Umm, IT IS A DEBATE! That's why there are comments allowed at the end of a post. A debate is where there are opposing sides to an issue and are discussed in such a manner. After reading a few of your posts now I have come to the conclusion that you don't realize what sites like this are all about. They are not meant for a "Superior Mind" in the eye of the author, to write a post and have everyone just agree and go, WOW, that makes so much sense. There is a comment section so that people can either agree with your point of view or disagree with it. You write "Opinion" pieces. That means they are your opinion and not based on any facts. If you wrote an article and said AO has score more goals that any other player in the NHL in the last 10 years; I haven't checked that, but I am pretty sure it's correct; then no one could disagree with you. To compare the value an athlete places on winning a Gold Medal at the Olympics or winning the Stanley Cup is insane because you would need the ability to know what goes on in someone's mind. I do not believe you possess such skills, but that is my opinion and I could be wrong. Please let me know if you do have those skills and I will retract my statement. To prove that you truly do possess those powers, "Tell me what I am thinking right now, as I write this!" By the way, I have never liked the idea of professional athletes from ANY sport being involved in the Olympics. The Olympics was always meant to be the best of amateur athletes competing for their countries. The IOC allowed professionals in because they knew the money they would draw to the games. If you would have used that as part of your argument for why AO shouldn't go, I would have backed you!
- temmer29

Dear inarticulate person who needs to learn about paragraph breaks,

just because people argue about things doesn't mean it's up for debate. People debate a lot of settled science - global warming, vaccinations, the earth being flat, etc - but that doesn't mean those topics are open for debate.

If the litmus test for what is debatable was whether or not people where going to debate it, we'd never settle anything.

If you think I am debating on how much people value something, you've completely missed the point I was making. I am saying that the difference between the Olympic hockey tournament and the NHL putting on the same tourny with the same players and teams is arbitrary.

Now maybe you don't know what "arbitrary" means. Or maybe you just feel like arguing. But the fact remains, it is arbitrary and that isn't debatable.

The Stanley Cup example was used. And if the NHL folded and next year there was a new league with all the same players and teams only instead of the Stanley Cup they played for the Random Trophy, it would still be the exact same thing.

All the history, tradition, and import put on to the actual Cup is nothing more than arbitrary BS. Sure, it's nice and I like it and I wouldn't want to change it or play for a new trophy, but my opinion doesn't change the facts.

Would you quit whining like a 7 year old girl about Trump? Nobody appreciates your political views. This is a hockey forum not The View. This crap was annoying in 2016.
- al3535

No one even brought up politics. Trump is a game show host, and he is incredibly crass. Those are facts. I used to live in a world where that would disqualify someone from running a country, and I now believe that even the most outlandishly stupid ideas are now possible.

Nothing here speaks to my political views, and if you're saying that, as a writer, I shouldn't draw relevant comparisons to society, then I have to say, you're being ridiculous.

I have actually been asked not to make these blogs political, and I have acquiesced despite my fear that this makes me a sell-out and a coward. However, if the President is so toxic that one can't even reference him, well that says more about him than I could ever say.

And, just so we're clear, I do not care one iota about what you think is appropriate for me to talk about, nor do I care what you think is annoying.

Ovechkin is a transcendent talent. Are you kidding me with this "he should respect the guys who have him a chance" nonsense? The NHL is lucky a guy with Ovi's talent exists. He doesn't owe the NHL anything.

I'm not a fan. Dude's a horrible singer.
- jmatchett383

On behalf of Canada:

Your mom.

The NHL can't hold the exact same tourney, that is the point. Nothing compares to the Olympics. You can say I am 5 all you want, but saying the Olympics is just some other tourney is ridiculous. Like someone else said, Olympics = World wide coverage, World Cup or any other NHL tournament = Only covered in North America with horrible publicity.
- LAkings96

You obviously never watched a single Canada Cup.

The greatest hockey the world has ever seen.

Something tells me that if OEL or Crosby was the one talking Olympics this article would have a totally different tone.



- Maskdman3

Ovechkin is one of my all-time favorite players. I would say that, generally speaking, I am more of an Ovechkin fan than a Crosby fan. In fact, I hate the damn Penguins.

I can assure you, for whatever it's worth, that this article would be the exact same no matter who the player was.

I am a huge Ovechkin fan, but on this topic, to me at least, he sounds idiotic.

What a random and idiotic comment. This has nothing to do with hockey and is wrong on every level. The Hip are a solid musical group that has released some great music over the years. If you ever saw them perform, you would only appreciate them that much more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWlJMu-TKXk
- temmer29

Whiff

On behalf of Canada:

Your mom.
- Atomic Wedgie

On behalf of me:

They still suck.

You obviously never watched a single Canada Cup.

The greatest hockey the world has ever seen.
- Atomic Wedgie

He's right though, it wasn't nearly as heavily covered outside of Canada as the Olympics.

Oh, your mom, or something witty.

Ovechkin is a transcendent talent. Are you kidding me with this "he should respect the guys who have him a chance" nonsense? The NHL is lucky a guy with Ovi's talent exists. He doesn't owe the NHL anything.
- Victoro311

NHL doesn't owe OV anything. He was well paid on & off the ice.

You obviously never watched a single Canada Cup.

The greatest hockey the world has ever seen.
- Atomic Wedgie

The '72 Canada Russia series was the best anyone ever saw.
Did you even see it or born yet?
My buddy & I worked one game here in Canada.
I'd bet very few if any here know the background to that 8 game series.

The '72 Canada Russia series was the best anyone ever saw.
Did you even see it or born yet?
My buddy & I worked one game here in Canada.
I'd bet very few if any here know the background to that 8 game series.
- Nighthawk

Born in '69.

On behalf of me:

They still suck.
- jmatchett383

On behalf of Canada:

You are thinking of your mom.

The '72 Canada Russia series was the best anyone ever saw.
Did you even see it or born yet?
My buddy & I worked one game here in Canada.
I'd bet very few if any here know the background to that 8 game series.
- Nighthawk

IMHO, 1972 had the highest emotion, but 1987 was the best hockey.

Canada's 1st powerplay:

Messier - Gretzky - Lemieux
Coffey - Bourque

But you have my attention, Hawksie.

Gimme your story about working the '72:series game.

Please and thank you.

NHL doesn't owe OV anything. He was well paid on & off the ice.
- Nighthawk

I'm not saying they do. I don't think either party owes each other anything. If Ovechkin wants to make a personal decision to miss ~9 games and not get paid for those 9 games and his owner is cool with it, it's within his right to make that personal decision. I don't think there's any sense of duty that should hold Ovi not to go. The NHL is lucky that a talent like his exists, and they've compensated him accordingly. I think all debts have been paid.

On behalf of Canada:

You are thinking of your mom.
- Atomic Wedgie

The socialist wit is astounding.

Still, they're not good to anyone outside of Canada.

"OMG, they sing about streets in Canada. I KNOW THAT STREET! They're sooooo good because they sing about Canada!!!"

IMHO, 1972 had the highest emotion, but 1987 was the best hockey.

Canada's 1st powerplay:

Messier - Gretzky - Lemieux
Coffey - Bourque

But you have my attention, Hawksie.

Gimme your story about working the '72:series game.

Please and thank you.
- Atomic Wedgie

For starters that was Canada's 1st international hockey of any kind in ages.
We boycotted all IIHF IOC sanctioned games when pros were declared ineligible to play but Russians were allowed. Perks were not considered as if a player was a pro or not so teams like the Red Army players had jobs & accommodations etc supplied. Alan Eagleson was the architect of the series. Canada stood still when the games moved to Russia & to this day nothing has come even close to that.

As for my story i made $35 for 3hrs working the 4-1 loss in Vancouver.
Highschool no classes were held while everyone & every tv was on to watch.

The socialist wit is astounding.

Still, they're not good to anyone outside of Canada.

"OMG, they sing about streets in Canada. I KNOW THAT STREET! They're sooooo good because they sing about Canada!!!"
- jmatchett383

Yeah, because 'Mericans are completely immune to blind patriotism.

Who won the Vietnam war?

For starters that was Canada's 1st international hockey of any kind in ages.
We boycotted all IIHF IOC sanctioned games when pros were declared ineligible to play but Russians were allowed. Perks were not considered as if a player was a pro or not so teams like the Red Army players had jobs & accommodations etc supplied. Alan Eagleson was the architect of the series. Canada stood still when the games moved to Russia & to this day nothing has come even close to that.
- Nighthawk

Oh, don't get me wrong, Hawksie, as a student of the game, I am fully aware of the cultural significance of 1972.

But the hockey wasn't nearly as good as 1987. Or even 1984.

And you still owe me a story.

Then Bob Dylan must be bottom of the barrel with nothing in it
- Nighthawk

I'm a big fan of Bob, he has a ton of good songs, but he also has a lot of albums with 1 or fewer decent songs on it.

I'm not saying they do. I don't think either party owes each other anything. If Ovechkin wants to make a personal decision to miss ~9 games and not get paid for those 9 games and his owner is cool with it, it's within his right to make that personal decision. I don't think there's any sense of duty that should hold Ovi not to go. The NHL is lucky that a talent like his exists, and they've compensated him accordingly. I think all debts have been paid.
- Victoro311

The Capitals r not within their right to break an NHL SPC.
Idgaf what OV wants its not all about him & its his problem.

Ovi is no more ridiculous then the NHL sending players for years and now saying they won't send players. Of course the NHL is no more ridiculous then the IOC which is a fairly detestable organization/crime syndicate. Which is of course is only slightly more ridiculous then having Donald Trump and his family syndicate in the White House. Which is all only slightly more ridiculous then Ilya Kovalchuck and his retirement/playing for Russia, returning to the NHL, not returning to the NHL, returning to the NHL, waiting to be a free agent and returning to the NHL but not until after playing in the Olympics this year soap opera... Which he may or may not be doing with Ovi. I blame Putin.... but that's me. It could all be #Fakenews. ALL OF IT BY THOUSANDS OF JOURNALIST is fake. Putin and Trump are real. Just saying. Because that's believable. And Science is fake. And clean air is fake. #Notonvacation@thegolfcourseresortinNewJersey.

James Tanner is however real.
- Queenie_5_hole

Ovi has the Oligarchs with sponroship type deals paying him big money to go to Olympics. Now if Trudeau could figure that out for Crosby as a NAFTA ploy then their defection would put the NHL into a tizzy. Mass defections ensue and lock out comes early

The above is a FAKE News Real News presentation.

I'm a big fan of Bob, he has a ton of good songs, but he also has a lot of albums with 1 or fewer decent songs on it.
- Blue Clam

Same here but still cannot sing lol

For starters that was Canada's 1st international hockey of any kind in ages.
We boycotted all IIHF IOC sanctioned games when pros were declared ineligible to play but Russians were allowed. Perks were not considered as if a player was a pro or not so teams like the Red Army players had jobs & accommodations etc supplied. Alan Eagleson was the architect of the series. Canada stood still when the games moved to Russia & to this day nothing has come even close to that.

As for my story i made $35 for 3hrs working the 4-1 loss in Vancouver.
Highschool no classes were held while everyone & every tv was on to watch.
- Nighthawk

And you West Coast bastards booed!

True Wedgie story:

My dad's friend had tix to the game at Maple Leaf Gardens. He didn't want to have to come home from his cottage "to watch Canada whip some commie bastards" so he sold the pair to my dad.

So of course after the first game he called my dad to ask for the tix back, but my dad told him he had already told my oldest brother he was going to the game, so no effing way.

Oh, don't get me wrong, Hawksie, as a student of the game, I am fully aware of the cultural significance of 1972.

But the hockey wasn't nearly as good as 1987. Or even 1984.

And you still owe me a story.
- Atomic Wedgie

Well the '72 Russian team had more superstars than any other series.
Bobby Clarke intentionally broke Kharlamovs leg.
No Rusian goalie has ever been better than Tretiak.
Thats just a few tidbits....