tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post6181039805018578321..comments2023-10-30T01:46:52.730-06:00Comments on hit the post: the mathematics of winningwalkinvisiblehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874510508773958406noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post-8841791566303216582010-03-07T13:11:06.028-07:002010-03-07T13:11:06.028-07:00Its a good discussion, I guess part of it depends ...Its a good discussion, I guess part of it depends on when you want to start the probability tree. If we're talking about kids entering hockey at 10 years old, then I'd say its more likely that they'll win a cup, even if they are lucky enough to be accidentally born in a country that has a fighting chance at gold. <br /><br />For someone who has established themselves as an elite player, a 3 game round robin and 4 game playdown against European league players sounds like a better option than the full NHL season and stanley cup run. You'd still have to make an expert selection on the country of your birth.<br /><br />Part of the math that we're missing here is that for 50-some-odd percent of society, it is much more likely that they will win a gold medal, since aside from the Sedins, girls don't really get the chance to play in the NHL.mikeHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17894798303666487534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post-49562103638885524592010-03-06T18:20:23.162-07:002010-03-06T18:20:23.162-07:00btw: i agree with you both when you say that it...btw: i agree with you both when you say that it's easier for an ELITE player to win a gold, but obviously the elite players don't come along every day.walkinvisiblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874510508773958406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post-91127897340945353852010-03-06T18:15:07.249-07:002010-03-06T18:15:07.249-07:00you got me.
i know that eric staal was the only pl...you got me.<br />i know that eric staal was the only player to gain entry to the triple gold club after the olympics, but he never won (never played ?) a WJC, a memorial cup and certainly never a world cup.<br /><br />yet another reason that jarome will never win an nhl championship... ;)walkinvisiblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874510508773958406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post-69769962625017325252010-03-06T17:16:32.911-07:002010-03-06T17:16:32.911-07:00Interesting discussion. I was also thinking the s...Interesting discussion. I was also thinking the same thing when it was pointed out (again) that Scott Niedermeyer is the only player that has one a Memorial Cup, World Junior, World Cup, World Championship, Stanley Cup and Olympics. Of course, what is interesting is that Iggy has won 5 of those 6 himself - all he's missing is the Stanley Cup. And I think, if you're a top notch player you actually have a better chance at winning the Olympics than the Cup. Iginla is guaranteed to be surrounded by top talent if he's on an Olympic team (and is from one of the top countries to boot) but he's rarely (if ever) been surrounded by the talent necessary to win the Cup.<br /><br />On a separate note, it's unlikely anyone else will match Niedermeyer because the World Cup (aka Canada Cup) is unlikely to be held anytime soon, especially if NHLers are in the Olympics. But, Corey Perry (that sum-bitch) already has the World Junior, Memorial Cup, Stanley Cup and Olympics (don't think he's won a World Championship).<br /><br />Anyone else that close?<br /><br />maimsterKelly Mamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04418689899257913476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5853674483927136845.post-59779557144190498202010-03-06T13:43:28.929-07:002010-03-06T13:43:28.929-07:00I had this discussion last Sunday with my brother ...I had this discussion last Sunday with my brother and my cousin, as we stood in line for hours to get into a bar in downtown Vancouver. We basically came to this consensus: it's harder to <i>make</i> an Olympic team, but if you're from one of the top five or six hockey countries, winning an Olympic tournament is way easier than winning a Stanley Cup. If you're not, ala Kopitar in your example or, maybe even Hossa (although the Slovaks are certainly improving every year), then a Cup is easier for you.<br /><br />Which is to say, your country is your country, unless you jump ship, and that determines whether or not you'll get a shot at that Olympic gold. The composition of NHL teams, and their competition, changes so much from season to season that there're more opportunities, even ignoring the fact that the Cup is awarded every year and the Olympics only once ever four.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01371293855591554301noreply@blogger.com