2013-2014 NHL Season Thread: EVERY GOALIE MUST BE TRADED, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[Ratatapa]

I just think the whole league is selfish with their players about the 'no more olympics'

It's only once per 4 years

[Meph]

That defeats the purpose of the Olympics then. It's supposed to be the very best in the world competing against each other, and would kind of make the whole event pointless if the very best were excluded. A lot of events, people from other countries train where the sports are popular. Where one trains and grows as an athlete shouldn't matter, plenty of them leave their home country to better themselves, not just the hockey players

normally I would agree, but comparing the NHL to non-hockey sports is'nt fair.

[Meph]

Gotta thank the 'NA' league for your gold chance brah

and thats my point. without our NHL players, I doubt we would be in the finals

edit: actually, who knows, we might be

[Ratatapa]

I mean Soccer, Baseball and Basketball all send their elite sport players there so

[Aksannyi]

Where your co-worker gets it completely wrong is thinking the NHL is just USA HOCKEY. It's not, it's some of the best players, coaches, trainers, etc from around the world playing in one league.

Yeah I know, I explained that to her. It wouldn't just be Canadians we'd be losing, but Slovacks, Czechs, Russians, Swedes, etc. Then she seemed to understand.

Once upon a time I thought there were only American players in the NHL too. But almost every league has it, look at the MLB or the NBA (not NFL because only MURICANS play pigskin football). You go where you can have the most competitive play, otherwise it gets boring because there's no real challenge.

[Callisto]

They should follow the International Soccer/Football method and participate in the Olympics AND have a World Cup

Not downplaying the physical aspects of soccer, but I think the main issue here is every time a guy puts on a national sweater he's potentially jeopardizing the entire rest of his multi-million dollar professional career and the NHL doesn't really want that kind of liability every two years, if for no other reason than the sheer insurance costs.

[bluefan]

I understand Mephs stance. It's also why I do like watching the Spengler. Not the best of talents, but when we had that lockout and had some NHL players there...that was fun to watch.

[Judai]

normally I would agree, but comparing the NHL to non-hockey sports is'nt fair.

By your logic, anyone who competes in the X Games can't compete int he Olympics anymore.

[Aksannyi]

Plus let's not even talk about soccer, no one plays at home in that damn sport.

[KoalaTrap]

This whole discussion =

[Meph]

If it was simply a north american league, why am I a huge Nick Backstrom fan? Why does all of Detroit love Zetterburg and Datsyuk? Your logic is flawed into thinking it's simply a USA LEAGUE and that US people only love US things.

the reason behind that is because you cheer for a team-shirt, not a player

[Vaspinne]

normally I would agree, but comparing the NHL to non-hockey sports is'nt fair.

It absofuckinglutely is fair lol. You know how many speed skaters train in Calgary? Almost all of them. Same with bobsledding/luge/etc. How many figure skaters have Canadian and American coaches? You look at the top 5 countries in the medal count and that's pretty much where all winter Olympic athletes train

[KoalaTrap]

Also you've got the World Championships every year with only a handful of NHLers from nonplayoff teams. There ya go.

[Meph]

lol, Im with koala

[Ratatapa]

What is this shit, i don't even


Sep make sure you guys send away Malkin he's not NA

[Meph]

It absofuckinglutely is fair lol. You know how many speed skaters train in Calgary? Almost all of them. Same with bobsledding/luge/etc. How many figure skaters have Canadian and American coaches? You look at the top 5 countries in the medal count and that's pretty much where all winter Olympic athletes train

ok, fair enough. so lets just not restrict it to hockey. if you are to compete in the olympics you have to be locally trained?

[Callisto]

Isn't it like an actual official BG rule that when Rata is the voice of reason in a thread it's time to close things up?

[Vaspinne]

Not downplaying the physical aspects of soccer, but I think the main issue here is every time a guy puts on a national sweater he's potentially jeopardizing the entire rest of his multi-million dollar professional career and the NHL doesn't really want that kind of liability every two years, if for no other reason than the sheer insurance costs.

That's a really valid point. Definitely the league/owners biggest argument especially after hearing about players like Zetterberg and Taveres

[Judai]

the reason behind that is because you cheer for a team-shirt, not a player

Really? because I have been cheering for Sweden and Russia all Olympics in hockey, because I love Ovie and Nick as people. I'm a fan of hockey and love watching any team. (well, except pitt,nyr,nj,phi,entire east,etc)

[Meph]

Ive been here long enough to not bother with rata, so...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../FuckYou-1.png