FlashyG

Losing today to the US wasn't much of a blow to Russia at all. It was a round robin game that mattered only in regards to seeding. Putin attended the game because it was the only game of any consequence in Russia's pool. He'll likely be at all their medal round games and I'd be shocked if he wasn't there for the gold medal game if Russia makes it there. In terms of dislike for a country you are absolutely right about Russian's feelings about the USA, but if you asked them which hockey team they hated more the US or Canada, Russian fans would vote overwhelmingly Canada as would their players. Even the US players would almost certainly say Canada is their biggest rival. You're also right that Russia and Canada's rivalry has been somewhat dormant for a while and the comparison to the Leafs is a good one, but the Wings and Leafs are far bigger rivals than the Wings and Penguins are, and Russia USA isn't even on that level since they've never met in a championship game before. Historically speaking there are several bigger rivalries in international hockey than US vs Russia. I doubt it would make the top 5. If you're looking for more recent Olympic rivals for the 3 teams, you'd still have trouble making a case either Canada or USA has had much of a rivalry with Russia. Both have faced them just once in an elimination game with both winning, US 3-2 in Salt Lake City, and Canada 7-3 in Vancouver. In the 4 NHL Olympics Russia's biggest rival would probably be the Czech Republic who they've faced 3 times in elimination games including 2 medal games or Finland who they've faced in elimination games twice. As far as Canada and USA are concerned their biggest recent rivals are each other considering their 2 gold medal games.

Nobody is saying that the US can't become a rival to Russia in sports or in hockey specifically. Just that right now there really isn't much of a rivalry to speak of. Today was the first time in Olympic history that the US has ever beaten Russia outside of North America. Russia historically has had their way with the US while their games with Canada have been far more competitive. Basically its like you arguing that the Nashville Predators are/were bigger rivals to the Wings than the Chicago Blackhawks. It has a lot to do with the Summit Series, but its not just an older generation thing, I wasn't born when the Summit Series happened, and Canada has had many more big games vs the US recently but if you asked me who Canada's biggest rival in hockey is, its unquestionably Russia. Its more due to the fact that historically they are head and shoulders the best two hockey nations in the world. The US are on the right track though and their development of players is probably the best in the world right now, I'm not sure they'll ever surpass either as a rival but if they keep progressing like they are they could, and will certainly make a stronger case by winning a best on best tournament. You're probably best to try to get them on TV. CBC and NBC aren't producing highlight packages for the Web because they both have the full game available for viewing. I haven't seen NBC's format, but with CBC's you can use the timeline on the bottom to skip to goals, penalties and other flagged moments throughout the game.

There are so many things wrong here its stunning. 1 - if they are injured that seriously they would just stay on LTIR until their contracts were up and that last buyout could be used on Tootoo who continues to cost the team money while having no chance of playing any time soon. 2 - If a player is injured they CANNOT be bought out. 3 - There is no situation where buying out either of those players makes sense. 4 - letting them retire is better for the team financially than buying out either one. 5 - there is no indication that either player is injured seriously enough that their careers are in jeopardy.

I don't recall Russia every being much of a power in Short or Long track speed skating although they've improved greatly at both in anticipation of these games at home. Until this Olympics Russia had a total of 1 medal in Skeleton, Russia also only has one female figure skater who has ever won an Olympic singles Medal. When it comes to sports I don't think Russia has many western rivals, even with Canada the only real rivalry is in Hockey. I see your point that in general Russia and the USA don't get along, but in the terms of sporting rivalry, and specifically hockey, Russia/USA doesn't begin to compare to Russia/Canada.

USA is Russia's biggest rival in many things, but not when it comes to Hockey. I'm pretty sure they hate Canada far more than the US.

Looks like the only chance there is of a rematch of todays game is either an overtime game between Canada and Finland tomorrow or as a gold medal game.

Its odd being on the receiving end of Datsyuk isn't it?

Regardless of who each team has played is there really any point in debating which team has looked better at this point? Lets just enjoy a great hockey game today and hope that we get to see that question answered with a gold medal on the line.

Datsyuk is looking night and day better today than he has since coming back from injury. I'm less worried about the Wings surviving without Zetterberg for a while if this is the Datsyuk we're getting back from Sochi.

Watching this game makes me like the changes they made to the Womens tournament even more. They put the top 4 teams in one pool and the bottom 4 in the other with all 4 of the top pool moving on to the next round with 2 getting byes and the other 2 facing the top 2 of the weaker pool. I'd love to see a round robin with any combination of Russia, USA, Canada, Finland, and Sweden with less lopsided games vs the weaker teams in the tournament. This game is what Olympic hockey is all about.

That's going to go over well here. I actually hope the US wins, I want Datsyuk done as soon as possible so we don't lose him too.

I think pretty much every game in the entire tournament will have a Canadian involved in the official crew. 12 of the 28 officials are Canadian, with 5 American's, 3 Germans, 2 Czech, 2 Finns, 1 Russian, 1 Swede 1 Slovakian and 1 from Belarus.

I thought Slovakia looked surprisingly bad as well, but if I understand the format of this tournament I think both teams will end up playing in the qualification round and I wouldn't be willing to bet on either. Only 4 teams don't play in the qualification round and Sweden has already locked up one of those spots, the Winner of todays game between Russia and the US will take another and Sunday's game between Canada and Finland will decide another with the 4th being decided by goal differential.

Next season the cap is projected to be at 71.1 Million, higher than it was when the lockout happened. Source The cap rises based on revenue the league makes, and this season the league still has to account for the revenue from the Stadium series, the heritage classic, the winter classic then next season the 5.2 billion in that TV deal starts inflating revenue further. Estimates are that that salary cap will reach 80 million by 2016/17 and 100 million by the end of that TV deal in 2022 Retiring If Franzen were to retire today it would cost the Wings 1.03 Million a season for 6 seasons. If Zetteberg were to retire today it would cost the Wings 1.01 Million a season for 7 seasons. 2.04 million wouldn't have much of an impact at all on the Wings even in the worst case scenario. We could only compliance buyout one, and the other would have to be straight bought out and that buyout would cost us more than the recapture penalties from letting both retire. Hypothetically here is the cost for a straight buyout of either player. Johan Franzen buyout from CapGeek.com 2014-15: -$73,232 2015-16: -$73,232 2016-17: $1,426,768 2017-18: $2,926,768 2018-19: $3,926,768 2019-20: $3,926,768 2020-21: $972,222 2021-22: $972,222 2022-23: $972,222 2023-24: $972,222 2024-25: $972,222 2025-26: $972,222 Henrik Zetterberg buyout from CapGeek.com 2014-15: $242,857 2015-16: $242,857 2016-17: $242,857 2017-18: $742,857 2018-19: $4,392,857 2019-20: $6,742,857 2020-21: $6,742,857 2021-22: $1,659,524 2022-23: $1,659,524 2023-24: $1,659,524 2024-25: $1,659,524 2025-26: $1,659,524 2026-27: $1,659,524 2027-28: $1,659,524

There is no such thing as a cap problem anymore. The new Canadian TV deal all but assures the cap will be skyrocket over the next couple of seasons. Even with the recapture penalties we'd face if both retired there would be ample cap room to sign even the most expensive players available. The only person with any potential to be bought out whatsoever is Tootoo.

I'm not sure if you're able to watch it streaming or how NBC does their streaming service but on CBC's site you can load the stream and restart it at the beginning so you'll still see the whole game you'll just be a period behind. If you're not in Canada the instructions for connecting to CBC from another country are posted in the schedule thread

This is probably a better place to put this info than the Olympic thread where it got buried after todays games. If you want access to CBC's live streams, or their archived streams of every event in the entire games here is how you can access it outside the US. I've only tested it with Google Chrome, but I'm sure the proxy server works with any other browser, you just need to find the place to enter the settings. Here is how you connect with Chrome. Also the link in the OP is actually to CBC's website you need to follow another link to get to the actual Olympic coverage. Here is the CBC Olympic Website

If this is against the rules hopefully a Mod will delete it and I'll share it via PM, but if you are outside of Canada and would like to take advantage of CBC's webcast here is how you can get around the Geo blocking. For those that aren't familiar with CBC's web coverage of the games you can select any event from any point in the games and watch it in its entirety. To access it you'll need to first connect to a proxy server in Canada (this one here was working when I tested it just now) IP - 199.185.61.1 Port - 8081 connecting to a proxy server is different depending on which browser you're using here is how you get to those settings in the most popular browsers Firefox - Tools > Options > Advanced > Settings > Manual proxy configuration Google Chrome - Options > Under the hood > Network > Change proxy settings > LAN settings > Use a proxy server > Advanced > HTTP - If you're running the newest version of Chrome, go to Settings, then at the bottom click "show advanced settings" > Change proxy settings > LAN settings > Use a proxy server > Advanced > HTTP - Then enter the IP and Port addresses and delete the numbers under "Secure" if there are any. Internet Explorer: Tools > Internet options > Connections > LAN settings > Use a proxy server > Advanced > HTTP. I've only tested it with Chrome and it worked great. Hopefully that helps my American friends who are busy during the day keep up with the games. (I can't help with the Beer Fridge unfortunately.)

Howards is my favorite of the American goalies masks. but Hiller's and Smiths are my favorites overall.

Don't Push me will be in my head for days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G76eadv6ZM&feature=player_embedded I posted one in the Flames vs Nucks thread but I thought with there being a 2nd one that it was worthy of its own thread.

I can't take credit for making that. I could do the video editing, but that autotune work is fantastic and beyond my abilities.

I think the way it works is that the team gets credit for a shutout but neither goalie does. Howard gets the W though because he was in net when Abdelkader scored to make it 1-0

The Re-mix

That's a problem for 3 years from now, not right now. Chances are only 2 of the 4 will turn out to be ready for the NHL at that point anyways and if we want 3 of them we can always waive Kindl or Smith at that point to make room for them. Dekeyser is taller than Kronwall, but their weight is identical. Kronwall is the more physical of the 2 by far, he has far more hits, takes fewer hits and blocks more shots, so I'm not sure how you've come to the conclusion that Dekeyser is better positionally. Kronwall is unquestionably the best defenceman on the team.

But Kronwall is also defending the oppositions top line while Dekeyser is out against weaker opposition. Dekeyser is a better skater than Kronwall but outside of that I can't think of anything else he does better than him