The entire Russian league is supposedly playing. What is it? The KHL? Those are pros.
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The entire Russian league is supposedly playing. What is it? The KHL? Those are pros.
Ya that's my point basically, it's pros but not the best pros. Guys from the KHL, European leagues, the AHL, etc. are all still going, so we're definitely not back to the old amateur roots the Olympics were supposed to be, just somewhere in the middle with these rinkie-dink teams. I still favor pros for hockey in the Olympics, but if they're going to allow professionals I want to see the NHL there or it's really not a meaningful tourny to me :lol:
As far as sports in the Olympics, was hockey ever truly just amateurs? Sure, countries like the United States and Canada honored the fact that it was supposed to be an amateur tournament, but the USSR and the Soviet Bloc European countries basically sent pros over to compete, even if they claimed they were amateurs. That's how the Soviets dominated when they were winning 8 gold medals in the span of 10 Olympics.
I'm sure you're right, that was before my time.
The one cool thing will be seeing the stories of the guys going. I'm not sure what US broadcasting is like, but Canadian Olympic shows do a really cool job featuring stories and neat little pieces on Olympians. It's the same old story for hockey usually... we all know who Crosby is. But some of these guys this year will have some interesting backstories about their passion for the game, continuing to play after their time in the NHL has come and gone.
We get too much backstory on Olympions on US broadcasts. It's ridiculous and why I rarely, if ever, watch the Olympics. They will show 5 minutes of the actual sport and then cut away to do a 25 minute segment on the athlete(s).
And a fun fact about the Soviet gold medal domination that I mentioned above. The only 2 times the Soviets didn't win the gold medal in that 10 year stretch, the United States took the gold (1960 and 1980).
This is quite long, but a very very good read. I couldn't stop.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/k...ce-pittsburgh/
All Star Weekend :yawn:
Was watching a thing on TV over the weekend about goaltenders and made me think/reminisce...was there a better time for goaltending than the period of the mid 90's into the early 2000's? Eddie Belfour, Felix Potvin, Martin Brodeur, Patrick Roy, Curtis Joseph, Mike Richter, Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood, Roberto Luongo....and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.
That's a really good question. When I was growing up I had goalie posters on my wall, they were so fun to watch. Now everyone just plays the same hybrid goaltending style and it's not as fun to watch. Could that be part of it?
It also seems like now in the Salary Cap era is that you can't win with a top paid goalie anymore. Carrie Price, Pekka Rinne, Lundqvist... not winning many cups, seems to take away from the rest of the roster too much. I guess the Kings won a couple with Quick and Crawford is pretty damn good, but it's not the same.
Sedins announced their retirement after 17 seasons with the Canucks :(
Great careers. I wish they'd won a cup and hoped they'd come back for one more year - but class acts on and off the ice all the way. I do respect how late they announced it in the season too, avoiding all the silly hoopla of a big drawn out victory lap.
An Art Ross trophy each, a Hart, Lindsay and Clancy, six all star appearances and Olympics Golds. For guys who people liked to call The Sisters, they played a shit load of hockey (over 1200 games each) and rarely missed a game despite being some of the hardest guys to knock off a puck ever to play (Henrik's Ironman streak was 679 games at one point!). The city will never forget that they donated $3M personally to our local Children's Hospital either.
Canucks won't be the same without them.
Sedins won their last home game with an OT goal, pass from Hank to Daniel who ripped it home. Great way to say goodbye. Little emotional too.
Intro vid to tonight's game was great
https://youtu.be/LDPNSI6lSZw
The Flyers made the playoffs. Yay!
Hell ya. I've really enjoyed Giroux making such a huge come-back this year. I'll be cheering for Philly too just because I love their style, and Jordan Weal is a local guy.
Personally, my contribution was dropping G from my hockey pool as my carry-over player after declining the past 3 years :lol: You're welcome.
Pumped for the first round of the playoffs!! Some great series coming up.
Excited to see the Bruins thump the Leafs hopefully.
The Pit-Philly series should be a brawl
Also just judging by the first game, the Kings-Golden Knights series should be great as well.
:no: