2021-2022 NHL Thread

[princedpw]

Really no other way to approach the COVID testing.  You can put people in isolation for illness but the COVID testing is unreliable for up to a few months after having COVID.

Can you clarify this statement, LK?  Like, if I get COVID, it's tough to figure out if I have it again within a few months of having it previously?

This is true of PCR tests which detect segments of viral DNA. I believe bits of viral DNA will float around after your immune system has chopped up the virus resulting in false positives.  Antigen tests may continue to work to detect infectiousness.

One protocol suggests using antigen tests 3 and 5 days after first symptoms (for healthy vaccinated folks who should clear the virus more quickly). If both negative then you should no longer be infectious. This can reduce quarantine times.

 

[bustaheims]

No NHL at the Olympics is official: https://media.nhl.com/public/news/15568

NEW YORK (Dec. 22, 2021) ? With the National Hockey League?s regular-season schedule having been materially disrupted as a result of increasing COVID cases and a rising number of postponed games, the National Hockey League announced today that NHL Players will not participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

 

[Redleaf]

Very disappointed. I understand the reasoning, but man it would have been exciting to see McDavid, Crosby & Marner on the same Olympic team. If its not happening for another 4 yrs its not happening at all.

I'd be surprised if they didn't do a World Cup in 2023 like Frank said.

Personally, I think the World Cup of Hockey has slid down the scale of being anything close to meaningful hockey. After the last bastardization of it, it sort of feels like the tournament version of the NHL All-Star weekend. Sadly, the Olympics is really the only version of Best-on Best that matters.

 

[bustaheims]

Personally, I think the World Cup of Hockey has slid down the scale of being anything close to meaningful hockey. After the last bastardization of it, it sort of feels like the tournament version of the NHL All-Star weekend. Sadly, the Olympics is really the only version of Best-on Best that matters.

How is that different from any other best-on-best tournament, other than the fact that weaker countries aren't being represented? I don't need to see countries like Canada, the US, Russia, etc., beat up on Latvia, Denmark, etc. I want to see the best countries go head to head against each other. Those are the games that are actually entertaining. Give me a tournament that only has the top 6-8 countries - even if that means a European/International team that has the best players from the rest of the world. Get rid of the filler teams.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Personally, I think the World Cup of Hockey has slid down the scale of being anything close to meaningful hockey. After the last bastardization of it, it sort of feels like the tournament version of the NHL All-Star weekend. Sadly, the Olympics is really the only version of Best-on Best that matters.

How is that different from any other best-on-best tournament, other than the fact that weaker countries aren't being represented? I don't need to see countries like Canada, the US, Russia, etc., beat up on Latvia, Denmark, etc. I want to see the best countries go head to head against each other. Those are the games that are actually entertaining. Give me a tournament that only has the top 6-8 countries - even if that means a European/International team that has the best players from the rest of the world. Get rid of the filler teams.

Agree. I also enjoyed the Young Guns team and seeing the new kids play. I thought the hockey was very good.

 

[Deebo]

I think international tournaments with non-national teams are stupid, especially when one of those teams had all players from countries that were being represented in the tournament. McDavid playing against Canada and Matthews playing against USA just doesn't sit right with me.

The hockey was good, but it wasn't a legitimate international tournament in my opinion.

 

[L K]

Really no other way to approach the COVID testing.  You can put people in isolation for illness but the COVID testing is unreliable for up to a few months after having COVID.

Can you clarify this statement, LK?  Like, if I get COVID, it's tough to figure out if I have it again within a few months of having it previously?

Yes.  The general thought is that there are still fragments of virus that can be detected for weeks, and in some cases potentially a few months after your infection that could still result in a positive PCR test.  It's not a sign of active infection or risk of further spread but the timing is not quite clear.  It could be as little as 10 days or up to 2-3 months that you could hypothetically test positive by PCR/swab result after your infection.

 

[L K]

I think international tournaments with non-national teams are stupid, especially when one of those teams had all players from countries that were being represented in the tournament. McDavid playing against Canada and Matthews playing against USA just doesn't sit right with me.

The hockey was good, but it wasn't a legitimate international tournament in my opinion.

I know it wouldn't happen but I wouldn't hate if it we had a tournament where we got to put to test the "Would Canada 2 still medal".    Hard to judge that one though as you would have to make sure that "Canada 1" picked the best selections for things including your 13th forward/7th defenseman/3rd goalie.

 

[Arn]

Personally, I think the World Cup of Hockey has slid down the scale of being anything close to meaningful hockey. After the last bastardization of it, it sort of feels like the tournament version of the NHL All-Star weekend. Sadly, the Olympics is really the only version of Best-on Best that matters.

How is that different from any other best-on-best tournament, other than the fact that weaker countries aren't being represented? I don't need to see countries like Canada, the US, Russia, etc., beat up on Latvia, Denmark, etc. I want to see the best countries go head to head against each other. Those are the games that are actually entertaining. Give me a tournament that only has the top 6-8 countries - even if that means a European/International team that has the best players from the rest of the world. Get rid of the filler teams.

You may not want to see Canada beat up on Latvia etc, but as a fan of GB who have fought tooth and nail to get into that top group GB deserve to be there and playing those teams as they?ve earned it. Which is how an international tournament should be. Open to whoever earns a place.

 

[Redleaf]

I think international tournaments with non-national teams are stupid, especially when one of those teams had all players from countries that were being represented in the tournament. McDavid playing against Canada and Matthews playing against USA just doesn't sit right with me.

The hockey was good, but it wasn't a legitimate international tournament in my opinion.

Yeah. That's what I meant by the bastardization of the last World Cup of Hockey tournament. If its a Best-on-best international tournament with any sort of meaningful play, other than to showcase NHL talent, then why get gimmicky with it?

I'll still watch cause its fun, but it reaches nowhere near the intensity (or TV ratings) of what its like watching teams  playing for Olympic Gold.

 

[Kin]

Feels like the larger issue is that, while it was exciting to see the Young Stars team or whatever they were called it fundamentally makes it not a best-on-best tournament because the two best teams in the world aren't really at their best.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/nhl_watcher/status/1476006512518733827
No soap operas. Just instant memes

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/JeffVeillette/status/1476230379216515083

I always love Jack Todd content.

 

[bustaheims]

Never misses the opportunity for a hilariously bad take.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Never misses the opportunity for a hilariously bad take.

The ?how it?s going? part it outstanding, Todd just rips on Duharme constantly.

 

[Bullfrog]

https://twitter.com/nhl_watcher/status/1476006512518733827
No soap operas. Just instant memes

I. Don't. Understand.

 

[rdowdall]

Was there a rhyme or a reason to the games that the NHL chose to postpone?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

https://twitter.com/glefrancoisLP/status/1476736788244967431

I didn't think that could be possible.

 

[Bender]

https://twitter.com/Peter_Baugh/status/1476639639314124802?t=JqxG0oJKbAS3951Tt2zECA&s=19

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Didn't know where to put this.

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1476749878738964499?t=3nxF0-IfakIhZNVZIqCtGg&s=19

Much harder to do on the smaller rink, but watching the evolution of total football in hockey is interesting.

In about 20 years you're going to lose your mind when the goalie is routinely starting the play/breakout from between the face off circles.