Winter Olympics 2018: Final Qualification Tournaments

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Regardless if the NHL finds someone to pay the high insurance costs or not, Alexander Ovechkin will be at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

 

If the NHL doesn't officially send players to the Olympics, Ovechkin is aware that it could cost the Washington Capitals during a playoff push and is willing to suffer whatever further punishment the NHL dishes out.

[Nuckles80]

On 8/31/2016 at 9:49 PM, Fateless said:

I don't see how removing the best players in the world from the Olympics is going to make Olympic Hockey "great". All the sudden we're going to see a huge decline in the competitiveness in Olympic Hockey because its literally third string players from the main Hockey countries competing. 
 

I was thinking what they should do if the NHL does not compete, is given this is supposed to be an amateur tournament (or was until they changed the rules for basketball, which then snowballed), is send the national junior teams.

 

CHL would probably not like that given they lose alot of money from the World Juniors every 4 years but you could replace the NHL that way and still keep the game exciting!

 

And it actually would probably mean more to countries as it truly is their young athletes who are amateurs!

[Nuckles80]

On 9/1/2016 at 6:57 PM, Fateless said:

How can you compare the World Juniors to the Olympics? The Olympics is designed to showcase the best athletes in any given sport. The vast majority of the best hockey athletes play in the NHL. Logic dictates that if the NHL doesn't compete in the Olympics we will have lesser quality players playing and therefore lesser quality hockey.

Sure the games may be a heck of a lot closer due to weaker hockey countries finally having a chance at scoring a goal or two but that doesn't make it better hockey to watch.

That is incorrect, the olympics were originally designed to showcase the best "amateur athletes" . What happened was years ago, Russia messed things up by sending professionals who were deemed "amateurs" because they didn't have professional status competitions in "Soviet Russia". Eventually, other countries called BS and they changed rules and when it came to team sports Basketball lead the way with Elite Pros in team sports.

 

The olympics were never originally intended to be a 'showcase of pros' - it has since the dawn of time been designed to showcase the best young, amateur athletes in the world.

[Fateless]

20 minutes ago, Nuckles80 said:

That is incorrect, the olympics were originally designed to showcase the best "amateur athletes" . What happened was years ago, Russia messed things up by sending professionals who were deemed "amateurs" because they didn't have professional status competitions in "Soviet Russia". Eventually, other countries called BS and they changed rules and when it came to team sports Basketball lead the way with Elite Pros in team sports.

 

The olympics were never originally intended to be a 'showcase of pros' - it has since the dawn of time been designed to showcase the best young, amateur athletes in the world.

No one really cares about what they were like hundreds of years ago - the Olympics have changed over time and they now showcase the best talent in any given sport. Removing NHL players from Olympic hockey severely degrades the integrity and competition of Olympic hockey.

[Nuckles80]

1 hour ago, Fateless said:

No one really cares about what they were like hundreds of years ago - the Olympics have changed over time and they now showcase the best talent in any given sport. Removing NHL players from Olympic hockey severely degrades the integrity and competition of Olympic hockey.

Not disputing that, making a point that your comment was factually incorrect

 

 

[WhoseTruckWasIt]

On 8/31/2016 at 1:29 PM, Westcoasting said:

It was great before, going to be great after in NHL isn't there. 

I'll be more into it if it's amateurs and minor pros.  Sochi was the most boring hockey of all time.  Canada against Czech, Switz, and Korea?  You're focking joking.  That's some must-see hockey alright. 

 

Just because everyone remembers a great game in 2002 doesn't make the Olympics good in general.  

[WhoseTruckWasIt]

On 8/31/2016 at 7:49 PM, Fateless said:

I don't see how removing the best players in the world from the Olympics is going to make Olympic Hockey "great". All the sudden we're going to see a huge decline in the competitiveness in Olympic Hockey because its literally third string players from the main Hockey countries competing. 
 

 

On 9/1/2016 at 1:33 PM, Bombastik der Teutone said:

Upps austria .... 1-8 vs. Latvia 

 

Means austria will be realy angry tomorrow against germany 

You never see this.

[WhoseTruckWasIt]

On 9/1/2016 at 4:57 PM, Fateless said:

How can you compare the World Juniors to the Olympics? The Olympics is designed to showcase the best athletes in any given sport. The vast majority of the best hockey athletes play in the NHL. Logic dictates that if the NHL doesn't compete in the Olympics we will have lesser quality players playing and therefore lesser quality hockey.

Sure the games may be a heck of a lot closer due to weaker hockey countries finally having a chance at scoring a goal or two but that doesn't make it better hockey to watch.

That's insane.  Of course a tight game is better.  When you have six Norris calibre D that can control the entire game, on the lame offense-suffocating "big ice", at 5:00 am - now you have boring hockey.

[Fateless]

10 hours ago, WhoseTruckWasIt said:

That's insane.  Of course a tight game is better.  When you have six Norris calibre D that can control the entire game, on the lame offense-suffocating "big ice", at 5:00 am - now you have boring hockey.

Scoring has never been a problem at the Olympics before. Sure, there are a lot of excellent defensemen on the ice - but there are also all the top-end scorers as well. A tighter game is only better if its because the quality of the game is higher and a lot more competitive. 

 

No one wants to tune into a game where the score is close because no one can hit the net with a puck. There's a reason Timbits hockey isn't televised - sure the games may be close and tight but that doesn't make it more exciting than high-paced Olympic games that include NHL players.

11 hours ago, Nuckles80 said:

Not disputing that, making a point that your comment was factually incorrect

 

Not factually incorrect as they are no longer designed to showcase "amateur stars" but are designed to showcase the best players in any given sport. As I said, no one cares what they were like a few centuries ago - what I said was not incorrect for our modern age.

[Nuckles80]

2 minutes ago, Fateless said:

Scoring has never been a problem at the Olympics before. Sure, there are a lot of excellent defensemen on the ice - but there are also all the top-end scorers as well. A tighter game is only better if its because the quality of the game is higher and a lot more competitive. 

 

No one wants to tune into a game where the score is close because no one can hit the net with a puck. There's a reason Timbits hockey isn't televised - sure the games may be close and tight but that doesn't make it more exciting than high-paced Olympic games that include NHL players.

Not factually incorrect as they are no longer designed to showcase "amateur stars" but are designed to showcase the best players in any given sport. As I said, no one cares what they were like a few centuries ago - what I said was not incorrect for our modern age.

This changed happened in the modern age not centuries ago - so you are incorrect

 

 

[John Tortorella]

On September 1, 2016 at 2:00 AM, Bombastik der Teutone said:

 

yes i remember the tournaments in the 80´s  ...they were allways exciting even without NHL Players 

Yes its fun watching chl vs khl isnt it... 

Canada has won 3/5 golds with nhl players. The fact we cant even go to defend our medal is rediculous. I will be very peeved if nhl doesnt go. 

 

And lol at this world cup. Who am i suppose to cheer for when its canada vs Na? Did they even think it past the ticket sales?

[John Tortorella]

On September 15, 2016 at 7:50 PM, -Vintage Canuck- said:

Regardless if the NHL finds someone to pay the high insurance costs or not, Alexander Ovechkin will be at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

 

If the NHL doesn't officially send players to the Olympics, Ovechkin is aware that it could cost the Washington Capitals during a playoff push and is willing to suffer whatever further punishment the NHL dishes out.

I love ovis pride and burning desire to win in olympics. 

[Monteeun]

On 9/16/2016 at 9:11 AM, Nuckles80 said:

This changed happened in the modern age not centuries ago - so you are incorrect

 

 

Technically he's not if you knew what he meant. 

[CRAZY_4_NAZZY]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/wharnsby/hockey-canada-olympics-plan-b-roster-1.3847071?utm_content=buffercac13&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Quote

The Deutschland Cup came and went last weekend in Augsburg, Germany without much fanfare in Canada.

But it was significant for a couple of reasons: the international hockey tournament marked the return of Dave King behind the Canadian national team bench for the first time since the 1999 IIHF World Championship, and it was the first event in Hockey Canada's evaluation of players for the 2018 Olympics, provided the NHL decides not to participate in Pyeongchang, South Korea. 

I still believe the NHL, NHLPA, IIHF and IOC will come to their senses and strike a deal to continue the NHL's participation in 15 months' time.

• Wharnsby: World Cup doesn't mean NHL done with Olympics
• NHL vs. IOC: A power play that's just getting started

In fact, the IIHF, NHL and NHLPA will assemble in New York on Wednesday for Olympic talks. This meeting comes on the heels of a site visit to Pyeongchang by league and players' union representatives last month.

However, just in case, Hockey Canada has devised a backup plan. If the NHL sits out the next Winter Games, the Canadian men's hockey roster will consist of professionals who play in Europe and the American Hockey League.

"Hockey Canada is a well-run machine and it should have a Plan B," said the 68-year-old King, whose team finished second to Slovakia in the four-team, three-day round-robin tournament. "We had a bunch of dynamic kids [in Germany]. The one thing I noticed is how proud they were to put on a Canadian sweater."

Blue-line impresses coach

King's old national team goalie, Sean Burke, now a pro scout with the Montreal Canadiens, put together the team with the help of King and his Canadian coaching staff of Mike Pelino, Luke Richardson and Mike Stewart.

Pelino coaches in Russia and Stewart in Augsburg. Richardson will be priceless in helping Hockey Canada scope the AHL landscape. He coaches the Binghamton Senators.

King came away impressed with the play of Canada's defence at the Deutschland Cup, particularly Mat Robinson (Dynamo, Russia), Chay Genoway (Jokerit, Finland), Geoff Kinrade (Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, Russia) and Jon Sigalet (Frolunda, Sweden). King liked the way this group skated and moved the puck.

Up front, right wing Kevin Clark (Brynas, Sweden) of Winnipeg led the way with three goals in three games. Canada blanked Switzerland 3-0, dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to Slovakia and defeated Germany 3-1, but finished second behind the Slovakians, who finished a perfect 3-0.

While this was only the first step for Hockey Canada — we'll get a much better look at players in the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland late next month — I asked a Canadian coach in Europe and two NHL pro scouts to help construct a list of players who should be given consideration for the 23-player Olympic "Plan B" roster.

Here's what we came up with*:

Goalies (3) — Michael Leighton (Charlotte, AHL), Kevin Poulin (Russia), Danny Taylor (Russia).

Defence (11) — Andre Benoit (Sweden), Andrew Bodnarchuk (Texas, AHL), Stefan Elliott (Russia), Taylor Fedun (Rochester, AHL), Genoway, Cody Goloubef (Cleveland, AHL), Brad Hunt (Chicago, AHL), Kinrade, Robinson, Sigalet, Jordan Subban (Utah, AHL). 

Forwards (23) — Michael Bournival (Syracuse, AHL), Clark, Matt D'Agostini (Switzerland), Gabriel Dumont (Syracuse, AHL), Andrew Ebbett (Switzerland), Matt Ellison (Russia), Andrew Gordon (Sweden), Curtis Hamilton (Italy), Quinton Howden (Manitoba, AHL), Charles Hudon (St. John's, AHL), Brenden Kichton (Manitoba, AHL), Brandon Kozun Russia), Brendan Leipsic (Toronto, AHL), J.C. Lipon (Manitoba, AHL), Anthony Mantha (Grand Rapids, AHL), Derek Roy (Russia), Greg Scott (Russia), Ben Street (Grand Rapids, AHL), Paul Szczechura (Russia), Max Talbot (Russia), Chris Terry (St. John's), Phil Varone (Binghamton, AHL), Linden Vey (Stockton, AHL).

*Of course, there are players on this list who could be in the NHL next season. Vey recently was recalled by the Calgary Flames, while a player like Mantha will have to clear waivers to be sent down next season.

Jordan Subban gotta keep him now!