As the games go on so do the lemmings who think this Olympic hockey is the best there is… it isn’t.
For those that can’t remember when the NHL took their momentum break from playing 4 games a week… there were six teams (Flyers, Boston, Montreal, Tampa Bay, NY Rangers, and Atlanta) battling for three playoff spots in the EAST and a battle in the WEST with seven teams fighting it out.
Challenges during this break? Oh yes… what we’ve been treated to is even the most die-hard hockey fans has been challenged to find a live broadcast which got tougher and mostly baffling when being pre-empted by women’s curling. Great decision by the NHL to allow players in the Olympics? I think not.
The question I put out there weeks before the Olympic games began remains: Do you think the Pittsburgh Penguins could have
beaten most of (if not all) of these teams? If you think that then other than the “playing for my country hype” what makes these games so special.
The NHL season ticket-holders get the raw deal with a compacted schedule… but the NHL get’s screwed also since they have no control over the games starting times… or the television broadcasts. The executives at NBC make the decisions and decided to broadcast American women losing to Japanese women in (Curling) a sport that most everyone of us wouldn’t watch if giving the choice. Not what I would call great marketing of the sport (of hockey)… is Curling really a sport?
The games coming up in Sochi in 2014 will bring major problems to the NHL and decisions are going to have to be made now in regard to players like Malkin, Gonchar (although he may be too old), Ovechkin, Semin, etc….. and what to do about them if the NHL decides not to participate. It should get interesting.
Don’t get me wrong… when these teams get down to the final four they get interesting but it has nothing to do with the Stanley Cup and the
Stanley Cup is one heck of a bigger challenge than a 4 game shootout with players thrown together at the last moment.
It’s steps above the NHL’s All-Star game. I just don’t believe it’s that many steps above it especially when I finally get to watch a game (after theCurling is finished) where the opposing team puts 15 (soft) shots on goal in an entire game.
Some of you like this stuff… some of you are even “wowed” by it…. I won’t argue the drama but for me personally… I can’t wait for the real season and real hockey to get back.
NHL hockey is the best in the world.
Olympic hockey isn’t better… you can take NBC’s word for that.
This is DR HOOK… carry on
I realize NBC has dropped the ball with the pre-emted curling, just like it did with the Leno/Obrien thing, but these games are incredible, and yes the Penguins could maybe beat a few teams, but most teams in the NHL couldn’t.
here’s just a few things I want to say about these comments.
Let’s not blame NBC because your cable provider, I’m guessing Comcast moved MSNBC off basic cable. Verizon has the games and MSNBC in HD, not NBC’s fault. Blame Comcast.
I’m hoping Crosby and Malkin are Penguins players for life. Watching them play with the best talent available in the world in a real life want to win game (not a stupid all-star game) is incredible.
Here in Pittsburgh we’ve been blessed being able to watch our players play for the big one the last two years. Many fans across the country will never get to see their teams stars compete for the big one.
If you seriously think that there is one game this regular season that was one tenth as good as tonight russia vs. canada game your kidding yourself and may need to start wondering if you like the actual hockey better than your fantasy hockey leagues.
I like how the NHL sticks behind ovechkin even though he made a fool out of Bettman by saying he’s going to the games in 2014 whether the nhl allows him or not. It may be time for them to drop the ball on this 2 year old. Write about that.
I was just talked to someone about Ovechkin showing up Bettman – I don’t know how anyone who likes hockey could possibly not enjoy these games, but to each their own. I agree with Pronovost that ice dancing is not a sport, I also beleive that shuffle board while it is a sport, should not be an Olympic competition.
Where I disagree is whether the NHL should have it’s players play. If they are going to get the top talent from a around the world and keep it from going to the KHL they will need to let the players play in the Olympics.
I think where they made a big mistake was not allowing the GM’s to make moves during this time. I Imagine the trade hype and having to wait to see the new players would create huge fan antisipation for the league to start back up.
PS: Today is one of the best hockey none Penguin playoff days I could have ever imagined.
Did someone say they don’t enjoy ANY of these games?
The games when they get down to the last 4 or 5 teams are pretty good. My comment about NBC showing curling instead of hockey shows you how NBC perceives it whether you believe that, or not.
Whatever your comment is about fantasy hockey leagues maybe you should explain it in more depth. It appears my posting has made you just a tad, angry. That wasn’t my intent. I was just presenting my view on the Olympic hype.
I was only stating my opinion and it certainly wasn’t about fantacy hockey leagues nor comparing (let’s say for example) how you may have felt Norway playing against Germany might have been more entertaining the Game 7 Penguins vs. the Wings. It kind of come down to different opinions.
sorry, i mixed up your two articles, some of your quotes from your other olympic article: “You see IMHO this is a mostly overblown event” – “I already can’t wait for hockey to get back to hockey” – yes, there are a few dud teams in the Olympics, probably the same percentage as in the NHL – I can’t stand watching the boring devils & blujackets to name a few. At least when the teams that aren’t supposed to win in the Olympics put up a good fight or win it is a great game and means something.
The Olympics is the Canada Cup. That was one of my favorite tournaments of all time. The Canada-Russia game ended up a dud but wow was the Slovakia-Sweden game incredible.
As for the fantasy hockey, I read blogs all over the internet and noticed the only people that are mad about the olympics are the ones who play tons of fantasy hockey stuff. Do you or Pronovost do fantasy hockey? I bet you guys do.
Love is never having to say your sorry!
I’ve never denied that when you get down to the last 4 or 5 teams the games are good hockey. My comment has always been centered on how poor some of these country’s teams are. You might not like watching the “boring” NJ Devils but we Penguin fans are looking UP at them right now. Like it or not… it’s about winning. How “boring” is winning? NJ fans (when they are winning) laugh their asses off at opposing fans calling their games boring. They think it’s closely associated with whining.
You also suggest that you really like it when teams that aren’t supposed to win, win. From that comment I suspect you might be looking for a Finland/Slovakia final, eh. Would that ever throw a monkey wrench into the TV ratings as the only ones that would watch would be real hockey fans.
As for people who are “mad” at the Olympics all over the Internet… are there? Do you have some select blogs that point this out? I’d be interested in seeing what these other bloggers are saying.
In defense of Pronovost and myself I can only suggest this to you… under the assumption that you know nothing about either of us possibly you should save some of your backdoor (rather minor league) insults for those other blogs “all over the Internet”… my post very clearly presented my opinion that the Olympic hockey is over-hyped.
Now, in fairness, I can also accept that IYO they aren’t over-hyped as you have indicated that the Olympics and Canada Cup are your favorites of all time.
You haven’t convinced me they are better than the Stanley Cup but different opinions is what makes the world go around.
I’m guessing that’s why New Jersey sells our so many games. They didn’t even sell out their playoffs the last time they won a cup. Very exciting hockey. I noticed you didn’t mention Columbus.
i’ll just assume by the way your vehemently denying everything without anwering the question that you do the hockey fantasy thing.
The Olympics are better to me than the Stanley Cup games if the Penguins aren’t in it. Though I can’t remember what that’s like.
Medal on the Line I would definitely watch Finland vs. Slovokia. In my post on February 14 about the Predators I predicted Slovokia would win it all – they’re getting close.
There have been many times I haven’t bothered watching Stanley Cup games especially if I could care less about the teams playing. Hurricanes – Oilers watched the first game then i didn’t watch til the last two games, same with Devils vs the Ducks. I can only watch non skilled players play steiffling defense when Cup is on the line.
Jess – I have played Fantasy hockey for almost 20 years now, but I’m not sure what that has to do with anything. I don’t mind that the league has been shut down for 2 weeks so the players could compete for the countries instead of my fantasy team. The only real beef that I have with all of this is wondering how, in the long run, this is benefitting the league which is why they’re supposedly doing it in the first place. I actually get to see more hockey now than when the league is in play because my TV provider, DirecTV doesn’t carry Versus because of a dispute with Comcast (Comcast wants to charge DirecTV an exhorbitant fee to carry Versus unless DirecTV will let Comcast have the NFL Sunday Ticket, and we all know there’s a better chance of Texas Hold’em becoming an Olympic sport than that happening) DirecTV offers all of the channels that have been stuck carrying hockey games and even some others that most cable systems don’t carry. It’s just that in order for this work stoppage to benefit the league, the games need to be on the big boy network instead of Synchronized Swimming on ice and Ice Shuffleboard or even the X-Games
What I don’t understand is that the NHL (and the players)thought that shutting the league down for 2 weeks to play in the Olympics would bring greater exposure to the league and the sport. How exactly are they getting this greater exposure when most of the games are televised on MSNBC, a channel many people don’t get, aren’t shown in HD (The only way to watch hockey apart from live) and with many starting at midnight here on the East coast? When you’re getting pre-emted for curling and ice dancing (And don’t even get me started on whether this is a sport or not), what really was the point in shutting the league down?
Curling…… you get a chance to watch Liudmila Privivkova (Russia) or Claudia Toth (Australia) and you would choose to watch Sven Butenschon? Come on now!
As to the Olympics the games are just now getting interesting and I’m not counting last nights CAN/GRM game.
I have to agree with the NHL bailing on the Olympics in 2014. IMO they do nothing but hurt the league and the game times will be even worse from Russia. I suspected and maybe others did too that some players milked injuries and have recovered like Superman from a bad case of Kryptonite just in time for the Olympics.
The NHL risks a lot with very little to gain and as much as the hockey world gets on Bettman his job is to protect the investment. These Russians claiming they are going in 2014, no matter what. Go ahead. That includes Malkin too. Sit out the whole year.
The NHL has to regret ever making the decision to send players.
I’m glad the U.S. finally got smart and benched the choker John Shuster…… whoops I’m on the wrong web site! Boom– Boom– Boom
I thought it was interesting that these players who want that Olympic atmosphere don’t eat with their fellow countrymen claiming the food at the Olympic village is too bad for them. Hockey players are getting like the other (PRO) Olympians sports figures — one cut above the others.