Southern Comfort over a glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape or a Marlboro red over a Montecristo #2 Habano.

It's your opinion man. Caps-Isles was interesting because of the insane physicality and the drama resulting of the Wilson hit.

The Caps-NYR series would've put me to bed if the Caps were not involved in that. Do you like to see games with only one fluky goal scored (Beagle) and the team with the lead parking the bus in front of the goal ?

I wasn't aware Chelsea and Mourinho had recycled themselves in hockey.

The Russians play a beautiful game, as does Team Canada. I would like the NHL to switch to international ice eventually.

 

[Doshell Propivo]

It's your opinion man. Caps-Isles was interesting because of the insane physicality and the drama resulting of the Wilson hit.

The Caps-NYR series would've put me to bed if the Caps were not involved in that. Do you like to see games with only one fluky goal scored (Beagle) and the team with the lead parking the bus in front of the goal ?

I wasn't aware Chelsea and Mourinho had recyclee themselves in hockey.

The Russians play a beautiful game, as does Team Canada. I would like the NHL to switch to international ice eventually.

Of course it's just opinion. No wrong or right.

You know I used to think the same thing about international ice. Especially after the 2002 Olympics. But recently, my opinion may be changing. The wider ice at times actually slows down the game as it creates more "dead areas." Of course when you get two elite Olympic teams playing a close game it makes for great entertainment. But those games would be fun on ANY sheet of ice. I just wonder how a "meaningless" game between say, New Jersey and Edmonton in February would look on the big ice. Would it make it even less exciting? I think it may...

To answer your question in bold above, one of my favorite games recently was the 2011 ECF between BOS and TBL. 1-0 score. Zero fights. Zero penalties. Tons of hits, tons of blocked shots. Terrific tough, defensive hockey. But also lots of skating, end to end rushes, great saves... Just a wonderful playoff hockey game.

I prefer a complete game. Run and gun with six passes on each rush is pretty, but so is watching a forward hustle and backcheck to break up a soring chance. I enjoy tough, tight checking games where gaining every inch of ice is a battle. In addition to the offensive artistry.

 

[Acallabeth]

I guess defense is not a skill?

You guess our defensemen are... welll, not very skilled.

 

[cleveland408]

Even more surprising about Russia is how come they do not have a good Women's Hockey Team???

Seriously, hockey is big in Russia and there is what, a trillion people living there, how come they don't have a good team?

This is why I mention Russia will have to go back to grass roots Hockey!

Womens hockey isn't exactly encouraged the same way like in America and Canada in Russia.

 

[Mikos87]

I don't think there's anything wrong with Russian hockey... it's just that there hasn't been a dominant defensemen on the Russian side the last several tournaments. Like there's never been that heir apparent after Fetisov and Konstantinov.

You've had some good defensemen over the years, but outside of Markov and Gonchar, there wasn't an elite player, and not enough shutdown guys on the back end.

When a team ices their 3-6 guys that wouldn't crack a lot of NHL rosters you see some lobsided scores against teams that have a lot of firepower.

The goalies can only do so much.

 

[Vladiator]

I have read somewhere that the post-game ceremony protocol was changes this time by the organisers and was different from all other years.

Thus, previously, teams would end the game, shake hands, and listen to the anthem. After that the organisers would present the cup, allowing the winner to celebrate and the loser to leave the ice.

Apparently, this year the orders of the anthem and the cup presentation were swapped. In theory, this means that the loser would have to watch the winner celebrating around the cup (with the "fireworks", etc) and then listen to the anthems. This seems to be the reason why some of the Russian players left the ice after the cup presentation, as in the previous years that would be the last step.

This does not really excuse the Russian players as they should have known the new protocol (and they are getting a lot of ***** from Russian commentators on Russian websites). However, I hope that this is the last time we see this order of the celebrations.

 

[boris4c]

I have read somewhere that the post-game ceremony protocol was changes this time by the organisers and was different from all other years.

The current protocol has been in place for as long as I can remember, and also at the junior level.

Besides, even if that was not true, the Russians played 9 games at this tournament before facing Canada.

 

[babylonzoo]

For the last time, 8 Russian players remained on the ice for the gold medal presentation:

Ovie, Malkin, Tikhanov, Dadonov, Tarasenko, Mironov, Kulikov, & Panarin.

The confusion is coming from the article, which says (I'm paraphrasing), "Ovechkin, Malkin....amongst other players."

but they all left the ice before the anthem

 

[Vladiator]

The current protocol has been in place for as long as I can remember, and also at the junior level.

Besides, even if that was not true, the Russians played 9 games at this tournament before facing Canada.

That's what I read, so I don't actually know for sure how the order was previously and if it was any different.

The 9 other games would not have medal/cup presentations, so it is not the same.

 

[Fantomas]

Gold last year, silver this year. Indeed what's wrong with Russia ? They obviously failed the gold medal game, but things like that happen from time to time. Can't take anything from Canadians though , they were very good.

Yeah, I really don't see the big deal. Back to back finals.

And they had a terrible blueline this year, and not just because of development. Doesn't help that some key KHLers got hurt in the playoffs this year.

Being disappointed in the team's performance really hinges on one's expectations. Mine have been tempered.

 

[Fantomas]

Some have alleged that Ovechkin and Malkin tried to convince their teammates to stay and others have said that the players who left just simply followed Kovalchuk who may have been the instigator in waving them off the ice.

If true then Kovalchuk is a dick and undeserving of his captaincy.

Ovechkin is pure class as usual.

 

[stenlis]

I have read somewhere that the post-game ceremony protocol was changes this time by the organisers and was different from all other years.

Thus, previously, teams would end the game, shake hands, and listen to the anthem. After that the organisers would present the cup, allowing the winner to celebrate and the loser to leave the ice.

Apparently, this year the orders of the anthem and the cup presentation were swapped. In theory, this means that the loser would have to watch the winner celebrating around the cup (with the "fireworks", etc) and then listen to the anthems. This seems to be the reason why some of the Russian players left the ice after the cup presentation, as in the previous years that would be the last step.

This is incorrect. The ceremony was the same as far as I can remember. Here, see the ceremony in 2002 where the Russian players lost in the final, watched the best players award, the medals award and the cup award and stayed all the way through the anthem:

(starts about 1:59:00)

But even more damningly Russia won against Canada in the 2008 finals:

(starts about 1:54:00)

Same thing - medals, best players, cup and then the anthem. Takes more than 15 minutes as well. And team Canada stays there through all of that.

The best of all - ********** Kovalchuck was there - he scored the winning goal!

Then the same thing happened all over again in 2009 with Kovalchuck being awarded MVP.

And in 2010 team Russia lost in the finals to Czech Republic:



And stayed there all the way to the end. A lot of the players from the 2015 team were there including Kovalchuk, Malking and Ovechkin.

I really doubt they forgot about that.

WTF is happening with Russia?

 

[Crede777]

The answer is that Russia became the opposite of what it's teams were in the 80's. Back then, it was all about the TEAM and the system, not the individual. Now, it is all about the stars, Ovechkin, Malkin, and Kovalchuk.

If Russia wants to win, they need a coach and players that put the team before the individual.

 

[Botta]

I'm really disappointed in the direction the NHL is going. The players are more skilled than ever but you wouldn't know it watching the playoffs. The coach's are killing it. It's awful. The worlds this year was like a breath of spring. We're about to see maybe the most incredible prospect I've ever seen come into the NHL and instead of celebrating his skills, they're going to be choked out of him by a league that now favours stifling defence over creativity.

I agree with you. Make the rink 8ft wider. Hopefully that will help. The Canada team I watched in Prague was a lot more exciting to watch than an NHL game.

 

[Garl]

Well, I understand. the topic is not as hot now, but I watched the ceremony and chaned my opinion. Seems like people, and me included became victims of sensational journalism.
Russians got their silver medals from countrymate Tretiak, listened to officials and handshaked their opponents. Then, officials opened the gate and russian officials started leaving, while at the same time they started a gold shower for Canada. Why did they need to shower the loser aswell I don't know, but players seemed to be musguided and really thought they should leave.

The amount of drama is remerkable, but in reality it was just a muisunderstanding.
Just for comparsion sake, USA players didn't handshake russians after their game at U18 WJC. There was no drama, they simply apologized to IIHF and that's it.

But When Russia does smth wrong you have to get as much drama as possible. Works both for Western media and for russian media aswell.

 

[kp61c]

Well, I understand. the topic is not as hot now, but I watched the ceremony and chaned my opinion. Seems like people, and me included became victims of sensational journalism.
Russians got their silver medals from countrymate Tretiak, listened to officials and handshaked their opponents. Then, officials opened the gate and russian officials started leaving, while at the same time they started a gold shower for Canada. Why did they need to shower the loser aswell I don't know, but players seemed to be musguided and really thought they should leave.

The amount of drama is remerkable, but in reality it was just a muisunderstanding.
Just for comparsion sake, USA players didn't handshake russians after their game at U18 WJC. There was no drama, they simply apologized to IIHF and that's it.

But When Russia does smth wrong you have to get as much drama as possible. Works both for Western media and for russian media aswell.

yeah, that's a good one, what schmuks. and i don't remember anyone whipping themselves into a frenzy here. that smells of hypocrisy to me

 

[Macman]

yeah, that's a good one, what schmuks. and i don't remember anyone whipping themselves into a frenzy here. that smells of hypocrisy to me

Well, it might have something to do with the lack of attention the U18s get. Almost no media, fans or TV. There's no comparison between it and the WHC. This is the first I've even heard of the incident. On top of that, kids vs. men. Big difference.

 

[kp61c]

Well, it might have something to do with the lack of attention the U18s get. Almost no media, fans or TV. There's no comparison between it and the WHC. This is the first I've even heard of the incident.

well, for those who heard of it, it was no biggie. and there was no punishment whatsoever. how stupid is this? and that's why all this hue and cry about them leaving early looks moronic and sanctimonious to me. it's just a misunderstanding, and there're handshakes this time around for Christ's sake!