OT: 2014 Olympic Hockey: (Spoilers within)

[madgoat33]

What hype? The dude is a great hockey player. Any hype he's had, he's certainly lived up to it

I get tired of seeing "is tavares the second best player in the NHL?!?!?!?!?!?!!?" sentiments. Also, my one friend is a huge chicago dissenter and [mod] praises tavares all the time; IE he's waaay better than toews, etc...

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Eh, great players get hyped all the time, it's only really annoying when it's done in comparison to your great players. No need to overly worry about that.

Heck, the Sharks had a hilarious GDT a few years back about Toews over that very same subject.

 

[Chris Hansen]

I get tired of seeing "is tavares the second best player in the NHL?!?!?!?!?!?!!?" sentiments. Also, my one friend is a huge chicago dissenter and [mod] praises tavares all the time; IE he's waaay better than toews, etc...

Agree completely. Got tired of the Tavares (over)hype a long time ago.

Hopefully the injury's just a short-term thing.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Tavares apparently out for the remainder of the Olympics with a knee injury.

Another example why NHL wont be sending players in 2018

 

[Bubba88]

USA and Canada are both in North America.

Sweden and Finland are both on the Baltic.

Check that.

If I said North American vs Baltic State, then you'd have a point.

Sure, but calling the US and Canada Northern American would likewise be more accurate, but the original statement was still correct.

Just be happy I didn't call 'em both Scandinavian like I'm sure plenty are saying about Finland right now.

And sadly, sticking mostly true to my predictions about the medal matchups.

Sweden vs Canada for the gold, USA vs Russia Finland for the bronze.

Baltic = Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Finland isn't part of scandinavia, but more than being Baltic. History and spoken language makes it easier to say that they are. It wouldn't be as wrong as saying balitc.

Sweden is in Scandinavia and scandinavia only



It will be a North American team vs a scandinavian team / northern europe team

 

[CPHawksFan]

Another example why NHL wont be sending players in 2018

Just pray it doesn't happen to any of our Hawks

 

[ReillyO]

Another example why NHL wont be sending players in 2018

The NHLPA isn't going to lie down that easily. If the NHL wants them to concede anything else in the next year or two, that'll be the bargaining chip.

 

[ColdSteel2]

I like Tavares a lot, appreciate his loyalty to the Isles, but he isn't on the same level as guys like Crosby or Toews, among others. He's a top 10 player in the league for sure, but he still has to learn how to win and become a better leader. Guys like Crosby and Toews would have that team a lot closer to being in the playoffs. Tavares needs to get more out of his teammates and he needs to become a better defensive player.

 

[EmeticDonut]

I wonder if the reactions to injuries would be the same if they happened in a NHL-sanctioned World Cup?

 

[Duke33]

I like Tavares a lot, appreciate his loyalty to the Isles, but he isn't on the same level as guys like Crosby or Toews, among others. He's a top 10 player in the league for sure, but he still has to learn how to win and become a better leader. Guys like Crosby and Toews would have that team a lot closer to being in the playoffs. Tavares needs to get more out of his teammates and he needs to become a better defensive player.

I don't know about that. The Islanders have nowhere near the supporting cast that the Penguins and Hawks do. "Leadership" only gets you so far, and one wonders where Crosby's leadership has been on the Penguins the last few years. That team is loaded to the gills with outstanding players and since their one Cup have been a major disappointment, with multiple first round exits and then the embarrassing sweep last year where that superstar-laden team only scored two goals in four games...

 

[Elvis P]

The US named TK the honorary captain of the women's team.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Tavares is done for the season. That is awful

 

[IU Hawks fan]

Feel for the guy, although they kinda needed a lot to go there way to sniff the playoffs anyway. Might be for the best to happen now so they have an excuse to sell at the deadline.

 

[member 151739]

Switzerland got bronze in women's hockey. That was honestly a top 3 game of these Olympics so far.

The US named TK the honorary captain of the women's team.

Wait, what?

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I like Tavares a lot, appreciate his loyalty to the Isles, but he isn't on the same level as guys like Crosby or Toews, among others. He's a top 10 player in the league for sure, but he still has to learn how to win and become a better leader. Guys like Crosby and Toews would have that team a lot closer to being in the playoffs. Tavares needs to get more out of his teammates and he needs to become a better defensive player.

I really doubt that. The skill level on the Islanders after Tavares is significantly lower than the skill level on the Hawks/Pens after Toews/Crosby. I don't think the Isles would be in any better position with an 'upgrade' on Tavares.

 

[ColdSteel2]

I really doubt that. The skill level on the Islanders after Tavares is significantly lower than the skill level on the Hawks/Pens after Toews/Crosby. I don't think the Isles would be in any better position with an 'upgrade' on Tavares.

I guess the overall point is that with all the hype coming from the media, especially Pierre, I don't see him as the best player in the NHL and I think there is a nice dropoff between him and Crosby and Toews right now. In a couple years, that should change. He has the skills to be a top defensive forward along with the offense.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Congrats TK. This must be a proud moment for you and your loved ones

 

[committedindian86]

Really hoping the US women can finally get over the hump and end the Canadian Olympic dominance. Either way it should be an awesome game.

 

[Elvis P]

Starting new thread.