The Official Olympic Hockey Thread

[columbia]

St. Louis in for Duchene today.

[pcm]

The coaching was terrible. Putting OV and Malkin together shows Bilbaetivitov doesn't understand either player's game. They're like fire and water.

The Finns won because they come into each game with a strategy to win. Their coaching is one of the best in the tournament. The Russians played without any obvious game plan (stretch passes?). They don't play as a team not because "Russians are selfish and lazy", but because they didn't have a cohesive strategy.

[owtahear]

I don't think Malkin was worth going off on, but I wouldn't say he was good. He didn't screw up, so comparatively he was great.

I only caught a little of the rant today, but on the drive home yesterday Madden was referring to Malkin as an "immature child" saying that he shows the maturity of someone of 17 as opposed to 27. Even I, who is a known Malkin detractor, was surprised by the "ferocity" of Maddens attack.

Yeah......I totally agree with you. Now Madden is attacking him on Twitter. Look, I was a proponent of trading Malkin (or Letang) to get a more balanced roster, clear cap space, and have a deeper less one dimensional team. Madden would call people like me "idiots"! for even thinking this.

Now the ******* is going off. The entire Russian team was bad. Malkin and Ovi was like Oil and Water. Just no complimentary players. Perhaps James Neal should have changed his name to Januz Nealikov and played RW on Geno's line.

But Madden's rants against Geno reek of the fact that Geno must have blown him off once ala Jerome Bettis and now Madden is making it his life's work to humiliate him.

[shmenguin]

I thought the narrative was that Soviets jumped to the NHL mostly for money - that they were hired guns. Didn't really care about NHL championships. And I thought that was extrapolated to a number of "soff euros" from other countries.

Now that KHL money can be better they are heading back Russia. Again, just following the $$.

When guys like Fetisov, Kasatonov, Mogilny, etc were defecting to play in North America, they were jeopardizing their lives and potentially the lives of their families. I don't think money alone is a strong enough motivator for that kind of risk. The people that braved climbing the Berlin Wall weren't looking for a better 9-5er. It was not just a simple matter of walking across the border; every time a player left a Soviet-bloc country to play in the NHL, it was a minor international incident. Sometimes, like with Petr Nedved, it was a fairly major one.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia is still a pretty massive crap hole. But now that it's comparatively easier to get out of Russia, you don't see guys risking life and limb to leave. Geno notwithstanding, they can just.... go. And they do. Sure, there will be guys who go back and follow the money, as you say. But that doesn't change what I think is the fundamental narrative at the core of Russia's hockey woes.

it boils down to the fact that the russians aren't as talented as the US or canada and don't play a tight system like the finns. you have to rely on one or the other to win this tournament.

i don't think nationalism or pride or whatever really comes into the picture. they just aren't that good (relatively speaking).

[owtahear]

All of the Geno stuff, when are people in the hockey world going to start to recognize just how good Olli Matta is, and will be? He is fantastic. Just a fantastic talent and I would take him over Letang 10 over 10 times. He just has a complete, mature game and is only 19 years old.

[Gaucho]

Following the money is what pros do.

If thats [solely] the case why aren't more top level players going over there? Wasn't Malkin offered like a kabillion oligarch rubles to play there?

Yeah, but the median salaries aren't nearly as high as in the NHL.

[pcm]

If the US or Canada played without a system, they'd get embarassed too. It's not talent as much as coaching.

[Tico Rick]

I don't think Malkin was worth going off on, but I wouldn't say he was good. He didn't screw up, so comparatively he was great.

I only caught a little of the rant today, but on the drive home yesterday Madden was referring to Malkin as an "immature child" saying that he shows the maturity of someone of 17 as opposed to 27. Even I, who is a known Malkin detractor, was surprised by the "ferocity" of Maddens attack.

So Madden is lecturing someone about maturity? lol

[the riddler]

I don't think Malkin was worth going off on, but I wouldn't say he was good. He didn't screw up, so comparatively he was great.

I only caught a little of the rant today, but on the drive home yesterday Madden was referring to Malkin as an "immature child" saying that he shows the maturity of someone of 17 as opposed to 27. Even I, who is a known Malkin detractor, was surprised by the "ferocity" of Maddens attack.

So Madden is lecturing someone about maturity? lol

Yea, the first thing I saw when I looked at his twitter account was retweets of pictures of porn stars.

[Crankshaft]

If you took Mark Madden's name/tag from his comments on twitter, you could mistake them for someone posting on the PR side of the board.

[mac5155]

I don't think Malkin was worth going off on, but I wouldn't say he was good. He didn't screw up, so comparatively he was great.

I only caught a little of the rant today, but on the drive home yesterday Madden was referring to Malkin as an "immature child" saying that he shows the maturity of someone of 17 as opposed to 27. Even I, who is a known Malkin detractor, was surprised by the "ferocity" of Maddens attack.

So Madden is lecturing someone about maturity? lol

Yea, the first thing I saw when I looked at his twitter account was retweets of pictures of porn stars.

Frankly I dont mind that. I can see the pix without having to follow them

[Tico Rick]

I thnk Barry Melrose nails it:
http://scores.espn.go.com/olympics/recap?gameId=1219
He says that Russia is as talented as any other team, but didn't play as a team. Not willing to go down to block shots, as the US does. US and Canada only care about winning - personal stats and TOI not important.

[penny lane]

Madden was just GOING OFF on Malkin on WDVE. He was ripping him apart on the drive home yesterday too.

Sid Crosby hasn't scored yet against Rask still... too.

[DelPen]

Russian coach questioning how Ovechkin only managed to score one goal.

[Crankshaft]

Here's hoping that this kills Ovi's confidence coming back to the NHL.

[shmenguin]

I thnk Barry Melrose nails it:
http://scores.espn.go.com/olympics/recap?gameId=1219
He says that Russia is as talented as any other team, but didn't play as a team. Not willing to go down to block shots, as the US does. US and Canada only care about winning - personal stats and TOI not important.

how are they even nearly as talented as canada?

[tifosi77]

it boils down to the fact that the russians aren't as talented as the US or canada and don't play a tight system like the finns. you have to rely on one or the other to win this tournament.

i don't think nationalism or pride or whatever really comes into the picture. they just aren't that good (relatively speaking).

I would disagree (strongly) with the assertion that Russia isn't as talented as the U.S. or Canada.

And you don't think nationalism/pride comes into the picture when Russia is on their home ice, and the president of the country had a hand in selecting your coach and is on record saying that hockey is the only medal that matters.... and they put up that stinkbomb of a tournament....... I mean, good grief, man..... it's everything.

Okay, not 'everything'. But it's a BFD.

[columbia]

I wonder if Putin drew up that PP.

[llipgh2]

This is from Rossi, so take it with a grain of salt:

"Told there was heated friction between Malkin/Ovechkin and the Russian coaches. Subjects were KHL bias, lines and situational usage."

[PensFanInDC]

Here's hoping that this kills Ovi's confidence coming back to the NHL.

Worried about Malkin too

[DelPen]

Here's hoping that this kills Ovi's confidence coming back to the NHL.

Worried about Malkin too

Malkin will be fine. This would piss him off more than deflate him.

[Dickie Dunn]

This is from Rossi, so take it with a grain of salt:

"Told there was heated friction between Malkin/Ovechkin and the Russian coaches. Subjects were KHL bias, lines and situational usage."

I know it seems crazy, but I tend to trust Rossi when it comes to Malkin. He's pretty close with him.

[shmenguin]

I think, in May, this experience will have no lasting impact either way on his performance

[DelPen]

I think, in May, this experience will have no lasting impact either way on his performance

Getting swept by Toronto will do that to you

[Tico Rick]

Well at least Geno will be healthy and rested going into the last leg of the season.