funny.

USA at 7 ???!!


- hugefemale dog77

USA can beat any team in that tourny

The top four ranked teams (IIHF) are miles and miles more accustomed to playing on the Olympic sized ice, than Canada is, and is definitely an edge you cannot dispute.

Remember the Swiss? Don't think they were loaded with many NHLers.
- Doppleganger

If canada actually assembles a team that is more tailored to play on the big ice instead of bringing back the old boys club because they won gold last time, i don't think there is any doubt that canada is the favorite. This could be the first olympics where canada doesn't have an elite goaltender however.

funny.

USA at 7 ???!!


- hugefemale dog77

Yup. Haven’t medalled at the World Championships in quite a few years, therefore they’re down the charts. Finland won them last year, so they’re high.

They're establishing rankings almost entirely on a near meaningless tournament. Of course they're garbage.

I'd say Canada's chances of finishing on the podium are not reflected by their current IIHF ranking.


- Morris

So would you base it on past performance on the larger ice surface, the strengths of the European teams who constantly finish ahead of the Canadians in these type of tournaments or something else?

Oh. Which medal did the Swiss win?
- prock

The "we beat Canada" on the larger ice surface medal.

The "we beat Canada" on the larger ice surface medal.
- Doppleganger

I see. So, did they give that medal to the whole team, or just Martin Gerber?

You seem to think Russia is the ONLY juggernaut, without taking into account their failure to win gold on the larger ice surface since pros were allowed. Why is that?
- prock

Their potential roster, host country advantage, and three or more European teams always finishing ahead of Canada when the tournament is held on the larger ice surface.

If canada actually assembles a team that is more tailored to play on the big ice instead of bringing back the old boys club because they won gold last time, i don't think there is any doubt that canada is the favorite. This could be the first olympics where canada doesn't have an elite goaltender however.
- sens rock

I dont think stevie y rolls like that. The marleaus, thorntons, heatleys all gone most likely. I think this might be as many young guys as weve seen. Tavares, benn, eberle, etc.
As far as goaltending, i think price is elite, but as ive found out, its certainly debateable just how elite he is.
Either way, im comfortable with carey price in net.

So would you base it on past performance on the larger ice surface, the strengths of the European teams who constantly finish ahead of the Canadians in these type of tournaments or something else?
- Doppleganger

I would say that tournaments that are closest to the best of each country, on NA ice, are a much better indication than tournaments that feature random spatterings of the talent that each country has to offer (like the World Championship), which those are based on.

I dont think stevie y rolls like that. The marleaus, thorntons, heatleys all gone most likely. I think this might be as many young guys as weve seen. Tavares, benn, eberle, etc.
As far as goaltending, i think price is elite, but as ive found out, its certainly debateable just how elite he is.
Either way, im comfortable with carey price in net.
- hugefemale dog77

i don't even think the option is there with the way the young players in canada are playing. crosby, giroux, toews, benn, neal, tavares, eberle, m. richards should be the core forwards used in 2014.

for goalies i think its shaping up to be fluery, ward and price are the 3 to beat with fleury and ward having the edge due to their SC wins.

+1

Its so close nowadays.
But when the absolute best pros all get together;
on paper i thinks its generally..

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

I actually think russia/sweden is a deadheat and sweden might have the edge cause of lundqvist over any russian goalie.
But russias top end is hard to argue.....
- hugefemale dog77

But you still are not taking into account that every time the Olympic tournament has been held on the larger ice, with predominantly European officiating, European teams have swept the medals.


1998 Czech Republic Russia Finland
2006 Sweden Finland Czech Republic

In fact Canada won gold at the 2002 Olympics (not NHL ice) Gold in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey (NHL ice) and then crashed and burned less than two years later in the 2006 Olympics (Larger ice ) with essentially the same line up they had in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

There has to be something taken into account for this, but if you wish to ignore this, then that's your right.

But you still are not taking into account that every time the Olympic tournament has been held on the larger ice, with predominantly European officiating, European teams have swept the medals.


1998 Czech Republic Russia Finland
2006 Sweden Finland Czech Republic

In fact Canada won gold at the 2002 Olympics (NHL ice) Gold in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey (NHL ice) and then crashed and burned less than two years later in the 2006 Olympics (Larger ice ) with essentially the same line up they had in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

There has to be something taken into account for this, but if you wish to ignore this, then that's your right.
- Doppleganger

i think it has more to say about the team that canada management assembled then the talent available to be selected. the 2006 squad was a slow, older team that was there only because of their success in previous years leaving out young, dynamic players like spezza, staal, crosby, boyle, etc.

i think it has more to say about the team that canada management assembled then the talent available to be selected. the 2006 squad was a slow, older team that was there only because of their success in previous years leaving out young, dynamic players like spezza, staal, crosby, boyle, etc.
- sens rock

And I've read that Canada's management team learnt their lesson, and are going to assemble a younger, skating squad this time around.
http://www.theglobeandmai...s-in-mind/article2431228/
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam.../2012/05/14/19757571.html

And I've read that Canada's management team learnt their lesson, and are going to assemble a younger, skating squad this time around.
http://www.theglobeandmai...s-in-mind/article2431228/
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam.../2012/05/14/19757571.html
- Doppleganger

so don't you think with a younger, more dynamic team than in any previous tournament on international ice surface that canada is going to be considered the favorite? their depth of talent is unparalleled by any other country.

And I've read that Canada's management team learnt their lesson, and are going to assemble a younger, skating squad this time around.
http://www.theglobeandmai...s-in-mind/article2431228/
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam.../2012/05/14/19757571.html
- Doppleganger

I think the fact that Canada can choose an 'older, more experienced team' or a 'younger skating team', or a 'grittier team', or 'a flashier team', all could have very different rosters and each could be a top 4-5 team in the world should demonstrate their capability of putting together a olympic gold calibre team.

It's one thing to say that Russians are more used to the open ice, but Russia as a nation aren't all better skaters than Canadians. We've got a pool enough to pick out the best skaters as well.

i don't even think the option is there with the way the young players in canada are playing. crosby, giroux, toews, benn, neal, tavares, eberle, m. richards should be the core forwards used in 2014.

for goalies i think its shaping up to be fluery, ward and price are the 3 to beat with fleury and ward having the edge due to their SC wins.
- sens rock

Totally agree with the first paragraph. Its gonna be a young and exciting group.
So much depth, and should be so well rounded as the plethora of talent available is ridiculous.

As for the goalies, i hope its more of a 'what have u done for me lately' type thing. Whoevers playin the best at the time gets the nod. Regardless of playoff success.
I have a feeling that'll be price.

Both ward and fleury have the talent and are able to catch fire, but both have also been less than stellar lately. To say the least.

But you still are not taking into account that every time the Olympic tournament has been held on the larger ice, with predominantly European officiating, European teams have swep1998 Czech Republic Russia Finland
2006 Sweden Finland Czech Republic
In fact Canada won gold at the 2002 Olympics (NHL ice) Gold in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey (NHL ice) and then crashed and burned less than two years later in the 2006 Olympics (Larger ice ) with essentially the same line up they had in the 2004 World Cup
There has to be something taken into account for this, but if you wish to ignore this, then that's your right.
- Doppleganger

This was explained in an earlier post by someone.

They picked that team predominantly due to past achievements.
Bigger and older guys.
They had a ton of younger guys available that they chose to exclude.
That mistake wasnt and wont be made again.

I personally think they'll even take it a step furthur and really go with whos hot at the time.
Guys who are absolute stars like e. Staal, getzlaf who Certainly wont be 'old' at the time are now on the bubble as theyve put up declining numbers.

Funny to think canada has the luxury to consider leaving an eric staal or rick nash OFF the team.

Ovi will test postive for steriods anyway and Semin if hes still a capital!

Just for argument sake;

06 was ugly, and a debacle. I think most of us can agree that wasnt the right team, and that they foolishly picked that team on previous play.
That mistake has subsequently been corrected.
But either way, these things happen. Anyone can win.

In 98, Team canada lost in the semis, in a shootout, to an unconcious and unbeatable dominik hasek after dominating play. One of the best goaltending perfomances any of us have ever seen in that tournament. No excuses, Thats the way it goes sometimes. But those are the facts.

Dopple talks as if canada is just fuked and overmatched cause it happens to be on big ice.
This is NEVER the case. Its canada. Who will always be the favourite.

(frank) cares about the olympics

(frank) cares about the olympics
- Crimsoninja

It would seem alot of yanks dont care too much..

It would seem alot of yanks dont care too much..
- hugefemale dog77

dont get me wrong i like watching them but cmon

dont get me wrong i like watching them but cmon
- Crimsoninja

Pretty important to canadians. Its our game brah.
And unlike the americans, we're not dominant at alot of things.

Aside from all that, cant really beat all the best players in the world playing at once.

Cept maybe your favourite team playing for the cup..

Pretty important to canadians. Its our game brah.
And unlike the americans, we're not dominant at alot of things.

Aside from all that, cant really beat all the best players in the world playing at once.

Cept maybe your favourite team playing for the cup..
- hugefemale dog77

i know. i just like being a d1ck.

i know. i just like being a d1ck.
- Crimsoninja

I like this.