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Who will win gold?

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Surprised with so many Sweden picks. I think they have to be one of the slowest teams in the tourney.
 
Finland has the best goaltending by a mile and in a one game elimination (dumb) tournament, that is HUGE. I still think Canada wins though, too much talent.

I'm just worried about Canada's goaltending.

Since this is a single game elimination (dumb) tournament, one bad bounce or a bad call (and we all know how bad international reffing can be) and any team can be eliminated. On paper Canada should win, but we all know how much "on paper" means.
 
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KevyD said:
And they are no longer all that young.
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That too. I am by no means trying to diminish their talent but most of their key players are on the back side of their respective careers. In my opinion their only trump card is Lundqvist. If he doesn't play lights out I can see Sweden out of the medal rounds all together.
 
MikeK said:
That too. I am by no means trying to diminish their talent but most of their key players are on the back side of their respective careers. In my opinion their only trump card is Lundqvist. If he doesn't play lights out I can see Sweden out of the medal rounds all together.
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Yup. 30 is the over/under for hockey players. That why I think, for the Olympics, this is the year for the U.S. - if they're going to win.
 
Its large ice now, so Canada and USA are back to mortals. Im not saying they cant win, especially Canada, but they are in no means superior in my papers. Russia will have lot of pressure, and im predicting them to choke. Sadly Sweden is my pick. :cry: Finland... Well in terms of pure talent Finland is in transitional period. They CAN beat anybody, but Im afraid this time the skill deficit is too big compared to other top countries. They cant win 3 important games in a row against them, no matter how well they play as a unit. Czechs or Slovaks, dont have any faith for them.

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

USA wont have enough motivation for bronze game, so Finland will get it.
 
KevyD said:
Yup. 30 is the over/under for hockey players. That why I think, for the Olympics, this is the year for the U.S. - if they're going to win.
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In the last 3 Olympics, 73% top 5 scorers have been over 30 years old. And the average age of the top scorer of the tournament is 34 in that time span. Aside from an aging Hossa, there has not been a player who has been able to be in the top 5 in the tournament scoring twice in this (albeit short) time period. And even Hossa has been steadily on the rise (5th as a 23 year old, 4th as a 27 year old, 2nd as a 31 year old).

I'd say in best on best tournaments the age becomes factor only between 35-40. And even then I wouldn't be betting against the euro granpa's whose golden days were in the 90's when these new superstars were born.

2010

Demitra 36yo
Hossa 31yo
Parise young as hell
Rafalski 37yo
Toews young as hell

2006

Selanne 36yo
Koivu 32yo
Alfredsson 33yo
Hossa 27
Peltonen 33yo

2002

Sundin 31yo
Hull 38yo
Leclair 33yo
Sakic 33yo
Hossa 23yo

PS. Rafalski there in 2010 top scorers list makes me smile, because there is a certain small finnish D-man whose game fits big ice just as well as Rafalski's (he's not yet 37 so we won't be seeing him in the top five though :sarcasm:).
 
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Hagged said:
In the last 3 Olympics, 73% top 5 scorers have been over 30 years old. And the average age of the top scorer of the tournament is 34 in that time span...
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I always like to win arguments with number so I won't argue with what you wrote. Well done.
 
Quick + Suter + McD will always have me pretty confident in USA.

Russia doesn't have the D or bottom 6 to win

Sweden, depends a lot on Lundqvist. If he plays well they will have an outstanding forward core, good defense, and elite tending. Sounds like a gold winner to me.

Canada is ridiculously stacked though. On talent and depth alone, not getting a gold is a complete failure IMO. No excuses with the roster they're capable of sending out
 
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