[News] NHL not sending its players to the Olympics

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by jonesy

China will have record setting medal counts! They will love it.

Nobody outside of China will really care anyway.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I liked team Europe a lot better than 4-5 non-competitive teams or the elimination of great players who don’t have a country that can field a complete team.

I doubt you’d get a Team NA under 25 any more. That was just to justify having Matthews in, who hadn’t played any pro hockey yet (and arguably McDavid’s half season didn’t guarantee him a Canada spot either).

Guess it depends on the point of the thing. I don't think the inclusion of Kopitar or some other guy from Kazakhstan is drawing anyone in to watch the tournament.

If you don't want a 4 or 5 non competitive teams, then just got the number of teams down. Most of the allure of this is for Canada, US, Sweden, Russia and Finland to see who is the best hockey nation.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Guess it depends on the point of the thing. I don't think the inclusion of Kopitar or some other guy from Kazakhstan is drawing anyone in to watch the tournament.

If you don't want a 4 or 5 non competitive teams, then just got the number of teams down. Most of the allure of this is for Canada, US, Sweden, Russia and Finland to see who is the best hockey nation.

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.

[GirlySports]

China may have an Olympics by themselves. If you test positive next week, you are not going.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1476312432968675337

https://twitter.com/user/status/1476310233114980363

[powderjunkie]

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.

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.

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

China may have an Olympics by themselves. If you test positive next week, you are not going.

The Glory of the Middle Kingdom will rise to an all time high (Tang Dynasty notwithstanding).

[Coach]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

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.

Czech won gold in Nagano, the first time NHL players went. Slovakia has had some very good teams capable of doing damage as well.

There are opportunities to have lower level teams surprise and get better with glimpses of success. Instead of constantly playing for Team Europe, maybe Draisitl and Grubauer drag the German team to a bronze or silver, and so more German kids get better at hockey and maybe in 15 years Germany is challenging. Same for Switzerland or Latvia etc..

Personally I'm much more interested in that then silly gimmick teams.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Coach

Czech won gold in Nagano, the first time NHL players went. Slovakia has had some very good teams capable of doing damage as well.

There are opportunities to have lower level teams surprise and get better with glimpses of success. Instead of constantly playing for Team Europe, maybe Draisitl and Grubauer drag the German team to a bronze or silver, and so more German kids get better at hockey and maybe in 15 years Germany is challenging. Same for Switzerland or Latvia etc..

Personally I'm much more interested in that then silly gimmick teams.

Unless Czechs can clone Hasak thats probably their lone Gold.

Agree though with the talent coming out of Germany they could be a dark horse for a medal or at least upset a top team in the Quarters in 4 years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Coach

Czech won gold in Nagano, the first time NHL players went. Slovakia has had some very good teams capable of doing damage as well.

There are opportunities to have lower level teams surprise and get better with glimpses of success. Instead of constantly playing for Team Europe, maybe Draisitl and Grubauer drag the German team to a bronze or silver, and so more German kids get better at hockey and maybe in 15 years Germany is challenging. Same for Switzerland or Latvia etc..

Personally I'm much more interested in that then silly gimmick teams.

Never gonna happen.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

China may have an Olympics by themselves. If you test positive next week, you are not going.

This is going to eliminate so many athletes. It really will be mostly China competing with themselves.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

This is going to eliminate so many athletes. It really will be mostly China competing with themselves.

Gonzo conspiracy theory of the day: The Chinese Olympic committee released COVID into the world for exactly that nefarious purpose! What's a few million dead people compared to medals galore? Nyah hah hah!

[PeteMoss]

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.

If that is what you want, then why do country specific teams at all?

There were better players who couldn't make Canadas team than guys like Tobias Reider who played for Europe.

[The Fisher Account]

At what point do they pull a Tokyo and postpone this thing for a year?

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

At what point do they pull a Tokyo and postpone this thing for a year?

Because it's China, no chance in hell.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

If that is what you want, then why do country specific teams at all?

There were better players who couldn't make Canadas team than guys like Tobias Reider who played for Europe.

Because those countries can do it. I just have no problem with one team full of guys who want to play that can’t even try out for a team. Now, if they can’t field a competitive team, fine, don’t have them. But if there are enough ”world” players to do it, and the players think it’s a good thing, what are you afraid of?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Because it's China, no chance in hell.

Yeah, they'd rather have the propaganda version of the Olympics where they dominated. They know the rest of the world knows they're full of **** on almost any topic that comes up globally. This will be a chest thumping moment to rally their own citizens.

[kyuss275]

Sounds like Owen power is going to the Olympics .

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, they'd rather have the propaganda version of the Olympics where they dominated. They know the rest of the world knows they're full of **** on almost any topic that comes up globally. This will be a chest thumping moment to rally their own citizens.

I can also see them faking covid tests so some of their positive athletes can still complete.
Maybe have a few positive tests of lesser athletes to make it look somewhat legit.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Because those countries can do it. I just have no problem with one team full of guys who want to play that can’t even try out for a team. Now, if they can’t field a competitive team, fine, don’t have them. But if there are enough ”world” players to do it, and the players think it’s a good thing, what are you afraid of?

I will never be the same after the nightmares I had after watching Team Europe in the last World Cup. Don't make me live through that again.

[mile]

https://dailyhive.com/calgary/flames...mpic-long-list

There won’t be NHL participation at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, but Canada’s roster at the event could still have a couple of ties to the Calgary Flames.

Adam Cracknell and Tyler Wotherspoon, each drafted by the Flames, are reportedly on a “long list” of candidates to represent Canada at the tournament, according to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.