Comments on: Overrated Olympics could cost the Pens another shot

By: 55 on point

55 on point — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:59:22 +0000

I agree in as much as the Olympics are — well, should be — about the best “amateur” players from participating countries, period! I placed amateur in quotes, because I’m not stupid enough to beleive that it is a simple task to determine exactly who amateur players are these days, and that it gets more difficult every year — lots of blurry lines on this ice. Regardless, NHLers do not belong. Period to that too! I sincerely hope the NHL doesn’t renew the agreement with the Olympics. That being said, I’ll be watching, and I’ll enjoy. I like hockey. But I will be wishing Crosby, et.al., were skating in an NHL game where they belong.

By: MS FORECZECH

MS FORECZECH — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:06:23 +0000

The Olympics were to be about showcasing the best player in the best game with the intent of growing the game in more non-traditional places. But, what the output has been is that the world-class players are coming from Canada, Russia, the USA, and Sweden. Even the Czech team which was thought to be the next powerhouse has fallen to nothing but average. Think not? The Czech Republic haven’t had a player drafted in the first two rounds in the last two years. Shattuck Saint Mary’s high school does better than that! I’ll be watching the games but I wonder if this hasn’t turned into something more like an all star game. We’ll see if Orpik tries to take Crosby’s head off with a big check or will he lay out Malkin. If he does do you jump out of your seat and cheer?

By: Kutdacheez

Kutdacheez — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:21:08 +0000

The Jamician bobsled team did crash and burn in the 88 Olympics but finished 14th in ’92. In ’02 they finished 28th. They also make good rum and won the gold in the Rum Olympics. They drink rum and bang on the drum all day. It takes a lot of rum to be from Jamacia and do the bobsled. So that should be enough of that for the evening, eh.

By: Kutdacheez

Kutdacheez — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:09:16 +0000

I’m rooting for Team Lithuania

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:30:48 +0000

[The teams from Canada, Russia, USA & Sweden are PRETTY good?]
I think they are – don’t you.

[You are saying the NHL games are on a higher level?]
No. What I said was there are (4) good teams and the rest (generalizing) are not. Do you really think that TEAM ITALY could beat the Penguins without Orpik, Gonchar, Fluery and Malkin? Really?

[Quite possibly the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard.]
So you missed Ombama’s Stae of the Union? Just kidding.

[Though I haven’t read your other two comments on this post yet.]

Oh Yea? And I heard it doesn’t snow in Minneapolis in the winter time either.

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:23:27 +0000

[You may want to read up also, the bobsled team]

No offense Bubba – but the Jamician Bobsled Team did not finish because they lost control of the sled and crashed. Doesn’t matter too much because you had the point go right over the point in your head which was – just because you send the best athletes in your country it doesn’t mean they are talented.
Also, don’t assume anything about my love for my country it makes your post (and therefore you) sound like some school boy flamer. Buckle Up Bubba.

By: RBuckle

RBuckle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:58:55 +0000

This could be dumber, it’s a toss up. This whole having countries not send their best atheletes idea is 100% against the idea of the Olympics. Maybe you just don’t care about your country.

You may want to read up also, the bobsled team finished 14th, ahead of the USA, Russia, France & Italy.

By: RBuckle

RBuckle — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:52:58 +0000

The teams from Canada, Russia, USA & Sweden are PRETTY good? You are saying the NHL games are on a higher level?

Quite possibly the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard. Though I haven’t read your other two comments on this post yet.

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:24:56 +0000

McKelvie has a good point about the other athletes who train in individual sports at West Point. But aren’t most of these athletes compensated in one way or another. McKelvie signed on for an education with a two-year military commitment. It isn’t like he didn’t know what he committed to.

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:20:16 +0000

The WJC is a big event in Canada and Europe but not so big in the US. Minor Leaugue hockey is for the development of prospects and for career minor league players. None of these are on a caliber of the NHL. When you post that every country sends it’s best players it reminded me of the Jamacian bobsled team. That was Jamacia’s best bobsled athletes. They hardly were the best in the world.

By: KULT SKATER

KULT SKATER — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:14:24 +0000

The Olympics are not hockey at the top level except for the teams from Canada, Russia the USA and Sweden are pretty good. The other teams are not quality at all.
The Wash Capitals have Backstrom,Ovechkin, Green, Semin are much better than the Flyers and with a healthy Varlamov would beat just about every team in the Olympics and that would include Russia because Ovechkin, Semin and Varlamov wouldn’t be on Russia’s team. A think a healthy Penguin team would do the same too in my opinion and San Jose for that matter. Teams in the NHL play as teams and not a gathering of all-stars. These Olympic games have a chance to look real close to an all-star game.

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:10:32 +0000

I do not consider a Pens/Flys came minor league, but I do get to see the Pens play the Flys 7-14 times a year. Kazakhstan vs. Italy is a game I would not care about, the same goes for Edmonton vs. Carolina, I don’t think they should cancel the NHL because Edmonton plays Carolina. Olympics is hockey at the top level, the finals will be the best players vs. the best players, unless the U.S. makes it to the finals then it will be the players Burke picked vs the best players.

By: Boombastic

Boombastic — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:06:54 +0000

Not just the KatZNJAMMER kids but the the Sedin Twins were also born in KAZAKHstan.

By: Boombastic

Boombastic — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:05:20 +0000

The better teams in the NHL have the most to lose. Not just the Penguins. The Sharks has 8 players going. The Pens and Washington have 5 but they are key quality players. The Ducks and Maple Leafs have 13 between them——- wow——— the Maple Leafs????

By: DR Hook

DR Hook — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:54:21 +0000

Then you knew those Canada Cups took place prior to the NHL season. Your statement that I should watch world juniors or minor league or college hockey doesn’t have much do do with anything. Especially if you consider the Penguins vs. Flyers to be minor league to friggin Kazakhstan vs. Italy. Weren’t the Katzenjammer Kids from Kazakhstan?

Me… I’ll stick to the Pens/Flyers games… not that a Russia or US vs Canada wouldn’t be good game to see as long as none of the Pens players got hurt.

By: Phil Krundle

Phil Krundle — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:37:47 +0000

I’m a big fan of the Olympics as I was with the Canada Cup – The idea behind the Olympics is that each country send’s it’s BEST atheletes to compete against each other. Watch World Juniors or minor league/college hockey if you want to watch a lesser skill level compete.

By: Ron Malore

Ron Malore — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:44:59 +0000

What’s sort of an interesting story is that Zach McKelvie a prospect for the Boston Bruins has to do a two-year stint in the Army before he can play for the Bruins. McKelvie says it’s frustrating on one side but that he also understands. But he did reference that some of the athletes at West Point training for individual sports are allowed to train all year long. But they don’t stop those athletes. [ http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=307739 ]