I love the "Europeans don't care" debate.
Aren't the red wings the proof that this myth is completely ridiculous?
- Pecafan Fan

I love the "Europeans don't care" debate.
Aren't the red wings the proof that this myth is completely ridiculous?
- Pecafan Fan

First of all, whatever gains the red Wings have made for the cause of Euros in hockey has been negated by the career of Alex Kovalev.

Secondly, when it comes to European power forwards, perhaps the problem is not so much that they don't care, but that they don't play with that chip on their shoulder.

Is it really so controversial to say that Europeans don't typically play with the same grit as North Americans?

I believe that Canadians are the best hockey players in the world. We are the absolute best hockey nation, thanks in no small part to the style of game we play.

It's pretty sad that it's now considered "racist" to display a preference towards your countrymen.

First of all, whatever gains the red Wings have made for the cause of Euros in hockey has been negated by the career of Alex Kovalev.

Secondly, when it comes to European power forwards, perhaps the problem is not so much that they don't care, but that they don't play with that chip on their shoulder.

Is it really so controversial to say that Europeans don't typically play with the same grit as North Americans?

I believe that Canadians are the best hockey players in the world. We are the absolute best hockey nation, thanks in no small part to the style of game we play.

It's pretty sad that it's now considered "racist" to display a preference towards your countrymen.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Who said it was racist?

Edit:

For the record, I despise Kovalev.

First of all, whatever gains the red Wings have made for the cause of Euros in hockey has been negated by the career of Alex Kovalev.

Secondly, when it comes to European power forwards, perhaps the problem is not so much that they don't care, but that they don't play with that chip on their shoulder.

Is it really so controversial to say that Europeans don't typically play with the same grit as North Americans?

I believe that Canadians are the best hockey players in the world. We are the absolute best hockey nation, thanks in no small part to the style of game we play.

It's pretty sad that it's now considered "racist" to display a preference towards your countrymen.
- Leeman4Gilmour

two of the last four cup champs were captained by european players

two of the last four cup champs were captained by european players
- Dozzer

RACIST!

First of all, whatever gains the red Wings have made for the cause of Euros in hockey has been negated by the career of Alex Kovalev.

Secondly, when it comes to European power forwards, perhaps the problem is not so much that they don't care, but that they don't play with that chip on their shoulder.

Is it really so controversial to say that Europeans don't typically play with the same grit as North Americans?

I believe that Canadians are the best hockey players in the world. We are the absolute best hockey nation, thanks in no small part to the style of game we play.

It's pretty sad that it's now considered "racist" to display a preference towards your countrymen.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Okay Don

two of the last four cup champs were captained by european players
- Dozzer

Wait...

Zdeno Chara isn't Canadian?

That must be some kind of mistake....

Wait...

Zdeno Chara isn't Canadian?

That must be some kind of mistake....
- Pecafan Fan

And he doesn't play the "canadian type game"..... needs to play with a chip on his shoulder, rough and tumble........

For the record, I despise Kovalev.
- Pecafan Fan

I'll just go ahead and call bs on this one.

RACIST!
- Pecafan Fan

Wait...

Zdeno Chara isn't Canadian?

That must be some kind of mistake....
- Pecafan Fan

he is as canadian as the last 20 guys to win the boston marathon

he is as canadian as the last 37 guys to win the boston marathon
- Dozzer

Fixed

First of all, whatever gains the red Wings have made for the cause of Euros in hockey has been negated by the career of Alex Kovalev.

Secondly, when it comes to European power forwards, perhaps the problem is not so much that they don't care, but that they don't play with that chip on their shoulder.

Is it really so controversial to say that Europeans don't typically play with the same grit as North Americans?

I believe that Canadians are the best hockey players in the world. We are the absolute best hockey nation, thanks in no small part to the style of game we play.

It's pretty sad that it's now considered "racist" to display a preference towards your countrymen.
- Leeman4Gilmour

This gap is being closely closed by the americans and european players yearly, and soon enough it wont exist at all. Especially if they (europeans) are choosing to come to NA and progress their skill playing our style of game and in our leagues rather than remaining in Europe in their leagues. I dont believe this is the reason why the bridge is being gapped so closely now though, hockey like everything else goes in cycles, but as the rest of the world gets more serious and more involved with hockey, especially the USA, and they are, at some point there will be no gap at all, if we dont in fact fall behind at some point.

Fixed
- faceto27

lol sorry i guessed.. and wait.. you mean 38 years ago a canadian won the boston marathon?!

lol sorry i guessed.. and wait.. you mean 38 years ago a canadian won the boston marathon?!
- Dozzer

Jerome Drayton

This gap is being closely closed by the americans and european players yearly, and soon enough it wont exist at all. Especially if they (europeans) are choosing to come to NA and progress their skill playing our style of game and in our leagues rather than remaining in Europe in their leagues. I dont believe this is the reason why the bridge is being gapped so closely now though, hockey like everything else goes in cycles, but as the rest of the world gets more serious and more involved with hockey, especially the USA, and they are, at some point there will be no gap at all, if we dont in fact fall behind at some point.
- shinebox

Europeans don't have enough children to continue to be a hockey super power.

Americans will probably fill the gap, as they still have the highest birthrates in the western world (of the established hockey nations).

You can already start to see the gains in NCAA hockey and the products of the US development system.

I don't buy this European explosion for a second. And even if they do close the gap, it will be because, as you said, "they (europeans) are choosing to come to NA and progress their skill playing our style of game."

That seems to imply some superiority of Canadians over the rest of the world when it comes to hockey.

Europeans don't have enough children to continue to be a hockey super power.

Americans will probably fill the gap, as they still have the highest birthrates in the western world (of the established hockey nations).

You can already start to see the gains in NCAA hockey and the products of the US development system.

I don't buy this European explosion for a second. And even if they do close the gap, it will be because, as you said, "they (europeans) are choosing to come to NA and progress their skill playing our style of game."

That seems to imply some superiority of Canadians over the rest of the world when it comes to hockey.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Surely you jest

two of the last four cup champs were captained by european players
- Dozzer

And, even just counting since Europeans started to play in North America in large numbers (after the fall of the USSR), that leaves what? 18 teams who weren't?

Again, I don't see how a European player captaining a cup winning team (composed mostly of Canadians, anyway) somehow negates any and all preference one can have for his countrymen.

Is it going to be considered oh-so-brutish to openly cheer for your country at the Olympics one day?

Surely you jest
- faceto27

You can look up birthrates quite easily on Google. You have the internet, right?

Demographics always carry the day.

Europeans don't have enough children to continue to be a hockey super power.

Americans will probably fill the gap, as they still have the highest birthrates in the western world (of the established hockey nations).

You can already start to see the gains in NCAA hockey and the products of the US development system.

I don't buy this European explosion for a second. And even if they do close the gap, it will be because, as you said, "they (europeans) are choosing to come to NA and progress their skill playing our style of game."

That seems to imply some superiority of Canadians over the rest of the world when it comes to hockey.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Are you on glue? Serious question?

You can look up birthrates quite easily on Google. You have the internet, right?

Demographics always carry the day.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Sure, now check out the populations of hockey playing countries in Europe and then look at Canada's population. Birthrate is about as useful to your argument as +/- and PPG is on a daily basis. Pointless.

You can look up birthrates quite easily on Google. You have the internet, right?

Demographics always carry the day.
- Leeman4Gilmour

Okay....... Canada 11.3 births per 1000

I'll just list one here to refute your theory

Russia...... 11.8 births per 1000


Should I list the rest of Europe too for your very very flawed theory??

Are you on glue? Serious question?
- shinebox

Can't believe that he actually would challenge me to look that up

Mind = Blown