[CityofBrotherlyShove]

I hate seeing the NHL stop down for 2 weeks in the middle of the season. I understand that it's an honor to play for your country, but these guys have a job, and when that gets interrupted and put at risk, something needs to change.

Now that we're past the Cold War and all countries are fairly represented in the NHL, I think it's time to put amateurs back on the ice in the Olympics. The NHL argues that it's good exposure for the sport, but I disagree. It's probably safe to say that no Olympic hockey game in the future will ever create as much excitement in the US as the Miracle on Ice did in 1980. And yet, still hockey struggles.

If Gary Bettman wants to attract more fans to the NHL, taking a 2 week hiatus to let the league's top players risk injury cramming 8 games into 11 days isn't the way to do it.

[Lefty Noob]

I agree. I've always been in favor of using amateurs in the Olympics, for hockey or any other sport. Yes, the pros are probably better individual players, but amateurs are hungrier and more coachable. Thus, the overall quality of the game is better. Remember, that Miracle on Ice team beat a Soviet squad that pounded an NHL All-Star team, because they were willing to change their style of play and because they played a team game.

[ThePundit]

4 years ago, I couldn't even root for the US. The reason? There were no Islanders and a bunch of Rangers on the team. I just couldn't root for Brian Leetch and Mike Richter. I just couldn't!! I was actually rooting for Russia because Alexi Yashin and Oleg Kvasha were on the team. This year with Rick DiPietro, Jason Blake and Mark Parrish on the USA, at least I can root for my own country.

But that aside, it would be so much better to have college players train together for 6 months and gel as a team than it is to have a bunch of NHL All-Stars thrown together at the last second. There is much more potential for drama and Cinderella stories with amateurs.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

"I just couldn't root for Brian Leetch and Mike Richter. I just couldn't!!"

You're definitely not alone. My loyalty to the Flyers is much stronger than my loyalty to the US, which is somewhat sad, I know. But I went to Flyers games before I even knew what the Olympics were. So for me to just turn off my hatred of the Red Wings, Devils, and Rangers so I can cheer for my own country - well, it's not going to happen.

[EmpireWF]

The Hockey in the Olympics will be more competitive than the stupid World Baseball Classic, but that's a whole different matter.

I have no real beef with having the pro's in the Olympics. The two week break for the NHL is annoying as I'm really into this season but I guess it's only once every four years, we can deal with it.

[blueandwhite]

I think it would suck not to have the NHLers, big time. I tune in to watch them play a different kind of hockey-Olympic hockey, not NHL hockey. It's some kind of challenge for them to switch gears. Plus when my team's majorly disappointing me this year, I get to switch gears myself and watch the guys win the gold instead. I can't be the only one who needs this.

[rmjvol]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, blackandblue. Which Leafs are in Torino?

Ross

[blueandwhite]

McCabe (for Canada), Sundin and back up goalie Telqvist (Swedish), Berg (Finland - I think he's there -he was injured a week ago and iffy) and Kaberle (Czech).
I know how it's hard, not being able to turn off the hatred for team members - how could I like Brodeur during the season when he's a Devil? But look over there, he's our goalie. Ditto any Senator. Gotta shrug and wave the flag.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

Originally Posted by blueandwhite

McCabe (for Canada), Sundin and back up goalie Telqvist (Swedish), Berg (Finland - I think he's there -he was injured a week ago and iffy) and Kaberle (Czech).
I know how it's hard, not being able to turn off the hatred for team members - how could I like Brodeur during the season when he's a Devil? But look over there, he's our goalie. Ditto any Senator. Gotta shrug and wave the flag.

We'll see for sure when I watch my first Olympic hockey game, but I think my first thought will be to pray that Forsberg doesn't worsen any of his many injuries. My second thought will be, "Even in red, white, and blue, I still abhor Scott Gomez."

Once a Devil, always a Devil, even if you are American.

Sidebar:
McCabe is having a monster year. My boyfriend's got him on his fantasy team, and I'm so wishing I had gotten to him first.

[blueandwhite]

McCabe deserves this. He's great.
Watching hockey at the Olympics gives me a chance to see Sundin play for his country - I feel torn, at times. Go Canada, but a tiny warm spot for Sweden.

[ThePundit]

As an Islander fan, seeing how good McCabe is painful. Mad Mike Milbury traded McCabe and Todd Bertuzzi for Trevor Linden...Maybe the Red Sox trading Babe Ruth to the Yankees was a worse trade.

[blueandwhite]

McCabe's always been fun to have (using his butt to take a guy out, making the can opener his own) but this is the year he has totally come into his own. Believe me, the Leafs gave away more stars then they ever held on to.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

BandW, how was Lindros looked thus far this year? Despite all the crap that went down with him in Philly, I still wish him success - just not against the Flyers.

[blueandwhite]

Lindros hurt his wrist back in late Oct/November, and hasn't been back on the ice since. Lots of speculation about surgery, would it be needed?, finally decided about 3 weeks ago, no, it'll heal on its own. Still no idea when he'll come back. he was kind of leading the team when Sundin got a puck in the face first game of the season and was gone for weeks, but since that until his wrist screwed up, he was pretty much a bit expensive pair of skates.
Thing is, I like him. It was nice to see someone want to play for the Leafs as bad as he did (mogilny surfed out on the biggest cheque available) and he's a big proud Canadian, but you can't help but feel he's never been what he was supposed to be.

[CityofBrotherlyShove]

It's certainly fair to say Lindros never becamse what many thought he would, but I don't think it's a lack of talent or anything. Watching Lindros his first few years in Philly, he was just electric. I've still never seen anything like it. Every time he touched the ice, he made something happen. He was great with the puck and he threw his body around relentlessly.

Then came the concussion problems, followed by questions about his ability to lead the team as a Captain, followed by questions about his parents' roles in his life, followed by more concussion problems, followed by the collapsed lung incident in which his parents claimed Bob Clarke tried to kill Eric by making him board a plane, followed by whispers about his teammates resenting him.

It was a nightmare as a Philly fan, and while most moron Flyers fans believe anything they're told and regard Lindros as a joke, I still can't ever forget those years in the beginning...when he won the Hart, when he carried the Flyers to the playoffs for the first time in the 90s on his back. He was a fantastic player to watch and it's a shame he never got to be as good as he could have been.