Who will win gold?

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

I think you need to compare more similar players, so something like this:
Crosby < Datsyuk
Stamkos < Ovechkin
Getzlaf < Malkin
Tarvares >= Radulov
Toews = Kovalchuk
Duchene > Semin

Well, I think you legit got one right.

Tavares is sooo much better than Radulov right now, and I would take one Toews over two Kovalchuks. Datsyuk is a shadow of his former self and Ovechkin is great if you are going to be on the power play all game. Otherwise, he'll be a minus player.

Malkin is a great player. Better than Getzlaf, but with the year Getz is having, not by as much as you'd think.

 

[Canuck21t]

Datsuyk is a far more skilled and better hockey player than Crosby. That is fact. Having the most points does not automatically make one the best player, some have different roles. It is also laughable to assume that Radulov or Semin are sub-par, when Radulov came back he was the best player offensively for Nashville. And even with the exclusion of Semin, who had a concussion, players like Tarasenko or Nichushkin will be better than the likes of Perry or Kunitz. As I said, the only Canadians who can compare to the skill of Russia's offence are Crosby, Toews, Stamkos and maybe Tavares.

Just to be in line with the thread, who will win gold? Well Bovada predicted Russia; I think it is not clear yet, but the final would most likely be between Sweden and Russia, and since Sweden has the best team heading into this tournament, I think they will win gold.

I mean seriously, look at just these two lines:

Ovechkin-Datsuyk-Semin
Kovalchuk-Malkin-Radulov

That is just borderline insane. There is no way that an argument can be made against the fact that Russia's offence is supreme going into this tournament.

That is even without the mention of Tarasenko or Nichushkin.

Regarding Datsyuk vs. Crosby... Defence is all good, but at the end of the day, someone needs to score points to win a match. You keep saying it's fact, but have no proof. You're not convincing anyone with a brain. It's not like we've never seen Ovechkin-Datsuyk-Semin, Kovalchuk-Malkin-Radulov before. they were there in 2010 no? How well did they fare against Canada? I mean with such superior skill sets, did they destroy the inferior Canadians?

Nichushkin who? The guy is only 18 years old. Is your prediction of him going to be better than Perry a fact? How can you be so sure? Are you god? Right now, Nichushkin is so good that he's tied at 10th place in scoring among rookies. There are 10 other rookies racking up more points. Maybe you should take a look at Nathan MacKinnon and witness a player closest to a sure thing.

POINTS BY A ROOKIE
RANK PLAYER TEAM
1 Nathan MacKinnon Col 33
2t Tyler Johnson TB 30
2t Chris Kreider NYR 30
4 Mark Scheifele Wpg 28
5t Tomas Hertl SJ 25
5t Torey Krug Bos 25
5t Ondrej Palat TB 25
8t Aleksander Barkov Fla 24
8t Alex Chiasson Dal 24
10t Eric Gelinas NJ 22
10t Valeri Nichushkin Dal 22

 

[Canuck21t]

Bochenski, Dawes and Wilson are all having a better year in the KHL than either Radulov or Kovalchuk. Let`s face it, Russian fans love these guys because they chose the KHL over the NHL but they are not elite level players right now. Radulov has always been way overrated and Kovalchuk has only had one good season in the last 4yrs. Semin is also not having a great year either and is hardly of the class of any of these players. Datsyuk is past his prime and no longer better than most of these guys.

Crosby > Malkin
Stamkos > Ovechkin
Getzlaf > Datsyuk
Tarvares >> Radulov
Toews >> Kovalchuk
Duchene >> Semin

Even when Datsyuk was at his prime, he was never a player as good as Crosby. If the Russian fans want to argue about Crosby's title as best player, they should use Malkin as comparison, not Datsyuk.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

Even when Datsyuk was at his prime, he was never a player as good as Crosby. If the Russian fans want to argue about Crosby's title as best player, they should use Malkin as comparison, not Datsyuk.

I agree. Dat's commitment to play both ends of the ice is rare for Russian forwards which got him a lot of good attention that he deserved but he never quite cracked the top 10 list in my opinion. Also people love to rank these players based on how they were at the peak of their careers instead of their most recent performance. Lastly people also put how entertaining a player is ahead of how effective they are.

 

[kp61c]

Please tell me which of these you disagree with:
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos > Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews >= Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene>Radulov

it's more like this for me
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos < Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews < Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene < Radulov

 

[Canuck21t]

You've clearly never watched Crosby because what you're saying is absurd. And after Russia's first two lines, which are worse than Canada's, it goes completely downhill from there. Tarensenko and Nichushkin aren't even close in terms of talent to any TC player.

Please tell me which of these you disagree with:
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos > Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews >= Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene>Radulov

Malkin is a better overall player than Stamkos. He's second only to Crosby and not by much. He'd be as good as The Kid if he were less often injured and more consistent.

it's more like this for me
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos < Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews < Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene < Radulov

I can accept this, but shouldn't we compare based on possible position on their respective national team instead?

 

[Zamuz]

it's more like this for me
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos < Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews < Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene < Radulov

Crosby >>> Ovechkin
Stamkos > Malkin
Tavares > Kovalchuk
Toews >= Datsyuk
Getzlaf >> Semin
Duchene < Radulov

 

[JackSlater]

it's more like this for me
Crosby > Ovechkin
Stamkos < Malkin
Tavares >= Kovalchuk
Toews < Datsyuk
Getzlaf > Semin
Duchene < Radulov

This is fair for international ice, with Malkin being a huge edge over an injured Stamkos and Toews possibly being equal to Datsyuk.

 

[WonderTwinsUnite]

Canada will win in a close final vs. the hosts

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Canada will win in a close final vs. the hosts

I think so, too.

I think, on Gold Medal game day, the CBC (and the world TV networks) will lead their broadcast by saying, "This is the game we have been waiting for since the NHL came to the Olympics. The classic rivalry between Canada and Russia in the Gold Medal game is finally here". They will then do a long montage of past series - from 1972 to 1987. It will be great!

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Canada will win the final NHL at the Olympics series.

For someone so deeply involved with the NHL, Glenn Healy comes across as clueless.

Isn't anyone else upset that Intel didn't raise their dividend today?!?!

 

[Get North]

Canada will choke once again when real hockey nations start play for real on international ice. You should have learned it by now. Canada is always so bad tactically and never adjusts.

Sweden will win it. They have the best roster and best system.

take a look at the Canadian roster-- they will not make the final four

USA takes gold, Russia finishes 2nd.


Sweden wins bronze, Canada is in 4th place.

1. USA
2. Finland
3. Russia
4. Canada
5. Sweden
6. Switzerland
7. Chech Republic
8. Slovakia

It's always fun looking back at predictions and bold statements

 

[1Gold Standard]

It's always fun looking back at predictions and bold statements

always a treat indeed to read some of these gems...it's a shame really that there are so few real hockey fans on this site...just a lot of noise makers.

 

[xxxx]

What about this:

Lol, if anything Sweden will have the egde on big ice on both USA and Canada. All European teams will have that. They are grown up on big ice unlike North Americans. Look at how Sedins dominated the big ice during the last WCH.

Well, at least one got it right:

Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Finland

 

[JackSlater]

It's not a big deal to predict that Canada won't win the tournament. Canada doesn't always win best on best tournaments. The only obviously wrong thing is when people say that some other team has a better roster, which is blatantly wrong.

 

[1Gold Standard]

It's not a big deal to predict that Canada won't win the tournament. Canada doesn't always win best on best tournaments. The only obviously wrong thing is when people say that some other team has a better roster, which is blatantly wrong.

Of course not, Jack...but categorical statements claiming under no circumstances can Country A win a tournament (Single game elimination format) because because because....well, that's just silly...

I don't think any of us stated unequivocally that Canada would win in Sochi. We all said "we like our chances"...however there was a lot of noise stating unequivocally that Canada would not win.

I don't think I discounted any country among the Top 4, but we all talked about the probability of outcomes for years. I didn't get it exactly right (medal winners) but I was close. I would have been right if the Americans were interested in the bronze medal... but can't fault them for that. **** happens.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Would be interesting to re-read some of the posts by our Russian friends. Would be quite hilarious considering the way they were going running their keyboards and mouths into Sochi 2014. Now a majority of those posters of have left this forum all together after Sochi's debacle.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

I did not find many Russian posters here ran their mouth off going into Sochi at all really, I discovered a lot of them left after Vancouver to be honest and the ones that stayed after Vancouver were really humbled by the experience.

It was going into vancouver they they were really chirping off . Ovechkin was at the height of his powers, they had beaten Canada at the Skoda car company tournament in Canada, they thought they had the most offensive power and that nobody was close and bykov was being hailed as the best coach in the world. Most Russian fans here had no problem voicing the opinion that they thought the gold was theirs to lose.

And then came the Canada game and I do not think they have had the same opinion about their hockey teams chances since. Going into Sochi I found most Russian posters here to be quite realistic about their chances going into Sochi.Most felt they COULD win rather then WOULD win like in Vancouver, they did not have much of a chip on their shoulder at all.

Honestly, I did not find their attitudes going into sochi over the top at all. I thought the Swedish and American fans around here were more vocal telling us all how confident they were going into Sochi then Russian fans were.

At least that is what I witnessed around here.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Canada "shocks" everyone and goes undefeated.

Sweden vs. Canada in finals -- Canada with gold
USA without a medal.

Gonna go with Canada. That roster and brain trust behind it know how win.

Rest of the teams just look so bleh compared to Team Canada.

Canada goes undefeated for gold!

In other words, Canada will win AINEC.

Gold: Canada
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Finland

These guys right here:

If there is a Korea 2018, the U.S. will be a little old in the tooth (up front) but, right now, they are the second best team (on paper) and at their peak.

...there's no shortage of reinforcements on the way who will be ready for Olympic duty come 2018.

I'm sure the U.S. will have enough quality forwards to ice a quality squad in 2018.

Even you have changed your mind on this.

Canada gold

no one cares who gets the rest

what? you don't think the Americans will have new elite talent to choose from in 4 years time? All they can do is just rely on the vets? I don't think you are reading the tea leaves correctly.

And then you admitted I was right.

1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. Finland
4. USA
5. Canada


I feel poised for disappointment.

Well, you got 3 and 4 right. The rest...

Canada wins and Russia doesn't even medal

On the ice...
Sweden
Russia
Usa
Canada
Finland
Canada wont care after they are out of the running for the gold medal and wont medal at all.

The worst post in the thread. Nothing is right.

Canada, it will be like a walk in the park. And for those saying USA, lol they won't even medal...

Canada will win the final NHL at the Olympics series.

So handsome and smart!!! Am I ever wrong????

Isn't anyone else upset that Intel didn't raise their dividend today?!?!

6 months later and they still haven't.
But the stock is up ~50%...

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=INTC&t=6m

 

[1Gold Standard]

And then you admitted I was right.



I was only being half serious...you made a good and thoroughly entertaining argument, but I'm still not as convinced as you are...

If the NHL is in S. Korea, the 3 best teams vying for the gold medal will be Canada, the U.S. and Sweden.

 

[Get North]

The US won't win a medal next World Cup/Olympics either don't think their game is suited for international ice. Players will get older and decline like Backes, Callahan, Martin, Kesler, Brown. Guys like Pavelski, Oshie, Parise won't be nearly as good and I think they'll need big help from guys like Galchenyuk, Eichel, Hanifin, Trouba and Jones IMO.

Edit: Mean't 2016/2018

 

[Urbanskog]

The Canadians sure are bored when no international tournament is going on.

 

[1Gold Standard]

The Canadians sure are bored when no international tournament is going on.

we're always bored in the off-season, but by the middle of August it reaches it's solar maximum.. by this time we are just counting the days to training camp.

 

[JackSlater]

The US won't win a medal next year either don't think their game is suited for international ice. Players will get older and decline like Backes, Callahan, Martin, Kesler, Brown. Guys like Pavelski, Oshie, Parise won't be nearly as good and I think they'll need big help from guys like Galchenyuk, Eichel, Hanifin, Trouba and Jones IMO.

Regardless of whether or not the Americans play a style suited to international ice (I think it's fine) you can't just completely rule out a team once they reach a certain level. They won't be favourites but are they capable of winning three straight elimination games? Yep.

 

[xxxx]

The US won't win a medal next year either don't think their game is suited for international ice. Players will get older and decline like Backes, Callahan, Martin, Kesler, Brown. Guys like Pavelski, Oshie, Parise won't be nearly as good and I think they'll need big help from guys like Galchenyuk, Eichel, Hanifin, Trouba and Jones IMO.

And what if there is World Cup in 2016? In that case, I think the US would be the toughest opponent for Canada. Sweden or Finland (of course) could surprise.