Michael Stuart: NHL Players Olympics Bound, Heavy Lightning Presence Expected

Is a heavy presence really a good thing?
So much can go wrong in a Tournament that doesn’t have a major impact right now for a Stanley Cup Team. What’s important defending the Cup or going to China to play a B level Tournament?

Is a heavy presence really a good thing?
So much can go wrong in a Tournament that doesn’t have a major impact right now for a Stanley Cup Team. What’s important defending the Cup or going to China to play a B level Tournament?
- Tee56

Ordinarily, I would probably agree. But I imagine that players, after back-to-back Stanley Cups, would probably love the opportunity to win a Gold for their country. Not to say the NHL season won't be a priority, but I have to think that Lightning players will be relatively hungrier for the Olympic win vs. another NHL win than other players who haven't had the recent NHL success.

Ordinarily, I would probably agree. But I imagine that players, after back-to-back Stanley Cups, would probably love the opportunity to win a Gold for their country. Not to say the NHL season won't be a priority, but I have to think that Lightning players will be relatively hungrier for the Olympic win vs. another NHL win than other players who haven't had the recent NHL success.
- Michael Stuart

Good point but there is a lot of wear and tear on the body that goes with this.

A lot of people still care about the Olympics apparently, so I won't poo poo it too hard.

Speaking for myself, I could care less about a patriotism competition that has no bearing on the NHL standings and could result in injuries that impede the Bolts ability to pursue a three-peat.

I'll sit here and quietly hope for some kind of big scandal that cancels the Olympics. That said, if the games go forward then I guess I wish them luck. I'll celebrate if they all come home free of injuries - I don't care where the medals end up.

A lot of people still care about the Olympics apparently, so I won't poo poo it too hard.

Speaking for myself, I could care less about a patriotism competition that has no bearing on the NHL standings and could result in injuries that impede the Bolts ability to pursue a three-peat.

I'll sit here and quietly hope for some kind of big scandal that cancels the Olympics. That said, if the games go forward then I guess I wish them luck. I'll celebrate if they all come home free of injuries - I don't care where the medals end up.
- GalacticStone

Absolutely love the competition once the outlier teams are eliminated! Great hockey!
Canada definitely the best team, look at the centers alone! D, USA definitely better

Absolutely love the competition once the outlier teams are eliminated! Great hockey!
Canada definitely the best team, look at the centers alone! D, USA definitely better
- Justbecause

Oh, I'll watch the games. I love watching all pro-level hockey. But, I'd rather see all of our boys come back intact sans injury and exhaustion, then come back banged up and tired with a load of worthless medals.

Oh, I'll watch the games. I love watching all pro-level hockey. But, I'd rather see all of our boys come back intact sans injury and exhaustion, then come back banged up and tired with a load of worthless medals.
- GalacticStone

Medals are absolutely not worthless to the players. The players not from North America grow up where olympics >Stanley cup

I’m super happy for the players. Can be hurt taking stairs at Amalie so that to me means meh.

Nhl schedule already horrific for players so also meh. Cooper finally stopped playing best players too many minutes up front. This season, some need a little load management. It’s the regular season.

Medals are absolutely not worthless to the players. The players not from North America grow up where olympics >Stanley cup

I’m super happy for the players. Can be hurt taking stairs at Amalie so that to me means meh.

Nhl schedule already horrific for players so also meh. Cooper finally stopped playing best players too many minutes up front. This season, some need a little load management. It’s the regular season.
- Justbecause

All of that is true. Allow me to throw some nuance and unasked-for personal takes on top.

I don't like Russia and China - it's a personal bias. But, three of our best players are Russian, so I overlook it because Kuch is epic and our Russian crew is bringing home the Cup on the regular. But, Russia the country and Putin can go phuck themselves. China, well, at least Russia produces great hockey players, China doesn't produce poop except chincy crap products that break in two weeks.

Cooper might be getting better at managing ice time, but the Lightning have played a poop ton of hockey the last two seasons - both seasons were right on top of each other and involved two deep and exhausting playoff runs. The Bolts have a lot of miles on them right now, and flying halfway across the planet to play meaningless (NHL standings) games just seems like an added risk to the quest for a 3-peat.

Now the Russians and Chinese can throw potatoes and happy meal toys at me.

[quote=GalacticStone]All of that is true. Allow me to throw some nuance and unasked-for personal takes on top.

I don't like Russia and China - it's a personal bias. But, three of our best players are Russian, so I overlook it because Kuch is epic and our Russian crew is bringing home the Cup on the regular. But, Russia the country and Putin can go phuck themselves. China, well, at least Russia produces great hockey players, China doesn't produce poop except chincy crap products that break in two weeks.

Cooper might be getting better at managing ice time, but the Lightning have played a poop ton of hockey the last two seasons - both seasons were right on top of each other and involved two deep and exhausting playoff runs. The Bolts have a lot of miles on them right now, and flying halfway across the planet to play meaningless (NHL standings) games just seems like an added risk to the quest for a 3-peat.

Per

Now the Russians and Chinese can throw potatoes and happy meal toys at me.


Personally prefer to not be so naive and realize we aren’t much different. We are all pawns in the big boy world that you nor I will ever have a say

Love the simple take. Just enjoy life lol

What? McDonagh over Fox/McAvoy/Werenski/Carlson/Hughes/Jones/Krug/Slavin?