Olympic Hockey

[legion]

I watched the U.S. vs. Sweden game.

Is it just me, of are most of the players for all of the countries NHL players? It seems they put the names of all of the NHL players in a box, shook it up, and drew Olympic teams...

Whatever happened to "amateur" athletes?

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by legion
I watched the U.S. vs. Sweden game.

Is it just me, of are most of the players for all of the countries NHL players? It seems they put the names of all of the NHL players in a box, shook it up, and drew Olympic teams...

Whatever happened to "amateur" athletes?

Most of the players from the traditional "powerhouse" nations are NHL players. Some of the others (i.e. Italy, Germany & Switzerland) are even using Canadian & American players whose parents were born in that country and thus they are eligible to play.

The Olympics have been using NHL players since 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

I think it is great, watching the most talented players in the world skate on the larger international ice showing off their skills rather than having to watch all of the clutching & grabbing that goes on in the NHL with the smaller surface. You can't afford to go for the big open ice hit on the larger ice surface and miss the guy, as you will be out of position and unable to recover in time before the puck is in your own net.

Ralph

[legion]

Good points, Ralph.

I also noticed that there is, well, NO FIGHTING.

[turbocarrera]

You didn't see the Czech/Fin game then... Jagr looked pretty rough after that.

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by turbocarrera
You didn't see the Czech/Fin game then... Jagr looked pretty rough after that.

I saw it.

Jarkko Ruutu (from the Vancouver Canucks) went out of his way to nail Jagr, and this is exactly the way he plays for the Canucks and why he is on the Finnish Olympic team. You have to have some guys that still have some grit as well...which is why guys like Kris Draper plays for Canada and Jason Blake play for the US. Guys who can kill penalties (most superstar players don't) and forecheck to force turnovers.

Joe Sakic looked pretty bad (fractured cheek) after he took the inadvertent high stick in the Swiss game, but that's hockey...

Ralph

[Christien]

Originally posted by legion
Whatever happened to "amateur" athletes?

Russia...

[Icemaster]

This is actualyl hockey that I really, really like to watch - its kinda like a week long all-star game.

Damn disappointed in the US team though, I can't figure out how you have a couple of 5 on 3 power plays and not find teh net...

[livi]

Sweden looks pretty good though. With all our NHL pros...even Peter Forsberg looks in shape.

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by Icemaster
This is actualyl hockey that I really, really like to watch - its kinda like a week long all-star game.

Damn disappointed in the US team though, I can't figure out how you have a couple of 5 on 3 power plays and not find teh net...

Yeah, they need big mouth Roenick out there...

At least the US team isn't expected to medal so its not a huge surprise. The Slovaks look great and so do the Finns. Canadians and Czechs are a little worried.

The "real" tournament starts on Wednesday!

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by livi
Sweden looks pretty good though. With all our NHL pros...even Peter Forsberg looks in shape.

Swedes don't look bad imo, Lundquist has been giving them pretty good goaltending. Be nice to have another scorer like Naslund out there to complement Sundin, Alfredsson & Modin but he has never lit it up in international play anyway.

Forsberg shouldn't be playing, he's nowhere near 100% and if I were the Flyers I would be pissed. He's already missed half the season.

Besides, he's already won a gold medal...

Ralph

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by legion

Whatever happened to "amateur" athletes?

Ever since the NBA "Dream Team" it all went downhill from there.