Guest Crymson Report post Posted February 17, 2008 On Coaches Corner, Don Cherry suggested the reason the Leafs were so bad was that they have practically no drafted Canadians on the team. Don Cherry is the ultimate hockey racist. The joke has been made that should Mr. Cherry ever be made commissioner of the NHL, his first act would be to ban all non-Canadian players from the league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 I agree to an extent with Don. I would love more grit and toughness which generally comes from NORTH AMERICAN (I'm Canadian but I see no difference between Canadian and American players...) players rather than Europeans. I don't mind European players who are here for goal scoring but when it comes to the bottom 6 I'd much rather see it filled out with hard nosed North American players rather than Franzen, Samuelsson, Hudler, Kopecky. You can call Don Cherry a racist all you want but when a European shows true signs of toughness, he'll give them their due (Koivu, Sundin, etc.). He is as old school as you can get and he calls it how it is. Don Cherry also talked poorly about Steve Downie and his actions and willingness to fight with a visor on... Downie is Canadian by the way.. so it goes both ways Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Also, yeah another thing... Fans can relate to North American heroes so much easier than Europeans Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Also, yeah another thing... Fans can relate to North American heroes so much easier than Europeans Um, what? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) Overall I'm not gonna argue with the fact that more Canadians are necessary. Not because they're Canadian as such but because the kind of players that we need, passionate, physical and hard-nosed, are usually Canadian. We don't have anyone who can set the team on fire on a regular basis with a big hit or a fight. But yeah, I still don't agree with a lot of what you have to say. So, HA! I worry about the future of this team when I don't see the Canadian youth that teams like Edmonton, Philidelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa. It actually just really struck me tonight. The youth on this team is not nearly as promising as many, many others. We have no Ganger, Cogliano, Letang, Vermette, Jeff Carter, Dion Phaneuf, everyone that has come up recently has been young flashy Europeans. That makes for great regular seasons and some flashy play - but obviously something on the Wings in the last 6 years hasn't worked. I can't wait till Emmerton, Quincey, and Pyett make the team for good in a couple of years. It will be nice to see some young fresh Canadian faces. Um, a big reason for that is that Detroit hasn't sucked any of the past 6 years. Also, with good European scouting it's easier to find diamonds in the rough than in Canada or the US where hockey is continuously examined up close and the promising young players are well known from a very young age. I would never say Canadian players are more talented than Europeans or American's but it always seems like Canadian boys have that extra gear that some other guys don't. In Canada you are bred on hockey. Boys and even girls now a days have 9 month winters were all they do is go to the rink and dream about winning the Stanley Cup - I just don't think thats as much of a dream for many European players. It sounds cliche, but I really think passion has something to do with it, and the Canadian passion for winning the Cup has always seemed stronger then players from other countries, they grow up with that drive. I agree. But this is changing, very quickly. We're not there yet, but soon, the dream among young hockey players in Europe won't be to play in the NHL, it will be to win the Cup. But still, it wasn't until Lidström won the Olympic gold that he was universally accepted in Sweden really. Internationals are much more important here. What was it that Don said? the last handful of Cup teams have all had 15 or more Canadians on their team? Its a brand of hockey these guys play thats more rugged than the European style, a brand that gets them through 4 grueling rounds of playoffs. Agreed. But then again, most NHL teams don't really bring Europeans over for that anyway. And as for the percentage of Canadian players in the league? I actually think that serves as a message to how important Hockey is to Canada, a much smaller nation then Russia or the United States - yet still produces the majority of the NHLers. Um, sure. But then Canada also has 540'000 players registered compared to Russia's 77'000, Czech Republic's 83'000 and Sweden's 67'000. Not gonna argue with the US thing because they have 435'000 registered. Oh and about how important hockey is in Canada, that's very true. You're aware that Russia is quite fair at a lot of other sports, the Czech Republic's national soccer team is ranked 6th in the world and Sweden has qualified to 6 consecutive European and World championships in football. So I don't buy this at all. Edited February 17, 2008 by SweWings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) I want players that can help the Red Wings win. I couldn't care less if they are American, Canadian, Czech, Portugese, Nigerian, Moroccan, Kenyan, Japanese, etc. etc. Edited February 17, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 On Coaches Corner, Don Cherry suggested the reason the Leafs were so bad was that they have practically no drafted Canadians on the team. He cited that the teams that won recently have had Canadians numbering in the high teens and said that if you want to win a cup you draft Canadians. Now we all know Don is a bit xenophobic and I think we can all agree that a better team isn't contingent on the country of origin of the players. Yet his point that Canadian kids grow up dreaming of the Stanley Cup more so then European players could have weight to it. Do Canadians play harder in the playoffs then others? Should we look to aquire Canadian players at the deadline? Personally I say more sweedes please! A bit? Ramblings of Don Cherry mean absolutely nothing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 I think we need more toughness, which usually associates with North American players. Unfortunately, Canadians don't always equal toughness, as we've found out with the last few deadline deals. I also think more North Americans would make it easier for fans to associate with the personalities on the team. As for Don Cherry, he's a ******* racist, so I don't condone anything he says for the reasons he says it. Why then are you repeating such stupid things. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Are you not getting it? Christ...i said you have to have some core players being Canadians. I specifically made it a point to say they dont ALL HAVE TO BE CANADIAN. For Christ sake, this is a stupid discussion. Like Europeans aren't as motivated as Canadians. Now we are going to debate how many Canadians you need. And do Americans count also? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The only reason a heavily European team has never won a cup is because there arent as many Euros as there are Canadians. Obviously if you have a higher number of Canadians, you are gonna have a higer number of players who are better overall. That being said, I would like to see more Canadians on the team, because its easier to associate with them, IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The funny thing is...most Canadians and Americans are European by blood.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The only reason a heavily European team has never won a cup is because there arent as many Euros as there are Canadians. Obviously if you have a higher number of Canadians, you are gonna have a higer number of players who are better overall. That being said, I would like to see more Canadians on the team, because its easier to associate with them, IMO. There are a higher percentage of Canadian players in the NHL therefore the odds of teams with Canadians winning the cup is much higher. DUH! I can't believe that when a team gets to the playoffs, that the Europeans on the team are not as passionate about winning as the Canadians. To insinuate this is just plain ignorant. I will buy the fact that there are more good players that are Canadian because there are more Canadian players. But to make a leap from that fact to "we need more Canadians on our team" - well, that is just unbelievable I will agree that IN GENERAL the Canadian style of play is more physical but nobody in their right mind is going to pick players based on such generalities. I'm all for adding Joe Thorton to our roster but that isn't going to happen. We could use a guy like him but frankly, I just as happy with a big tough Russian kid like Alexandar Ovechkin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 There are a higher percentage of Canadian players in the NHL therefore the odds of teams with Canadians winning the cup is much higher. DUH! I can't believe that when a team gets to the playoffs, that the Europeans on the team are not as passionate about winning as the Canadians. To insinuate this is just plain ignorant. I will buy the fact that there are more good players that are Canadian because there are more Canadian players. But to make a leap from that fact to "we need more Canadians on our team" - well, that is just unbelievable I will agree that IN GENERAL the Canadian style of play is more physical but nobody in their right mind is going to pick players based on such generalities. I'm all for adding Joe Thorton to our roster but that isn't going to happen. We could use a guy like him but frankly, I just as happy with a big tough Russian kid like Alexandar Ovechkin. Just one more thing to add. How does Sid the Kid fit in. He's Canadian but he doesn't fit the mold. He's not big and tough and he's highly skilled. Is it ok to have Canadians that aren't big? What about #99? I guess it isn't all black and white and generalities. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 thought the Russians allowed us to win a cup or two? I always enjoyed the Russian 5 and such... but oh well. canadians might do the same exciting puck action. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grittzkey 1 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 We need less Swede's..Im sick of soft players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaKineMaui 8 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 To win The Cup? Yes. More. Do any of the Canadians in here really give a s*** about Nascar Cup or the Soccer thing trophy or the or the Rugby Championship or the etc etc etc......... I didn't grow up pretending to hoist that Wimbledon plate over my head after I won a match. I dunno. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 #99 played most of his career in a different era of the game where skill mattered most...Since the mid 90's the playoffs seem to reward those teams with more grit, dump/chase, defensive minded styles...Of course every team needs skill players (Euro, or N.American), but in todays NHL success is based on a blend of Euro skill with N.American grit in which we've seen with the past few Cup Champs. Carolina and Tampa were gritty teams? I don't watch alot of Eastern teams but I don't think of either of those cup winners as gritty but I know that they beat gritty Edmonton and Calgary teams. I agree that you need a combination of skill with "grit" but I don't agree that Canadian=grit and European=skill. That is just too much of a genralization. Here's something to think about. Look at the players that people on this board want us to pick up at the trade deadline. Sundin - Swede Hossa - Slovak Blake - Canadian Fedorov - Russian Now look at the top 10 players in the league (according to TSN) Zetterburg - Swede Ovechkin- Russian Lidstrom- Swede Heatly - Canadain Alfredsson - Swede Iginla - Canadian Datsyuk - Russian LeClaire - Canadian Crosby - Canadian Spezza - Canadian Only 5 of the top 10 are Canadian and only 1 of the top 5. The times have changed and guys like Don Cherry have been left behind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 The times have changed and guys like Don Cherry have been left behind. Pleaaassseeee. Don hasnt been left behind. The guy has been the same his entire life, and every Canadian I've ever met loves him. People hate the guy because he LOVES HIS COUNTRY, and call him a racist because of it. Well, I love Canada too, and I too believe that there the best. Are you American? Dont you believe that Americans are the best? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kp-Wings 3 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) nevermind Edited February 17, 2008 by Kp-Wings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 This is why I think the Wings would benefit from getting Stoll, Vermette, or Blake at the deadline... Although on Satellite Hotstove last night, Al Strachan claimed that Blake had stated he did not want to leave, and if he did - get this - he wanted to go to Anaheim . f***. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Not obligated but wouldn't mind having a big monster canadien player tho Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Izzy24 44 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 We need less Swede's..Im sick of soft players. Apparently you've never seen Lilja play. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Not obligated but wouldn't mind having a big monster canadien player tho Cory Cross. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 Cory Cross. Wanna know why we lost to Edmonton? It wasnt Mannys fault, CROSS NEVER PLAYED! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dallas27 7 Report post Posted February 17, 2008 I have not seen one eh after a sentence in a thread about Canadians. Unacceptable...eh? I'm half Canadian so I'm not ripping on them, when I have a few brews in me I probably say it at least 5 times in one sentence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
