Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 It's a big deal to them because they're not expected to win gold every 4 years. The expectations for them are lower, that's why they're satisfied with gold. Canada will never be satisfied nor happy to win bronze. They would be happier finishing fourth. That doesn't say much. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
bush_cheney2004 Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 I don't follow NHL hockey very much, but I do get a dose because of the local team. Did any NHL players refuse to play in the Olympics, or is the selection process such that it would not be evident ? Are there any amateurs playing on the Canada or U.S. teams ? Quote Economics trumps Virtue.
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 The Olympics is every four years and many of these players will only get there once. If the NHL pulls out it may be their last chance. Seems to me that a bronze would be a much better memory from your Olympic career than dick all. For the NHL to pull out would be bush. All other top international sports such as soccer etc, release their nationial players for competition in mid season. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Shady Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 They would be happier finishing fourth. That doesn't say much. No it says a lot. That finishing 3rd is no consolation for not finishing first. It's like the difference between the New England patriots and the Detroit lions. One team is happy with making the playoffs but not winning the Super Bowl. The other team isn't. Quote
Boges Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) The Olympics is every four years and many of these players will only get there once. If the NHL pulls out it may be their last chance. Seems to me that a bronze would be a much better memory from your Olympic career than dick all. For the NHL to pull out would be bush. All other top international sports such as soccer etc, release their nationial players for competition in mid season. Actually soccer is one sport that makes Olympics an amateur tournament. The World Cup is an event in its own. Baseball, when it was an Olympic sport, never released its players. The NBA can do it because the Summer Games is in the off season. Golf and Tennis can use its best players because the Olympics is just another tournament. It'll be interesting to see how Rugby handles being in the Rio games. The alternative for hockey would be a regular World/Canada Cup and make the Olympics the World Juniors. Korea is going to be a tough sell for the owners but it does raise the profile of the game. The games will have to be scheduled at a Western friendly time. Edited February 22, 2014 by Boges Quote
-TSS- Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 This was Selänne's fairwell-game with the Finnish team. What a career he's had. There will probably never be anyone quite like him again. Quote
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 Actually soccer is one sport that makes Olympics an amateur tournament. The World Cup is an event in its own. Baseball, when it was an Olympic sport, never released its players. The NBA can do it because the Summer Games is in the off season. Golf and Tennis can use its best players because the Olympics is just another tournament. It'll be interesting to see how Rugby handles being in the Rio games Soccer and rugby teams often have to play without their national team members during mid season, even for so called friendly's. It's part of the deal. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 This was Selänne's fairwell-game with the Finnish team. What a career he's had. There will probably never be anyone quite like him again. Yup. Oldest player to scrore a goal in Olympic competition and he got two in his last game. Amazing. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Boges Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 Soccer and rugby teams often have to play without their national team members during mid season, even for so called friendly's. It's part of the deal. For the World Cup, not the Olympics. Quote
-TSS- Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 In soccer winning the world cup is every player's biggest dream. No club competition-victory can compare with winning the world cup. Quote
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 For the World Cup, not the Olympics. Not just the World Cup but every qualifying match to get there. There is no world cup of hockey and the NHL doesn't release players for the World Championship unless their teams are out of the playoffs. The Olympics are the highest level of international competition there is in hockey. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Boges Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 Not just the World Cup but every qualifying match to get there. There is no world cup of hockey and the NHL doesn't release players for the World Championship unless their teams are out of the playoffs. The Olympics are the highest level of international competition there is in hockey. Hockey did have a World Cup and would again if the pros don't go back to the Olympics. Soccer is a bit different. The World Cup happens in most league's off season. And in qualifying, all league's take a break when international games happen. Hockey is played by maybe 20 countries at any high level. Only 5 or 6 are elite. That being said, I'd venture to say less than 10 nations have any realistic chance of winning Soccer's World Cup. Quote
-TSS- Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 I'm dying to know why you think this. Sweden play terrible anti-hockey. It's very efficient and it brings success but it is extremely boring to watch. They make their opponents look bad and hence results such as 1-0, 2-1 etc like in soccer. Quote
Boges Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 (edited) Sweden play terrible anti-hockey. It's very efficient and it brings success but it is extremely boring to watch. They make their opponents look bad and hence results such as 1-0, 2-1 etc like in soccer. That can be said about any of these "big ice" teams. Finland certainly played that way against Canada last Sunday. Edited February 22, 2014 by Boges Quote
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 Hockey did have a World Cup and would again if the pros don't go back to the Olympics. It was and NHL sanctioned event, the successor to the Canada Cup and it was only held twice, 6 years apart. It would be an NHL party if it was held again. It was a good tournament though, too bad they didn't persist with it. Soccer is a bit different. The World Cup happens in most league's off season. And in qualifying, all league's take a break when international games happen. No they don't. At Whitecaps games you often hear that so and so isn't dressed for a game because he is playing for his national team. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Boges Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 It was and NHL sanctioned event, the successor to the Canada Cup and it was only held twice, 6 years apart. It would be an NHL party if it was held again. It was a good tournament though, too bad they didn't persist with it. No they don't. At Whitecaps games you often hear that so and so isn't dressed for a game because he is playing for his national team. I said most. The MLS is a third rate league, SYHTFOTW. There isn't a point in having a World Cup with the Olympics having pros. Not even sure why they had the one in 2004. I remember it happened right before the NHL season was lost to the lockout. Quote
Wilber Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 And yet 160 MLS players have national team experience with some country. There isn't a point in having a World Cup with the Olympics having pros. That would make the Olympics pretty big deal and one would think a bronze medal as well. The Finns came just as close to earning gold as the Americans (maybe closer) and yet the bronze still meant much more to them. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
Black Dog Posted February 22, 2014 Report Posted February 22, 2014 Sweden play terrible anti-hockey. It's very efficient and it brings success but it is extremely boring to watch. They make their opponents look bad and hence results such as 1-0, 2-1 etc like in soccer. Do you mean in general or in this tourney? Because they've been pretty productive in Sochi with 17 goals for and 6 against. Canada by contrast has scored just 13 goals (and surrendered just 3). Quote
Big Guy Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 With the gold medal game yet to come, the following players have been injured during these Olympics; Columbus Blue Jackets Fedor Tyutin, New York Islanders’ John Tavares (torn MCL), Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello (fractured hand), Panthers’ Tomas Kopecky (head) and Aleksander Barkov (knee), and Pittsburgh’s Paul Martin (hand). These are some of the best players in the NHL with $millions invested by their owners. I believe that this is the last time the NHL will be sending players to the Olympics. Quote Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
Wilber Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 NHL players don't come close to top soccer players. Wayne Rooney just signed a 4 year extension with Man U worth 26 million a year. Quote "Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice". WSC
-TSS- Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 Canada-Sweden next! I know you'll be cheering for us, as we were for you, TSS. . I certainly will! I can't just watch the Swedes celebrating victory. Quote
-TSS- Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 Canada is the home-country of hockey and worthy champions. Funnily though, it seems that it was Latvia who gave the Canadians the toughest match in the knock-out stage. Quote
Shady Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 I guess the big ice wasn't much of a problem. Funny though, I didn't see Sweden celebrating their silver medal victory. Quote
-TSS- Posted February 23, 2014 Report Posted February 23, 2014 Russia topped the medal-table at their home-games but I guess they are still disappointed because they failed to win hockey. Quote
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