SweWings

As much as I love what's happening in the foreground of that picture - just look at Vernon .

And hopefully we can all agree with this .

For the Olympics the pressure is definitely on Canada, no matter how much media, players etc. try to understate it. Home-ice, small rinks, dream-team. Impressive thing is that Canada is the team that is famous for not buckling under that kind of pressure. It's going to be a fun tournament.

Some may cling to past successes and won't admit any faults within their teams. And some, like a friend of mine, who hasn't lived in Toronto for 6-7 years but is still a rabid and passionate fan will freely and easily admit that his team is s***. He'd still rather watch the Leafs get their ass kicked than some other team playing magnificent hockey. For some hockey is religion, and whereas some like you say are fanatical, others, and I would say most, are quite pragmatic about it - it still boils down to that they'd rather watch THEIR team than any other.

He probably isn't senile but if you don't think he's a bit mental just based on observing his fashion sense and behavior then something is wrong with your senses.

You're joking right? In Sweden when they show highlights from games on tv or write articles in the news covering the NHL then they always cover some accomplishment made by a Swede. For example if Bäckström assists on one of Ovechkin's goals in a game where he scores a hattrick then the headline to that article will be "Bäckström the reason for Ovechkin's success." Yeah I'm exaggerating but to be surprised at this kind of bias is strange.

Hudler wanted to be one of the key players and I guess he didn't feel he got that feeling from Detroit this summer. Which is too bad because he would've gotten big minutes this season had he been around.

Thing is, if Howard's next 28 games are like his first 28 then it will be very very hard to argue against him winning the Calder. He'll most likely get more wins as well and I really don't see how Osgood right now will start stealing starts from Howard. So if Howard keeps it up, Detroit makes the playoffs then I really think the Calder is his. But goalies are tricky to predict, so anything can happen.

Oh ok. Well, then I guess I agree with you a lil bit. =/

Hudler will likely want some guarantee that he'll get a more or less permanent top-6 spot to return.

That's not exactly a singular opinion you know. Kind of like saying Ovechkin is a good goalscorer or that Brodeur is a good goalie.

I don't know about the pancakes on his head, maybe a suit made out of pancakes with pure, untainted, hardcore, CANADIAN, maple syrup...

Yeah but there's an immediate flaw in your argument. Yes, the prospects might TURN INTO great players but they aren't yet. The pressure and expectations placed on players are higher on Canadians at the age of 15,16,17 than on European equivalents. The best prospects at that age are pretty much already professionals. The attendance figures for the Memorial Cup is insane for in terms of Swedish equivalents.

Junior sports aren't that big in Europe, not nearly on the same level as in the US or Canada. Phenomenon like college basketball or football don't exist. Junior sport is the realm of parents and diehards, at least in Sweden. When there's a big championship like the Worlds or maybe some kind of national final then more people watch but otherwise it's not really that relevant.

Meh. It's still funny.

I bet the guy feels good about this.

How sad for you. Czechoslovakia hasn't existed since 1992, kind of a big deal. Oh and I'm not arguing against Canada's 2nd team at all, they would most likely be able to beat any team in the Olympics - on a good day even Canada's 1st team.

Considering you're mentioning a country that doesn't exist anymore I don't believe I'll take your post seriously.

See my profile pic. That's my wall. A friend of mine painted it because I have no skills in that are whatsoever.

Now this is an impressive milestone. Yay us!

Is this even possible? Seriously, how can it be possible for a team to get this many injuries?

Since when does Ribeiro play for the Red Wings? In all seriousness though I hope he gets better and I'm glad it wasn't more serious. (I AM NOT BEING SARCASTIC)

I get why this guy is getting picked but I really doubt it will be a wide margin. And if either Ovie or Gaborik score 55ish goals and end up within 5 points of Thornton then they're going to be ahead. Goals count for so much more. Hart: Ryan Miller because I don't see a clear enough leader in points right now. Lady Byng: Brad Richards. Vezina: Ryan Miller is quite simply the man right now. Calder: If Tuukka Rask gets a lot more games to finish the season and keeps the same kinds of stats I'll go with him. Howard suffers from being Howard unfortunately. I just can't rank him that highly. Otherwise Tavares/Del Zotto/Bergfors. It'll depend on total points/total goals ratio as usual. Norris: Duncan Keith because I prefer him to most of the other choices in the top 5 point-scoring defencemen. Jack Adams: Dave Tippett (As long as the Coyotes stay in a playoff spot and esp. if they stay within the top-4) Selke: I have no idea.

I don't really see who else they could've picked. In terms of attitude he really is the most important guy in Washington. His English isn't great but journalist love him and while he sometimes says random things to media he won't be completely inappropriate. If anything this will perhaps make him develop other sides both on and off the ice.

Yeah. Oodles of space.