Does this tournament mean anything to Russia?

[ChiefWiggum]

Of course it does. In 50 years, nobody will care who played in the tournament. All they will remember is that Russia won.

 

[NyQuil]

Of course it does. In 50 years, nobody will care who played in the tournament. All they will remember is that Russia won.

Meh, Great Britain won the Gold medal in hockey in 1936, people still remember that it was all Canadians on the team.

 

[Albatros]

The FIFA World Cup was established because football started to become a professional sport in the 1920s and professional players were not allowed to compete in the Olympics. In European hockey there never was this problem, as it was and is only about the NHL but not about domestic professional leagues.

 

[c9777666]

If Canada had won the final game in 1994, Canadians would have partied and celebrated that the same way they did in 2002.

Olympic Gold is still Olympic Gold, NHL involvement or no NHL involvement.

 

[Riddum]

Brazil, Nigeria and Chile or something?

Germany, Spain, Italy.

Edit: Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. And Nigeria was a finalist. I’ll take it.

Good effort lol

 

[Riddum]

Olympic GOLD is olympic GOLD no matter what arbitrary limits you can think of adding.

Do you understand what makes Olympic gold what it is? It doesn't seem like you do.

 

[Firsov99]

The tradition of the Olympics being important in hockey is pretty recent.

It's simply NOT true. For European nations the Olympics hockey gold was pretty important before 1998 as well.

 

[Follix]

Of course it does. In 50 years, nobody will care who played in the tournament. All they will remember is that Russia won.

They will remember some unaffiliated guys the olympic flag won...

 

[KCC]

Haha. A lot of Canadians are becoming very insecure over this tournament. We're used to winning most of the time, and being the heavy favourite. It's hilarious how many of us need to remind ourselves that "this tournament isn't real!" just in case we come up short. I also find it funny how everyone has secretly made Russia into this tournament's villain, and everyone would love to see them fail. They have the 2nd best league in the world besides the NHL? So what? Good for them, that's good for hockey.

Everybody still wants their country to win, NHL players or not, that's the truth. If games were being played at 7PM EST like most NHL games it would still be drawing a lot more interest.

I mean, they are the villains because they are the team to beat. That's the way sports is.

 

[kingsholygrail]

They finally are gifted a gold and it's not even going to count. lol

 

[jj cale]

Old HOF who probably won't make NHL roster

Kovalchuk and Datsyuk would indeed make the N.H.L roster, easily.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I mean a gold is a gold. But it will mean absolutely nothing when talking about who the top nations in the world are right now. This tournament really has no bearing on that at all. The real Canadian team has to be knocked off first lol.

 

[shtorm2005]

They will remember some unaffiliated guys the olympic flag won...

They are russians. Everyone knows that. Also, they aren't first who performs with olympic flag

Kovalchuk and Datsyuk would indeed make the N.H.L roster, easily.

Kovy is HOF? Datsyuk retired for a reason.

 

[jj cale]

They are russians. Everyone knows that.

Kovy is HOF? Datsyuk retired for a reason.

Kovalchuk is H.O.F caliber for sure, had he not bolted to the KHL he would have been going in to the hall after his career without much doubt

And datsyuk is definately going in to the hall , also, Datsyuk did not retire from the N.H.L because of a drop off in play, he left because he wanted to back to Russia to end his playing days. At the time he left the N.H.L he was still one of the best two way forwards in the game of hockey. And if you have watched him play here at this thing you can tell he still is!! He's still a great player.

No matter who may want to fluff it off the fact is that Russia has talent available to them at this thing that no one else does, they SHOULD win this tournament. They have an advantage here no one else does.

Whether they do remains to be seen.

 

[shtorm2005]

Kovalchuk is H.O.F caliber for sure, had he not bolted to the KHL he would have been going in to the hall after his career without much doubt

And datsyuk is definately going in to the hall , also, Datsyuk did not retire from the N.H.L because of a drop off in play, he left because he wanted to back to Russia to end his playing days. At the time he left the N.H.L he was still one of the best two way forwards in the game of hockey. And if you have watched him play here at this thing you can tell he still is!! He's still a great player.

My point was that Russian team doesn't have special position there. They miss many current NHL stars as well. And two old good players from nhl won't change that.

 

[jj cale]

My point was that Russian team doesn't have special position there. They miss many current NHL stars as well. And two old good players from nhl won't change that.

But they do have a special position and people who are well in the know are aware they do.

They have legitimate STARS on their team, no one else does. They also have more talent then any other team that could be playing in the N.HL that isn't simply because they have chosen to ply their trade in the K.H.L instead of the N.H.L for whatever reason.

They have more talent available to them here then anyone, it is not by accident they came into the tournament as clear favourites.

I don't see why anyone would attempt to dispute this.

 

[NyQuil]

Kovy is HOF? Datsyuk retired for a reason.

If Kovy had wanted to, sure.

I’m surprised I have to explain this to a Russian.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

Of course they care....they have a talent advantage over shell teams from other Nations. It’s their best chance in what..decades?

 

[shtorm2005]

They have more talent available to them here then anyone, it is not by accident they came into the tournament as clear favourites.

Im not denying they aren't favorites, but its not because "Having HoFers on their team with everyone else fielding rejects" like that guy said.

 

[Saekk]

Same few canadians shitting on Olympics here again, nothing new.

 

[shtorm2005]

Of course they care....they have a talent advantage over shell teams from other Nations. It’s their best chance in what..decades?

Would they have less chances with Ovechkin, Malkin, Kucherov, Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Panarin, Radulov, Orlov, Sergachev, Emelin on their team? With current roster they still lost to Slovakia...

 

[jj cale]

Im not denying they aren't favorites, but its not because "Having HoFers on their team with everyone else fielding rejects" like that guy said.

Well having hall of famers on your team when no one else does or has even close to that sure helps.

Russia has talent on their team to break open a game that no other team has, If say Canada even had just 2 guys like that, I will randomly pick Seguin and Hall here for arguments purpose, then I would agree with you.
But they don't, nor Does Sweden have anything like that, or Finland or the czechs, or the U.S or anyone else.

But Russia does......that's a tremendous advantage at this thing.

Let's not try to pretend it isn't.

 

[shtorm2005]

Let's not try to pretend it isn't.

I agree with you that Kovy is HOF caliber, but he's not at his peak anymore, just a good player. Datsyuk is 39 years old player, he's not difference maker like he used to be. Advantage of Russia is to have KHL where you can find some good talented players. Btw I remember some posters on these boards claimed that KHL isn't even second best league in the world. So why AHL or other leagues could't provide better teams if its true?

 

[jj cale]

I agree with you that Kovy is HOF caliber, but he's not at his peak anymore, just a good player. Datsyuk is 39 years old player, he's not difference maker like he used to be. Advantage of Russia is to have KHL where you can find some good talented players. Btw I remember some posters on these boards claimed that KHL isn't even second best league in the world. So why AHL or other leagues could't provide better teams if its true?

Only someone incredibly naive would argue that the K.H.L is not the 2nd best league in the world.

I know you will never hear any such foolishness from me.

 

[NyQuil]

So why AHL or other leagues could't provide better teams if its true?

AHLers on two way contracts aren’t eligible.

There are some AHLers there.

Anyway it is what it is - let’s see how Russia does with the pressure and expectations.

Losing early was good for them.