Do you guys still have national stereotypes about players?
Hard nosed Canadian and skilled but soft Swedes. 4th/3rd line hard working Finnish players and talented but lazy Russians?
I mean, i do. I easily think of Canadian NT as the most physical and hard to play against. Russian's are very slick and talented in my mind and Finns play with heart and hard work.
Russians- Only care about money. Very skilled, no effort, play dirty, bad team mates
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Originally Posted by blooblood
"lazy ass russians"
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Originally Posted by ToneBone03
Hard-nosed Canadians.
Hard-nosed Americans.
All the skill in the world but no heart Russians.
Those are pretty much the only stereotypes I've heard.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TAnnala
Do you guys still have national stereotypes about players?
Hard nosed Canadian and skilled but soft Swedes. 4th/3rd line hard working Finnish players and talented but lazy Russians?
I mean, i do. I easily think of Canadian NT as the most physical and hard to play against. Russian's are very slick and talented in my mind and Finns play with heart and hard work.
These are all the main stereotypes out there that aren't actually there. There may be a couple players of the nationality that fall under the stereotypes, but very few do, and most players are unique. I did a report about this for my Sociology class last semester.
Do you guys still have national stereotypes about players?
Hard nosed Canadian and skilled but soft Swedes. 4th/3rd line hard working Finnish players and talented but lazy Russians?
I mean, i do. I easily think of Canadian NT as the most physical and hard to play against. Russian's are very slick and talented in my mind and Finns play with heart and hard work.
The skilled but soft Swedes stereotype is changing. Swedes that are reaching the NHL now grew up idolizing Peter Forsberg, and have implemented his style into their game (for the most part; there are still your Tedenbys and Collbergs of the world). It seems like almost every Swedish player drafted now plays a sound two-way game and isn't afraid of contact; look at Landeskog, Forsberg, Josefson, Paajarvi, Johansson, Backlund, Jarnkrok, Aberg, etc.
I agree about the Swede thing. When I think of a Swedish player I think of a good two-way player. I think this has to do with the way their league is set up. Not a Swede, but I remember Frans Nielsen talking about his time in the SEL. He was extremely gifted offensively, but weak on the d-end. Malmo won't give a 17 year old kid top 6 minutes, so if he wanted to play he had to play on the third or fourth line and if you want to play on the third or fourth line you have to be solid in the dzone, as you will probably not be scoring a whole lot.
These are all the main stereotypes out there that aren't actually there. There may be a couple players of the nationality that fall under the stereotypes, but very few do, and most players are unique. I did a report about this for my Sociology class last semester.
I agree about the Swede thing. When I think of a Swedish player I think of a good two-way player. I think this has to do with the way their league is set up. Not a Swede, but I remember Frans Nielsen talking about his time in the SEL. He was extremely gifted offensively, but weak on the d-end. Malmo won't give a 17 year old kid top 6 minutes, so if he wanted to play he had to play on the third or fourth line and if you want to play on the third or fourth line you have to be solid in the dzone, as you will probably not be scoring a whole lot.
Even the Sedins, who many consider 1-way players, used to play on the PK and have good defensive insticts (particularly Henrik). I can't really think of any big name Swedish hockey players who are worse defensively than them either. Sweden is amazing when it comes to 2-way play.
Your theory of them having to play in a defense first role as teenagers is also very intriguing. Players have the ability to completely change their on ice identity at that age.
Russians are very skilled and have awesome puckhandling or sniping ability.
Even the Sedins, who many consider 1-way players, used to play on the PK and have good defensive insticts (particularly Henrik). I can't really think of any big name Swedish hockey players who are worse defensively than them either. Sweden is amazing when it comes to 2-way play.
Your theory of them having to play in a defense first role as teenagers is also very intriguing. Players have the ability to completely change their on ice identity at that age.
Russians are very skilled and have awesome puckhandling or sniping ability.
Still, for Nielsen to be in such heady company with Alfredsson – and be so far ahead of the rest of his team – says a lot about the well-rounded player he has become.
He credits the Swedish Elite League for his education on defense.
“They play a lot of trap hockey in the Swedish League, but either way I think it’s the best defensive league in the world,” said Nielsen, who first played in the SEL as a 17-year-old. “When I first got there, I didn’t know much about defense. In Denmark, I had the puck a lot. But Malmo put me on the fourth line and told me, ‘Just focus on not letting the other team score.’
“The Swedes completely taught me how to be a responsible two-way forward. That’s where I also learned how to win faceoffs. By the last season in Sweden, I was top-five in the league. When I first got there, I couldn’t beat anybody on a draw.
He even describes the league as the defensive league in the world[/quote]
Canadians; Tough, skilled, well trained, often nasty. Will make you cry.
Americans; Fast, blonde and competitive, expect to win. Will become snippy.
Everybody else; Small, slow and timid. All afraid of Wickenhieser.
