Pre-Game Talk: 2022 Winter Olympics

[MinJaBen]

Congratulations to Fishy for being selected as one of the 1st three on the Finnish National Team!

Click to read more...

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Yeah, that’s about right.

Expect TT to be a surefire add as well, but Aho top 3 is well deserved.

 

[Lempo]

Per Finnish reporting, NHL has until Jan 9 the right to withdraw from participating the Olympics, reportedly in case of it being considered a health risk (=covid situation in China and in NA).

Because of this, the national teams are effectively practicing two rosters worth of players (NHL stars plus European bunch). Per GM, the Finnish long list has over hundred names as this point and Finland won't at this point be publishing further names. As of Oct 15 all of them will be subject to WADA doping testing.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I AM ANGRY. THIS REMINDS ME MRÁZEK IS IN TORONTO.

THAT BEING SAID, NEČAS IF HEALTHY SHOULD BE A SURE PICK.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

I AM ANGRY. THIS REMINDS ME MRÁZEK IS IN TORONTO.

THAT BEING SAID, NEČAS IF HEALTHY SHOULD BE A SURE PICK.

I can’t fault them for not picking him over Pasternak, Palat, or Voracek.

THAT BEING SAID, IF HE ISNT ON THE FINAL ROSTER, I SAY WE BURN DOWN THE THUN PALACE AND DRINK BEER AMONGST THE ASHES

 

[Chrispy]

Per Finnish reporting, NHL has until Jan 9 the right to withdraw from participating the Olympics, reportedly in case of it being considered a health risk (=covid situation in China and in NA).

Because of this, the national teams are effectively practicing two rosters worth of players (NHL stars plus European bunch). Per GM, the Finnish long list has over hundred names as this point and Finland won't at this point be publishing further names. As of Oct 15 all of them will be subject to WADA doping testing.

So...what is the point of the 3 provisional players then? 3 isn't enough for an NHL team to prepare for who they will lose, 3 isn't enough for a national team to plan to have them, and the NHL could still pull out if Covid surges again.

Or does this mean these are guaranteed players even if the NHL pulls out?

 

[MinJaBen]

So...what is the point of the 3 provisional players then? 3 isn't enough for an NHL team to prepare for who they will lose, 3 isn't enough for a national team to plan to have them, and the NHL could still pull out if Covid surges again.

Or does this mean these are guaranteed players even if the NHL pulls out?

Clearly it means nothing if the NHL pulls out. It is just promotional to get people excited.

 

[Lempo]

So...what is the point of the 3 provisional players then? 3 isn't enough for an NHL team to prepare for who they will lose, 3 isn't enough for a national team to plan to have them, and the NHL could still pull out if Covid surges again.

Or does this mean these are guaranteed players even if the NHL pulls out?

Quantum. Schödinger setup. They're both in in every case and withdrawing if NHL withdraws, if we were to ask the IOC and the NHL. But we're not supposed to.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

These 3 players will be cloned and used in both NHL and Olympic Games simultaneously.

 

[FiLe]

Expect TT to be a surefire add as well, but Aho top 3 is well deserved.

Yeah, TT is a lock. There's no way the Finnish management ignores a platter-served line - well, apart from the fact that they have to figure out whom they stick there as the third wheel, because they can't pick Svech.

 

[AD Skinner]

I know there's been a ton of articles about it but its pretty cool the amount of surefire Olympic locks this team has. Aho and teravainen, slavin, nino, andersen, svechnikov- those guys would need to be hurt to not get invited. Trocheck pesce kotkaniemi necas and raanta all have decent shots too. I'm probably forgetting a player or two even. Pretty exciting

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Curling is fun.

 

[Rich247]

These 3 players will be cloned and used in both NHL and Olympic Games simultaneously.

 

[Rich247]

Why hasn’t Jeremy Bracco been selected for the usa Olympic hockey team. Kid has led every team he has played on in scoring since age of 10. Presently plays for the Krefeld peguins in the German elite league and is there leading scorer as well as in the leagues top five scorer. Kid was never given a shot to play in the nhl although leading in most stats for the marlins. Makes no sense why nhl teams have let such a talented player not be given a look. Would be a shame if not on the Olympic team. Why is he seeming to be blackballed by the nhl and usa hockey?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Who?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Who?

the guy who was a main piece with a 3rd rounder in Pesce to Toronto trades

 

[tarheelhockey]

He’s nowhere near making Team USA, but honestly it is a little peculiar that a guy who finished #2 in AHL scoring around age 21 wouldn’t even have played an NHL game at some point. Based on his modest production in other seasons I don’t know if he would stick, but at least a callup would have been in order.

 

[MinJaBen]

He’s nowhere near making Team USA, but honestly it is a little peculiar that a guy who finished #2 in AHL scoring around age 21 wouldn’t even have played an NHL game at some point. Based on his modest production in other seasons I don’t know if he would stick, but at least a callup would have been in order.

Is he horrible at defense? I mean, that shouldn’t have been a problem with Toronto all those years, but would explain why we didn’t give him a shot.

 

[Chrispy]

He’s nowhere near making Team USA, but honestly it is a little peculiar that a guy who finished #2 in AHL scoring around age 21 wouldn’t even have played an NHL game at some point. Based on his modest production in other seasons I don’t know if he would stick, but at least a callup would have been in order.

Step back in the AHL in 19-20 pre-shutdown, and decided to go to Europe rather than the Wolves in 2021. PPG in Germany after a short OK season in Finland doesn't mean that much either, right?

I understand the argument he should be considered for an NHL-less team USA, but who knows if his current contract would allow him to go to China, and how long he would be out after coming back to Germany. It simply may not be feasible for him to play.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

My understanding was that Bracco racked up a lot of points on the PP but wasn't very good defensively. At the time, the Leafs were pretty stacked at forward as well. had Marner, Matthews, Tavares, Kadri, Kapanen, Johnsson, Nylander, Hyman, Marleau, and Connor Brown. He wasn't going to crack that line-up with the PP being his forte.

The next season his play and scoring degraded and the Leafs didn't qualify him.

 

[ONO94]

Assuming no NHLers will go for Team Canada--one of the possible candidates is Chris Terry--maybe he can score 40 in the Olympics?

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Who?

Isnt this that guy we signed who then left Chicago shortly into the season amidst sexual harassment allegations and headed to Europe?

Pretty sure that’s him.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I might as well ignore WOG at this point.

One of our best medal hopes (2 golds in snowboard in past 2) is down with an injury and COVID, Sáblíková is old (still a fokkin’ speedskating legend), I passionately hate PRC, hockey will be watered down af and we are probably going to get out arses kicked.

Also, I wanted China brutalized by US’, Germany’s and Canada’s best.

And I still feel empty thinking I won’t watch it with Dad. He was a stoic man, but premier Ice Hockey tournaments… he became more emotional than me.

 

[Lempo]

Our cross-country skiing team nominations is better entertainment than cross-country skiing.

If you're into bold strategies, one sprint candidate tweeting "f***ing sheep" at the ski team management certainly is one of those.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Swedens Olympic Committee wants 15 medals in the game, and around half of them gold. We have some good ones (Nils van der Poel (skates), many in Biathlon, many in skiing). Maybe some curling there too.