Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
The point for me is best on best. And without team Europe, yeah, you are missing, a bunch of great players - Kopitar, Draisaitl, Jodi, Neiderraiter, Ehlers, Grubauer. And we’re actually at a relatively low ebb for “other country” players. In the past you’d eliminate Chara, Mikita, etc.
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Slovakia is an interesting case...in the old days Czechoslovakia was probably right up there with Sweden/Russia/Finland, but now both teams are of course watered down a bit.
Their 2010 Oly team was probably their high watermark:
Beat Russia (SO) and Latvia 6-0; lost to CZE 3-1 in round robin.
Beat Norway and then Sweden to face Canada in semis, where they lost 3-2 (though their two goals came later in the 3rd).
Blew a 3-1 lead to FIN in bronze game.
Top half of the roster was pretty good:
Gaborik-Demitra-Hossa
Zednik-Kopecky-Satan
Stumpel-Palffy-Zednik (all later 30s)
Chara-Mezsaros
Sekera-Visnovsky
Halak
Their now down to only a few regular NHLers who aren't nearing retirement.