Stanley Cup or Olympic Gold Medal (US born player)

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I think it's the exact opposite actually. Stanley Cup > Olympic Gold. Unless you're playing for a non-favorite team. USA, Canada, Russia, Sweden all have amazing chances at winning Olympic gold, Finland is just behind them. I think for a Finnish player Olympic Gold would be more glorious, because of the level of competition they would have to go through. But for a US born, or any of those 4 nations, Stanley cup all day.

Swedes and Russians are high on Olympic gold. They always remind how many Olympic golds they have compared to Finland. Winning just one best-on-best tournament would be good for Finns.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

Most American hockey fans would say Stanley Cup with little hesitation.

I don't know anyone who watches the Olympics with the same bated breath as their team in the playoffs. That's not to say that the gold medal is insignificant, though.

 

[jetsforever]

I'd say the gold because any scrub can win a Cup (looking at you Bogosian) but on the US Olympic team every player is great and it's an honour.

 

[DowJones]

On this forum maybe, but certainly not among the general public in the United States. An Olympic gold medal is universally highly regarded whether it's from ice hockey or canoe slalom. A hockey ring is just a hockey ring unless you happen to be a hardcore fan.

Pretty much. I would even go so far and say that for the general public an Olympic gold in the tiniest sport triumphs a Stanley Cup.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

The Olympics are a glorified pre season...they don't matter.

Stanley Cup

 

[Zamuz]

stricktly when weighing what is a greater accomplishment for US born player

to win olympic gold, first of all you have to be one of the best american players to even have any shot to be a part of the team.

second, winning the thing beating other countries all star teams that are worth +100m instead of being salary capped

third, its held every 4 years so chances of ever winning are low


obviously the cup is important and biggest dream for many, but olympic gold is rare and a huge achievement especially for teams other than canada

 

[Hisch13r]

Literally couldn't care less about winning Olympic gold

 

[6ix]

On this forum maybe, but certainly not among the general public in the United States. An Olympic gold medal is universally highly regarded whether it's from ice hockey or canoe slalom. A hockey ring is just a hockey ring unless you happen to be a hardcore fan.

I agree with your post. On this forum we all have our favourite teams, and would prefer our team to win a cup than our country win Gold from a pure hockey sense. Hell the leafs haven’t won a cup since 67, for me I would much rather see the leafs win a cup.

But then when looking at the majority of the population, nothing brings a nation together like a gold medal game. US born players win cups every year. Team USA hasn’t won gold since 1980.

 

[Thenameless]

I think it's the exact opposite actually. Stanley Cup > Olympic Gold. Unless you're playing for a non-favorite team. USA, Canada, Russia, Sweden all have amazing chances at winning Olympic gold, Finland is just behind them. I think for a Finnish player Olympic Gold would be more glorious, because of the level of competition they would have to go through. But for a US born, or any of those 4 nations, Stanley cup all day.

No, Albatros is right. He used the term general public, not North American public or European public . People from Ghana, Brazil, and Philippines likely have never heard of the Stanley Cup, but they certainly know what an Olympic Gold Medal is.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Wait, are pros playing next year?

 

[garbageteam]

Can't speak for others but when I'm old and counting my legacy I'd much rather have an Olympic Gold medal than a Stanley cup ring. Poll the general public and the results would be reversed from this thread.

Cup winners are a dime a dozen in the NHL, chances are some fourth liner's been on some team that won a cup over a 2 decade career. Being a part of a GMG winning team that happens every four years - especially if it's one with NHL players - is something you can recount to your kids and friends for generations and I bet almost every single person you tell would care. Not so sure about being part of a Cup winning team 40 years ago when you're 65.

 

[Dondini]

Every single player would say the cup

 

[TheNumber4]

Cup > Gold for every player regardless of country.

 

[MrThomas]

Well obviously winning the gold with a country is more meaningful than as a random nhl team.

 

[Voight]

Among the general public Olympic gold > Stanley Cup and it's not even remotely close.

If you're not a hockey fan sure.

 

[CupInSIX]

You'd pick up way more chicks at a bar with an Olympic gold medal than a gaudy SC ring.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Much more difficult to win the 'Cup. Much easier to cheat at the Olympics.

Just look at Sundin. Never a legitimate sniff at a 'Cup win. Match-fix a bit at the Olympics to cherry-pick the right opponents and it's easy Olympic gold.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Much more difficult to win the 'Cup. Much easier to cheat at the Olympics.

Just look at Sundin. Never a legitimate sniff at a 'Cup win. Match-fix a bit at the Olympics to cherry-pick the right opponents and it's easy Olympic gold.

No actually wonder Leafs fans are all saying a cup. Cause it never happens. Finnish stars usually win a cup but the Olympics are trickier because they are not that often.

 

[FourRings]

Every single US born player knows the Stanley Cup is and a decent portion of the population as well. Olympic gold is an amazing feat no doubt, but the Stanley Cup is a far greater accomplishment.

You're underestimating just how few Americans actually care about the Stanley Cup. The average American would say Olympic Gold.

If you're an American hockey fan/player, you'd get Stanley Cup as your answer 9/10.

 

[kmart]

the way the olympics is getting used as political tool makes me stay away from that tournament on top of that u have all these restrictions in the time of an event...

u cant watch highlights on youtube for example... i am sure u have to make some deals with ur local providers and what not if u really dont want to miss out (and even then, highlights on demand are simply not available - u have to keep track on the schedule if u want to follow olympic hockey - complete joke of an event). as a hockey fan its not worth it for me... yes, the world cup took over in terms of importance.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

No actually wonder Leafs fans are all saying a cup. Cause it never happens. Finnish stars usually win a cup but the Olympics are trickier because they are not that often.

I never considered how seldom the Olympics are played in relation to the Stanley Cup.

I agree, due to the limited numbers of Olympic games, the Olympics are trickier.
.

 

[IdontSpitOnTheIce]

The average hockey fan already forgot who won the cup last year nor do they care about the nationality of the players of a sport team in missouri.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

For a US born player, it's the Cup. For an international born player, I'm guessing it's Olympic Gold.

 

[Hockeyholic]

I think winning a cup would be more fulfilling. 16 games to glory. Ups and downs. 8 weeks.

I mean the Olympics is two weeks. Anyone can get hot or cold. One game eliminations. Anything happens.

I doubt you'd find many who would pick the olympuc gold.