[GDT] 2026 Olympics Game #3 - Canada vs. France

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Think of the opposite. One of Slovakia, Germany or France will play for a medal.

France's 2 goals against Canada were actually important.

I know, I just find it satisfying that United State might not medal, and it makes me happy.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You guys give Wilson too much credit. It's 10-2, Canada didn't have to get payback, Cooper could have kept Wilson on the bench the rest of the game. Canada sent Wilson on to get him.

May be it wasn't about payback on the French team per se, it's sending a message to the teams remaining that you do what the French did to our players, you'll have to answer to Wilson. I don't mind what Cooper did, I mean it's a two weeks tournament, why are players go head hunting?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

May be it wasn't about payback on the French team per se, it's sending a message to the teams remaining that you do what the French did to our players, you'll have to answer to Wilson. I don't mind what Cooper did, I mean it's a two weeks tournament, why are players go head hunting?

Canada's best players are saying how great it was and how much they appreciate having teammates like that.

Who are any of us to say otherwise? They are a tighter team today than yesterday.

[Weitz]

A lot of consternation over Sweden.

I’m not sure they beat Latvia. They aren’t great elimination game players.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Weitz

A lot of consternation over Sweden.

I’m not sure they beat Latvia. They aren’t great elimination game players.

With all due respect to the Latvian team, I want the Swede come out and face the American because I don't think Latvia can beat the American.

[Yoda]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I want to see the US make the gold medal game, and then watch Canada humble them. Canada winning the gold is of course the goal, but as a hockey fan I also want to see amazing, heart pounding hockey. I love best on best tournaments but they only work if the best teams play each other. I would rather watch Canada win by 1 or 2 over another hockey power like Finland or Sweden than watch them beat France by a touchdown any day. The 4 Nations tournament was fantastic! I will be disappointed if we don't see a Canada vs USA game, and with the Olympic setup, that can only be the gold medal game.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I'm probably in the minority here, but I want to see the US make the gold medal game, and then watch Canada humble them. Canada winning the gold is of course the goal, but as a hockey fan I also want to see amazing, heart pounding hockey. I love best on best tournaments but they only work if the best teams play each other. I would rather watch Canada win by 1 or 2 over another hockey power like Finland or Sweden than watch them beat France by a touchdown any day. The 4 Nations tournament was fantastic! I will be disappointed if we don't see a Canada vs USA game, and with the Olympic setup, that can only be the gold medal game.

This is the main argument why the NHL should have never gone to the Olympics. They already had a World Cup that achieved best on best closer to home with a better format.

[Yoda]

There are certainly different stances on whether or not the NHL should participate in the Olympics, personally, I'm glad they are there. I think having the World Cup and the Olympics scheduled so that there is a best on best every 2 years is great for the hockey fan. I think the players love it too. The Olympic format can be altered in the future, I don't believe it is carved in stone. In any case, they are there now and I'm hoping to see the very best hockey the current format will allow. Go Canada!

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Yoda

There are certainly different stances on whether or not the NHL should participate in the Olympics, personally, I'm glad they are there. I think having the World Cup and the Olympics scheduled so that there is a best on best every 2 years is great for the hockey fan. I think the players love it too. The Olympic format can be altered in the future, I don't believe it is carved in stone. In any case, they are there now and I'm hoping to see the very best hockey the current format will allow. Go Canada!

I also think it’s an awesome experience for the smaller countries to push themselves to close the gap. Latvia has shown over the last few years at the World juniors that they’re no longer a free win, and their national team is starting to play spoiler the odd time too

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

This is the main argument why the NHL should have never gone to the Olympics. They already had a World Cup that achieved best on best closer to home with a better format.

Blah, this is a much bigger window for hockey to grow globally, it's more prestigious than a World Cup. This format is just fine, you just have to win the games, whats the problem? If you ain't winning the right games, you're not worthy of a final.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

This is the main argument why the NHL should have never gone to the Olympics. They already had a World Cup that achieved best on best closer to home with a better format.

There is no sensible argument that NHLer shouldn't be at the Olympics. We want the best here. Period.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Canada's best players are saying how great it was and how much they appreciate having teammates like that.

Who are any of us to say otherwise? They are a tighter team today than yesterday.

Yup. You can bet Draisaitl was wishing he had Wilson on his wing yesterday.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

There is no sensible argument that NHLer shouldn't be at the Olympics. We want the best here. Period.

The owners, who tip in close to $100 million per year just to ice a team, never mind other operating costs, would certainly, and sensibly, say their assets are putting themselves at significant risk of injury with no benefit to the owners.

Not to mention fans who would prefer to win a stanley cup than a gold medal in a two horse race. Ask an Oilers fan how they feel if McDavid breaks a leg over there.

4 Nations provides similar challenges but at least you don't have to cross an ocean (in years Olympics are in Europe), and it adds to HRR, giving owners more cheddar in their pockets.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

There is no sensible argument that NHLer shouldn't be at the Olympics. We want the best here. Period.

Would rather see the World Jr's shifted to February in Olympic tyears and have best on best u20.

The NHL can do it own thing every 2 years ,or whatever if wants

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Would rather see the World Jr's shifted to February in Olympic tyears and have best on best u20.

The NHL can do it own thing every 2 years ,or whatever if wants

Its funny to think that if this had happened this year the team canada u20 team still wouldn't get to have the best u20 player on the planet play for them.

I doubt Canada loses in the semis though if they get to have Senneke, Schafer and Catton however. Team canada really gets boned at the WJC every year because their players are too good.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

The owners, who tip in close to $100 million per year just to ice a team, never mind other operating costs, would certainly, and sensibly, say their assets are putting themselves at significant risk of injury with no benefit to the owners.

Not to mention fans who would prefer to win a stanley cup than a gold medal in a two horse race. Ask an Oilers fan how they feel if McDavid breaks a leg over there.

4 Nations provides similar challenges but at least you don't have to cross an ocean (in years Olympics are in Europe), and it adds to HRR, giving owners more cheddar in their pockets.

If the owners don't think that having the best players in the World playing in the biggest tournament in the world helps them in the long term then that's a foolish take.

Growing the game globally will make the owners more money in the long run, and being at the olympics is a big part of that.

Stuff like the world cup is great in North America, but it's not going to reach into the areas where hockey isn't already popular.

[GirlySports]

Then why didnt they go in 2018? Was that not sensible?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Then why didnt they go in 2018? Was that not sensible?

It was foolish to not go in 2018 or 2022.

The Asian market is one where the NHL doesn't have much Prescence and it would have gone a long way to growing the game in Korea and China.

Instead the NHL, IIHF, and IOC let short term economic issues get in the way of long term benefit.

NBA and MLB have both done a great job of establishing a presence in Asia, and the NHL is falling behind in terms of global revenue growth because of that.

It was a short sighted decision by the NHL and their owners not to go to those two events IMO.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Its funny to think that if this had happened this year the team canada u20 team still wouldn't get to have the best u20 player on the planet play for them.

I doubt Canada loses in the semis though if they get to have Senneke, Schafer and Catton however. Team canada really gets boned at the WJC every year because their players are too good.

Yeah nothing will never be best on best. They're will be injuries, etc.
Is also reasonable to assume that at least one or two of those eligible would get released to Olympic team. Like Parekh did (though in this case he had been injured).

Regardless, this format is no good. Not sure why I need to see a 10-2 bearing on jockey power France. It's nonesense to watch Drai giving his German counterparts #### for not being McDavid. Drai makes more lonely than the GDP of dome countries in the Olympics (well he doesn't but you know). It's not very Olympic

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

It was foolish to not go in 2018 or 2022.

The Asian market is one where the NHL doesn't have much Prescence and it would have gone a long way to growing the game in Korea and China.

Instead the NHL, IIHF, and IOC let short term economic issues get in the way of long term benefit.

NBA and MLB have both done a great job of establishing a presence in Asia, and the NHL is falling behind in terms of global revenue growth because of that.

It was a short sighted decision by the NHL and their owners not to go to those two events IMO.

I think they were going to go in 2022 until Omicron.

Asking players to play in best on best every 2 years is alot to ask. Also if their team gets knocked out early they're expected to go to the Worlds, especially Europeans.