Olympic Hockey is Better

Prone to trap dominated games?? Not conducive to a North American cycle game??? Its all excuses as far as I'm concerned. I'm American & would take the International game over the NHL's bland version 365 days of the year. Theres more room and in the initial stages of games, the pace is heightened. You can keep the NHL's "hockey in a phonebooth" with the inevitable grabbing that eventually ensues.

Prone to trap dominated games?? Not conducive to a North American cycle game??? Its all excuses as far as I'm concerned. I'm American & would take the International game over the NHL's bland version 365 days of the year. Theres more room and in the initial stages of game, the pace is heightened. You can keep the NHL's "hockey in a phonebooth" with the inevitable grabbing that eventually ensues.

I also enjoy the Olympic games more than the NHL counterparts. There's more at steak here than money: pride, tradition and honor. Plus, the bigger ice surface tends to lend itself to more creativity from all teams involved, and allows skaters to really test their endurance and speed. It's a pleasure to watch.

Olympic playoffs > NHL regular season.
NHL playoffs > the moon landing.

Olympic playoffs > NHL regular season.
NHL playoffs > the moon landing.
Akiberg > the moon landing

P.S. actually over the milkyway

Olympic playoffs > NHL regular season.
NHL playoffs > the moon landing.

Agreed. The reason these games today were awesome is that it was one and done and everyone was playing for their lives. NHL regular season games are meaningless in comparison. You can't tell me you were on the edge of your seat for the final games of the preliminary round. As for the big ice surface, how many teams have been sitting back and letting the offense make turnovers, using the big ice surface to slow the game down.

NHL Playoffs are a better comparison, and I think I might have to go with NHL playoffs because they are 7 game series rather than one and out.

NHL playoffs > the moon landing.

:thumbu:

Akiberg > the moon landing

P.S. actually over the milkyway

Pffft! Aki>manned mission to Mars :biglaugh:

NHL games have been far more entertaining to watch.

Cheburashka > all :D

I would take an Anaheim - Phoenix afternoon game after both were eliminated from the playoffs over what I was subjected to today and in this tournament.

I would take an Anaheim - Phoenix afternoon game after both were eliminated from the playoffs over what I was subjected to today and in this tournament.

And you are sure you don't need medical care? :help:

And you are sure you don't need medical care? :help:


Sorry, this brand of hockey just doesn't excite me. I dislike the large majority of those involved and those I don't dislike I don't care about. Therefore I can't find a real reason to root for any of them.

I guess if Sweden had to win I'd hope Axelsson scored the game winner. But in the end I dislike Forsberg and most of that team more than I like P.J.

Finland? Koivu = Montreal Captain -- Don't want to see him win a game ever.

Russia - Where to start? Kovalev, hate him. Ovechkin, Kovalchuk - ditto.

I guess I dislike the Czech team less than the others, so if someone put a gun to my head I'd probably have to root for them.

Ultimately, it's just something to watch until the NHL starts up again.

I dislike the large majority of those involved
ehh? so you dislike the best players on the four best teams in the world? you are a true hockey fan indeed

I would take an Anaheim - Phoenix afternoon game after both were eliminated from the playoffs over what I was subjected to today and in this tournament.
Were you watching a re-run of the womens games?

Sorry, this brand of hockey just doesn't excite me. I dislike the large majority of those involved and those I don't dislike I don't care about. Therefore I can't find a real reason to root for any of them.

I guess if Sweden had to win I'd hope Axelsson scored the game winner. But in the end I dislike Forsberg and most of that team more than I like P.J.

Finland? Koivu = Montreal Captain -- Don't want to see him win a game ever.

Russia - Where to start? Kovalev, hate him. Ovechkin, Kovalchuk - ditto.

I guess I dislike the Czech team less than the others, so if someone put a gun to my head I'd probably have to root for them.

Ultimately, it's just something to watch until the NHL starts up again.

Wow, that's a lot of dislikes for one post. Are you sure you like hockey?

Personally, I love the Olympic playoffs just as much as I love NHL playoffs. I'll take NHL regular season over Olympic preliminaries any day of the week, but playoffs is a whole different story. I was on the edge of my seat for 5 straight hours today, as a hockey fan you can't ask for much more than that.

Im def a bigger fan of international hockey.

They should make a Earth Hockey League. Where teams for different conference ( north american conference, russian conference, scandinavian conference, european conference, etc) would play against each other and the top few from each conference would play each other for the world titles.

I can't wait till the NHL is back. This Tournament was boring for the most part.

Im def a bigger fan of international hockey.

They should make a Earth Hockey League. Where teams for different conference ( north american conference, russian conference, scandinavian conference, european conference, etc) would play against each other and the top few from each conference would play each other for the world titles.
All for it.

I can't wait till the NHL is back. This Tournament was boring for the most part.

I agree. I was not impressed at all with this tournament. I thought the majority of games were boring.

Usually, international hockey has its own charm and I love it for different reasons than the NHL, but this one hasn't done it for me so far. That may change in the next couple of days though if the remaining teams put on a good show (and stop trapping?).

I can't wait till the NHL is back. This Tournament was boring for the most part.

Yes it was. Up until the quarterfinals. Now it's going be Game 7 every single game as far as I'm concerned. Three more GREAT hockey games ahead of us :yo:

I hope everyone understands what I am going to say..

Most of you know that I like watching hockey players play the world level, that I have defended the NHL participation in the Olympics, heck, I'm even an admin an International Hockey forum....The intensity here is almost unmatched

That said, I will say that I do not like the big-ice hockey (with the 100 feet wide rink). There is simply just too much space and I saw seeing more trapping play here than I have in the entire NHL season to date...However, I do think that the NHL size (85 feet wide) is too small. I think that using the compromise used in the Finnish leagues (~94 feet) or maybe slightly less would be the way to go, for both the NHL and the IIHF.

Additionally I think that the game has gotten too fast for only 1 ref, there should be 2 refs, and I do hope this is something the IIHF will consider along with all the rule changes they are bringing in for the 2006-07 season.

I didn't much care for the games this year. I only watched the Canada games, so I can't comment on how the others were to watch, but I found there was a ton of trapping. It really wasn't very exciting. You would think that a trapping game would play into the hands of the teams that have the most NHLer's but that wasn't the case. Too often Canada couldn't figure out how to penetrate the zone and keep pressure on.

I would love to see the NHL move to Olympic size surfaces, however. There may have been trapping, but there would have been much more on a smaller sheet of ice. On the big ice you have to be able to skate to trap effectively.

As far as it being better than the NHL, keep in mind these are the best players in the world playing on a handful of teams. In the NHL, you get to watch AO with nobody and Sid with pretty much nobody and Sundin with nobody, etc. Here they have more players to complement their abilities. It's great to watch and it really brings out national pride, but I prefer the style of play the NHL has bee utilizing this year over the way the Olympic games were played this year.

Of course I'd also like to see NHL rules when it comes to fighting and such, so that running a goalie is not as easy.

That said, I will say that I do not like the big-ice hockey (with the 100 feet wide rink). There is simply just too much space and I saw seeing more trapping play here than I have in the entire NHL season to date...However, I do think that the NHL size (85 feet wide) is too small. I think that using the compromise used in the Finnish leagues (~94 feet) or maybe slightly less would be the way to go, for both the NHL and the IIHF.

Additionally I think that the game has gotten too fast for only 1 ref, there should be 2 refs, and I do hope this is something the IIHF will consider along with all the rule changes they are bringing in for the 2006-07 season.

There actually isn't a standard size in the Finnish league. Some arenas are bigger (TPS +/- Olympic size) some almost NHL (HIFK, Blues)..

Valid points though.

The trap isn't the super weapon it is made out to be.

I don't see why there is such an uproar about it. It only works if the other team goes into the game unprepaired and unwilling to pick up the pace. Every riddle can be solved, the trap too. There are ways around/through the trap and all a team has to do is use the right tactics.

As you have more space, overcoming the trap is - believe it or not - easier on the big ice.

The trap isn't the super weapon it is made out to be.

I don't see why there is such an uproar about it. It only works if the other team goes into the game unprepaired and unwilling to pick up the pace. Every riddle can be solved, the trap too. There are ways around/through the trap and all a team has to do is use the right tactics.

As you have more space, overcoming the trap is - believe it or not - easier on the big ice.

Of course teams can overcome the trap. They do quite often. The problem is that playing the trap slows things down in the neutral zone. That equates to a less exciting game because players aren't able to fly in from the neutral zone as easily as in a non-trapping game.

NHL bigger than the Oly´s.... I Don´t think so....
BTW Didn´t sound like that The night before USA-CAN in 2002.

Now all we got to do is dump the Canada Cup (WC I know) It has outlived it´s time, "everybody" gets along, so no need for "Goodwill Games" like tournaments

I can't wait till the NHL is back. This Tournament was boring for the most part.
Second that.

Now all we got to do is dump the Canada Cup (WC I know) It has outlived it´s time, "everybody" gets along, so no need for "Goodwill Games" like tournaments

Can't agree with this. It's good to have World Cup,
as it is played in smaller rinks, NHL rules etc.
It's one side of the same coin of a Best-of-the-best
tournament, if OGs is the other. Plus we don't get to
see these tournaments too often anyways.

Of course teams can overcome the trap. They do quite often. The problem is that playing the trap slows things down in the neutral zone. That equates to a less exciting game because players aren't able to fly in from the neutral zone as easily as in a non-trapping game.


I can understand that.
Though I personally think it's just as entertaining to watch a team work to outplay the other. Even if that takes some of the speed out of the game and takes a bit longer.

Do all-star game teams use the trap ?

Does it make the game exciting ?

NHL bigger than the Oly´s.... I Don´t think so....
BTW Didn´t sound like that The night before USA-CAN in 2002.

Now all we got to do is dump the Canada Cup (WC I know) It has outlived it´s time, "everybody" gets along, so no need for "Goodwill Games" like tournaments

the only thing the olympics have bigger than the nhl is there rinks. in the nhl you see teams play together. what makes the oylimpics suck is that the team that can gel the fastest in 6-8 games have the best chance to win. if the olympics hade a 2 month tornament[which i know is impossible] than and only than you would see the best hockey in the world played as all teams would get adjusted with each other.

I can't wait until Europe finally starts their own International Hockey League, brings home their players and realizes they can't continue to be farmed on their best players by NHL for coffee money.

Do all-star game teams use the trap ?

Does it make the game exciting ?

If a team is faced by a better skilled opponent, I'd rather they use the trap than loose 10 - 0.
In that instance, the trap makes the game more exciting, because the less talented team can try and balance their short comings with a good gameplan and hard work which makes the game less one-sided and in that way more exciting.

I couldn't stand watching the Americans trying to play on the bigger ice. They looked pretty lost out there. Most of the Europeans played on the bigger ice before entering the NHL, so they were more used to it. I would have to get used to the bigger ice surface for me to get into the games. Don't get me wrong, I love international hockey, I watched most of the World Cup, but Olympic hockey just didn't do much for me.

Do all-star game teams use the trap ?

Does it make the game exciting ?

All-star game = exciting :biglaugh:



People are judging are tourney that is still going on why? The best is yet to come...

All-star game = exciting :biglaugh:My point exactly : it's not exciting despite being all-offense.

My point exactly : it's not exciting despite being all-offense.

Ok, i misunderstood. :)

Thought you were saying that the Olympics are like the all-star game.

Wow, that's a lot of dislikes for one post. Are you sure you like hockey?

Personally, I love the Olympic playoffs just as much as I love NHL playoffs. I'll take NHL regular season over Olympic preliminaries any day of the week, but playoffs is a whole different story. I was on the edge of my seat for 5 straight hours today, as a hockey fan you can't ask for much more than that.


I didn't even scratch the surface of who I dislike in that post.

I like NHL hockey, not the dull, void of contact, call everything garbage that we've had to endure over the past 2 weeks. (which sadly, is what the NHL is evolving toward)

I do not like watching guys who refuse to play hard for a paycheck in the NHL going all out in the Olympics. Just as many don't like the laissez faire attitude that some the NA players seem to have toward the Olympics. Which is another reason why the pros shouldn't be there.

I agree that its great and the ice size has something to do with it. The main reason I think that its better is that teams haven't had the chance to be over-coached. Sure the Finns can have a system but it seems more like natural hockey to me rather than having players and teams that are picked apart to death.

Were you watching a re-run of the womens games?

No but I did enjoy the toughness of the women's game in comparison the what the men have shown.

ehh? so you dislike the best players on the four best teams in the world? you are a true hockey fan indeed


Dislike is putting it mildly.

Aside from P.J. Axelsson, none of them play for a team that I care about or have anything invested in.

And the majority of them play for teams that I spend most of the time rooting against.

I just cant understand fans putting aside their feelings about players that they root against for 3 years and then rooting for them for 2 weeks.

I am assuming you are a fan of Sweden. If a Czech player cheap shots your favorite player tomorrow and injures him badly, will you find it easy or difficult to root for the Czech team in the finals?

Will you care who wins at all if Sweden in eliminated?

I can't wait until Europe finally starts their own International Hockey League, brings home their players and realizes they can't continue to be farmed on their best players by NHL for coffee money.

Fan base. Hockey is not nearly popular enough in most European countries right now that they could fill rinks with fans who are willing to pay top dollar for these stars on a consistant basis. Therefore the stars of Europe will continue to come to the NHL for the big $. And who can blame them? Hockey is by far the number 1 winter sport in Canada, not so in most European countries. In Canada, and many parts of the USA, the arena's are full to capacity with fans throughout the 80+ game season. That's where the money to pay these hockey stars comes from.

Do they stay in Europe and make a decent living, or make the NHL and be a millionaire. I know where I'd be going ;)

The only games that have been boring were the ones involving Canada or non-top-7 teams in the prelims. Canada could not skate and could not score, thats why it was boring and could not break the trap. In the other games there was plenty of action, and it was the best players in the world going head to head - you can't beat that.. If you watched Russia's games, 5 of 6 have been fantastic to watch (the exception being the 1-0 against Kaz).

I really don't think we'd be talking about this if US/Canada did not have such an inept outing. Other top teams playing against each have been great to watch. The argument just amounts to "my team can't play well in the Olympics (ice too big, not enough time to gel, bla-bla-blah)". So what - every competition in which US/Canada for some reason is not doing well should be abolished?

The only games that have been boring were the ones involving Canada or non-top-7 teams in the prelims. Canada could not skate and could not score, thats why it was boring and could not break the trap. In the other games there was plenty of action, and it was the best players in the world going head to head - you can't beat that.. If you watched Russia's games, 5 of 6 have been fantastic to watch (the exception being the 1-0 against Kaz).

I really don't think we'd be talking about this if US/Canada did not have such an inept outing. Other top teams playing against each have been great to watch. The argument just amounts to "my team can't play well in the Olympics (ice too big, not enough time to gel, bla-bla-blah)". So what - every competition in which US/Canada for some reason is not doing well should be abolished?

Conversely every competition where Europeans excel is the greatest event in the history of sport?

I don't want Olympic hockey abolished, and I haven't seen much of that talk here but they should be changed. The participation of the pros does nothing for me, personally. I enjoyed it much more when it was an amateur tournament, even when some amteurs could be considered professionals.

The game just isn't all that exciting to some of us. I watched the U.S. and Finland yesterday and was bored to tears. Finland's passive style and the U.S. team's difficulty generating any flow was awful to watch.

Are there stretches where Olympic hockey is good? Probably, but those stretches have been few and far between in the 6 or 7 games that I've watched.

The only games that have been boring were the ones involving Canada or non-top-7 teams in the prelims. Canada could not skate and could not score, thats why it was boring and could not break the trap. In the other games there was plenty of action, and it was the best players in the world going head to head - you can't beat that.. If you watched Russia's games, 5 of 6 have been fantastic to watch (the exception being the 1-0 against Kaz).

I really don't think we'd be talking about this if US/Canada did not have such an inept outing. Other top teams playing against each have been great to watch. The argument just amounts to "my team can't play well in the Olympics (ice too big, not enough time to gel, bla-bla-blah)". So what - every competition in which US/Canada for some reason is not doing well should be abolished?

I don't think you've been reading any of the threads over the past 18 hours. There has been a mere handful of fans complaining in any way about the Olympics. If you chose to focus your attention on the minority then you're mistaken about the overall attitude.
Your apparent anti-North American attitude, BTW, has also been in the minority. The majority of fans have been gracious in their team's victory and in their team's defeat.

Give me the NHL over the Olympics anyday. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed watching the hockey so far but I'd rather see my favorite NHL team win the Stanley Cup then Canada win a gold medal.

I didn't even scratch the surface of who I dislike in that post.

I like NHL hockey, not the dull, void of contact, call everything garbage that we've had to endure over the past 2 weeks. (which sadly, is what the NHL is evolving toward)

I do not like watching guys who refuse to play hard for a paycheck in the NHL going all out in the Olympics. Just as many don't like the laissez faire attitude that some the NA players seem to have toward the Olympics. Which is another reason why the pros shouldn't be there.

Not a healthy attitude there, mate. :jump: :help:

Not a healthy attitude there, mate. :jump: :help:


Funny, but that is the same thing fans of NHL teams say about some European NHL'ers.

I found the Olympic hockey very boring so far. Mind you I have mostly seen Canada's games.

It was nothing but trap, trap, trap. It was like watching the NHL 2 years ago.

Dislike is putting it mildly. Aside from P.J. Axelsson, none of them play for a team that I care about or have anything invested in.

And the majority of them play for teams that I spend most of the time rooting against. I just cant understand fans putting aside their feelings about players that they root against for 3 years and then rooting for them for 2 weeks.

I am assuming you are a fan of Sweden. If a Czech player cheap shots your favorite player tomorrow and injures him badly, will you find it easy or difficult to root for the Czech team in the finals? Will you care who wins at all if Sweden is eliminated?
IF the Czech Republic advance to the final, i would still watch and enjoy the game of hockey. Without cheering for any team. Just as I don´t really care who wins the Stanley Cup, but doesn´t stop me from watching 3-4 NHL-games per week. Basically some games are bad and some games are good, in the Olympics and in the NHL.

As for injuring any favourite player, none of these guys play for my favourite swedish team, I wish they did though. However I can understand that northamerican fans are upset when their NHL-players return injured.

Give me the NHL over the Olympics anyday. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed watching the hockey so far but I'd rather see my favorite NHL team win the Stanley Cup then Canada win a gold medal.

Tuggy made a good point here.

As a Finn, I'd take the olympic gold over an other trophy any day. As an Ässät of Pori fan, I'd take them winning the Finnish hockey league, over Finland silver medal at WC any day...

I found the Olympic hockey very boring so far. Mind you I have mostly seen Canada's games.

It was nothing but trap, trap, trap. It was like watching the NHL 2 years ago.

I have watched most games, and if you judge the tournament by Canadas games, I can understand you. But there have been several well played, fast paced games so far.

NHL games have been far more entertaining to watch.

I do love Olympic hockey, but I agree that this time around the games haven't been as good as we've seen in the past. For all sorts of reasons, the travel, the lack of practice time, the hectic schedule right off the bat, the rules adjustments, the play for some teams has been out of sync. While not terrible, the Olympic games certainly haven't been as eventful as the last month of Bruins games.

It depends what kind of hockey you like. I prefer the NHL because of the added physicality involved. If open ice and finesse plays are more up your alley, then you'd prefer the olympics.

Olympic playoffs > NHL regular season.
NHL playoffs > the moon landing.

My thoughts exactly.

Olympic hockey is a few round robin games, some against dreadful teams, and one game elimination.

If you had an 82 game schedule, there is no chance in hell of seeing the same hockey played in 2 weeks that you would see from October to April. There wouldn't be as much desperation.

I have watched most games, and if you judge the tournament by Canadas games, I can understand you. But there have been several well played, fast paced games so far.

Indeed. Some of the best games so far include Russia vs Slovakia, Russia vs. U.S.A, Czech vs. Swiss, Finland vs. U.S.A, Canada vs. Swiss