Sochi 2014

[DaBoltsNIsles]

not official, but groups should be:
- CZE, SWE, SUI, LAT
- FIN, CAN, NOR, AUT
- RUS, SVK, USA, SLO

big disappointment for Denmark
and funny that Slovenia and Slovakia are in the same group. I want Bob Cole to announce that game.

If those are the groups, I think they should make some changes. Canada would have the easiest group imaginable.

 

[puckhead]

If those are the groups, I think they should make some changes. Canada would have the easiest group imaginable.

It's not random. Based on IIHF ranking.
Btw canada is ranked 5th, and Finland 2nd

USA ranked 7th, so they join two other decent teams for a group of death scenario

 

[TiLoBrown]

How does the IIHF get its rankings?

 

[puckhead]

How does the IIHF get its rankings?

Let me wiki that for you IIHF World Ranking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's basically based on the results of the last four world championships and the last olympics. Which sucks because the world championship is played at a time when the North American teams can't send their top players

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Let me wiki that for you IIHF World Ranking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's basically based on the results of the last four world championships and the last olympics. Which sucks because the world championship is played at a time when the North American teams can't send their top players

Do you think it affects it that much for the top countries? Depending on which teams are still in the playoffs of course, there's a good chance that some of the top Russian, Finnish, Swedish, and Czech players might not be playing in the World's either.

 

[puckhead]

Do you think it affects it that much for the top countries? Depending on which teams are still in the playoffs of course, there's a good chance that some of the top Russian, Finnish, Swedish, and Czech players might not be playing in the World's either.

Yes, it does affect all team to a certain extent. I think canada and the USA more than the rest.
Let's put it this way... The most prolific Canadian in the tourney over the past decade has been Ryan Smyth

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Yes, it does affect all team to a certain extent. I think canada and the USA more than the rest.
Let's put it this way... The most prolific Canadian in the tourney over the past decade has been Ryan Smyth

Al Montoya was in goal for the US a year or 2 ago I believe.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

There were 22 Russians in the NHL last season.

You could take ANY 22 Canadian players out of the mix and the team would still be very competitive. The problem for Canada, in particular, is that there are 361 players in the NHL. The lineup for the worlds for Canada usually has to go 100+ places deep.

Other teams have less of a problem in this regard.

Sweden 48
Czech 35
Russia 22
Finland 19
Slovakia 10


The only team that feels the sting anywhere close to Canada is the US who had 154 players in the NHL.

 

[awaz]

got a lot more excited for this over the weekend while i was watching rugby (on NBC, lots of olympic ads)

why was i watching rugby you might ask? i couldn't stop. i put it on to try to figure out the rules just so i would know. it's actually kinda complex to figure out and by then i just couldnt stop. what a strange sport.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

got a lot more excited for this over the weekend while i was watching rugby (on NBC, lots of olympic ads)

why was i watching rugby you might ask? i couldn't stop. i put it on to try to figure out the rules just so i would know. it's actually kinda complex to figure out and by then i just couldnt stop. what a strange sport.

I have a lot of respect for Rugby players. Those guys get beat up every game. It can be brutal.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

got a lot more excited for this over the weekend while i was watching rugby (on NBC, lots of olympic ads)

why was i watching rugby you might ask? i couldn't stop. i put it on to try to figure out the rules just so i would know. it's actually kinda complex to figure out and by then i just couldnt stop. what a strange sport.

Watching the USA 7s tournament?

I was watching it for a while yesterday too. Not sure why since I don't fully understand the rules. Just found it very fun.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Thinking ahead to the Games... Sweden is going to have one hell of a blueline next year.

Hedman - Karlsson
Ekman-Larsson - Edler
Enstrom - Kronwall
Larsson - Grossman

That is one pretty damn good top 8.

 

[dash]

Thinking ahead to the Games... Sweden is going to have one hell of a blueline next year.

Hedman - Karlsson
Ekman-Larsson - Edler
Enstrom - Kronwall
Larsson - Grossman

That is one pretty damn good top 8.

That might be enough to bring Tommy Salo out of retirement, Kenny...

 

[awaz]

I have a lot of respect for Rugby players. Those guys get beat up every game. It can be brutal.

ya i respect it too.. those guys get crushed soemtimes.. i was stunned to find out they only play two 7 minute, running clock, halves though.. that's a quick freakin game

Watching the USA 7s tournament?

I was watching it for a while yesterday too. Not sure why since I don't fully understand the rules. Just found it very fun.

yep.. i think its a really weird sport, the scrums and holding each other up on put ins is just awkward.. but it was just interesting to me i guess.. i watched like 4 games in a row haha

 

[KennyBanyeah]

ya i respect it too.. those guys get crushed soemtimes.. i was stunned to find out they only play two 7 minute, running clock, halves though.. that's a quick freakin game



yep.. i think its a really weird sport, the scrums and holding each other up on put ins is just awkward.. but it was just interesting to me i guess.. i watched like 4 games in a row haha

I've never watched this Rugby Sevens.. but traditional rugby is two 40 minute halves.