Olympic Hockey Recap

We complete our look at the Vancouver Olympic Hockey event with some thoughts on the good,the bad and the future...

I wouldn't say that I am unpatriotic,but I cannot help but be happy for Canada's victory.
This would be a big win for Americans for a day or two and then slowly forgotten,while for Canadians,yesterday was a game never to be forgotten...

Usually I am of the opinion that the losing team should not have the tournament /postseason MVP (Jean Sebastian Giguere comes to mind from the NHL playoffs a few years back),but I have no such qualms with the selection of Ryan Miller.
Miller was clearly the most deserving player in the tournament.

Player that surprised me the most?
Slovakia's Pavel Demitra,who showed a return to his past productivity and looked sharp for a player that has missed much of the season to injury.
Vancouver Canuck fans had to be happy with Demitra's possible return to form for their playoff run.

I was hoping for a Slovakia bronze over Finland.
Slovakia had never medaled and Finland's quitting against the USA was simply atrocious.
Slovakia and the Czech Republic being strong teams is good for the game.

Speaking of Finland,Mikka Kiprusoff was nothing but crap in the loss to USA.
For a guy that was refusing to play unless named as the number one goalie beforehand over Minnesota's Nicklas Backstrom,he laid an egg of monstrous proportions.
Watching his performance made me wonder if Calgary would ever win anything with him as their main goaltender...

A rarity in these times was the fact that no team had gaudy,unbearable to look at uniforms.
Switzerland's weren't great,but I have seen worse and they were the worst in the tourney.
Classic looks by most teams made this a pleasure to watch.

I wish someone would tell Gary Bettman to quit the posing and just allow NHL involvement in the 2014 games.
It makes this the best tournament in any sport and needs to continue.
IF the issue is closing the league down for two weeks,then the solution is simple-don't.
Continue NHL play with the players that you have with a few reinforcements from the AHL and maybe have special ticket offers for the games without the stars.
If the scheduling is done right and they have four years to tinker with it to make it right,each team could have two home dates that count in the standings with the regular players and could still make money.

Want another idea for the Olympics that has no chance of being installed?
Wouldn't it be fun to put a "unified team" in the tournament with the best players in the world that didn't get selected for their country?
I am not saying such a team would win the Gold,but it would be interesting to see them try and I know they would win games over the lower level teams....

It was great to see Doc Emrick get the exposure for his work that he so richly deserves.
I am spoiled having Doc as the voice of the Devils and getting him to announce most of the teams games.
Any network that has a national contract with the NHL or the Olympics in the future needs to keep Doc around as their voice because no one does it better.

Back tomorrow with more as the Devils return to action tomorrow in San Jose.