change the olympic hockey format ?

[eyedea]

Do you think they should go to the non-pro ?
.I think it would be more fun to watch with all the college players that are so well skilled .IMO they would have a lot more to prove with NHL scouts watching. Same for basketball.

[tcrock]

problem with that is not every country will follow suit....we could send our college players....that Doessn't mean that Russia, Sweden, Canada etc...will do the same..thus we'd get pour asses kicked. It would make it much more sweet to win and more "miracle" like....but personally in this format....it would still be a small miracle for the US to win

[eyedea]

Ither way we suck.I mean they should not let NHL players play there thats better.

[tcrock]

Ither way we suck.I mean they should not let NHL players play there thats better.

I guess that's true and would help fix it

The NHL looks at it as a marketing tool I think, which doesn't work anyway, because most schmucks like me can't watch the games live anyway

[ButtleMan]

With the exception of the US, the other countries would send non NHL pro's that have played numerous amount of years and have an extremely high talent level.
Kenny Jonsson would still play for Sweden even though he is not in the NHL anymore.
If you want the best in the world to play then you need the NHL.

[FirstTimeCaller]

The thread is utter blasphemy, since the pro's came into the fold we've some of the best hockey ever played... played in the Olympics. Talk to me when the medal round starts... This years Canadian team is one of the most magnificent hockey teams the world has ever seen.

[FirstTimeCaller]

Anybody still think we should change the format? I mean we haven't even gotten to a medal game yet and look at all the drama and great hockey we've seen. Think of all the young guys that have shown up to play and all the great performances we've seen. Even though I'm secretly crying like a child inside right now because we lost... I LOVE THIS!!!

[MawaesDaMan]

I am torn although I do think we should go back to amatuers. I think to better the sport and make the Olympic team mean more, kids should have one shot at it. Give it a real Pride factor and help develop younger US players as well as stir up some interest for these kids. Maybe the hockey draft would be a bigger deal if anyone knew who the US kids or foreign kids were that were being drafted, and they could if they were showcased in the Olympics every 4 years. I have really enjoyed these games, but I still think it should be amatuers. The Olympics should take out anyone who gets paid to play on the professional level, so that all the Euros who play in pro leagues overseas, or the NHL are not involved. I am tired of watching Chelios hoof it around the ice, give some young kids a shot. Plus pausing the NHL for 16 or 18 days or whatever it is, is stupid. The NHL doesnt like it, the coaches and owners dont like it. I dont really like it.

[eyedea]

All we would have to do is make it NON NHL players.There is a massive AHL talent pool as well as all the good players in Europe .It would make some great hockey.Also come to think of it , it seems team usa did better when leetch was the el capitan.. and they were going out getting bombed each night

[FirstTimeCaller]

All we would have to do is make it NON NHL players.There is a massive AHL talent pool as well as all the good players in Europe .It would make some great hockey.Also come to think of it , it seems team usa did better when leetch was the el capitan.. and they were going out getting bombed each night


Listen if we wanted to just fill spots we could make it Beer-league only. Making it non-NHL would make it a joke and the level of play would drop tremendously (especially on the US and Canadian teams). The AHL talent pool is no comparison. North American teams would be at a major disadvantage. Why do you think Canada didn't win for 50 years? Why do you think it was a "Miracle" we won in 1980? Because we'd be sending kids and they'd be sending professionals. The current format sends the best players in the world and puts together the best 12 teams in the world... that's how it should be when you're playing for the best international prize in hockey, the gold medal.


Screw the NHL, they sure as hell screwed us… a two week stoppage once every four years doesn’t mean shit to me when they’re willing to throw full seasons away over a couple of million dollars. These greedy bastards screwed us for money… I’d rather see a bunch of guys play their asses off for national pride, tradition, and love of sport.

[MawaesDaMan]

I agree with you on guys playing their asses off for pride, tradition and the love of he sport, which is why i like the amatuers playing. NHLers dont care about the Olympics, let me rephrase, North American NHLers dont care about a medal, they care about the Stanley Cup, sure they realize how special it is to play for your country, but i would bet anything that most of those guys on the USA/Canada roster if given the option, Lift the cup or win a medal, would choose the Cup.

This is currently hockey at its best, but it matches the NHL, yes it is a little smoother a bit more exciting, possibly b/c there are only 4 or 6 games so everybody goes all out, but it is just the NHL reorganized.

I, like you FTC, love hockey. The Jets and Devils are really the only major sports franchises i care about, but when I find myself rooting for the USA, b/c of pride and b/c some devils play for them, that is great, but i also have to pull for Canada, since Marty is the poster boy for Devils, and then Elias is key, so i need to pull for Russia as well. and it goes on and on... The games are great, but the loyalties are lost. If it all amateurs, i think it means more, mayeb we will get our asses kicked, but maybe, maybe we could showcase some young talent, and even pull off a miracle every now and then.

[ACertainShade]

Talk to me when the medal round starts... This years Canadian team is one of the most magnificent hockey teams the world has ever seen.

lawl

:lol:

[tcrock]

NHL is already talking about not sending players after the Vancouver games in 2010...........I would say that after the spanking both North American teams took...that's pretty likely

after watching this tourney....i'm in favor of any format that actually allows the team we send to practice a little bit together prior to going out and embarrassing themselves.

[HackettStillSux]

USA Hockey is an absolute disgrace. Tha organization should be ashamed of themselves.

[FirstTimeCaller]

lawl

:lol:


I stand by that statement despite the result. Look at those lines, look at the goaltending... one of the most talented and balanced teams ever assembled. They simply didn't perform up to their ability... some will blame the coaching and some will blame the players but nobody will say they didn't have the talent to win gold.

[kinghenry89]

No, keep the pros in the game. If you want to see kids watch the WJC's.

Just because clowns from the US like Modano and the amazing 800 pound Tkachuk don't work hard or skate doesn't mean that we should deny players like Gionta and DiPietro the chance to play for their country.