London 2012: Comparing Each NHL Team to a Nation's Summer Olympic Team

The opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games in London kick off tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST on NBC. Athletes around the globe will compete in events that challenge in the pool, on the track, the court, the pitch and any other venue you can shake a javelin at.

We are certain to learn more about the trials and obstacles that many competitors have overcome to feature in England's capital city. We are also certain to begin the countdown to NHL training camps if the Olympics and/or jolly old England aren't your spot of tea (and crumpets).

With the musical chairs of free agency winding down, the focus of the NHL die-hards is now on the collective bargaining agreement discussions taking place. Talks are scheduled to resume Monday in New York, so let's take a look at the world stage for a moment and bask in the most historic of all athletic competitions. Athletes from all corners of the globe will converge on the United Kingdom, with dreams of glory and fame conceivably within their grasp.

For the sake of fun and potentially inflammatory conversation, I'd like to compare each team in the NHL to a nation competing in this summer's Olympiad. Please don't consider my comparison to your team an assault on the very fiber of your franchise or nation of origin. I'm just drawing some relatively benign comparisons for fun and seeing how it all plays out.

I welcome input and disagreement from every corner of the globe. As I hold an expertise on my immediate surroundings and the good ole' U.S. of A, there is a distinct possibility that I could omit some key component of a foreign nation or team.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks of Orange County play in the land of beautiful people. Sunny days, sandy beaches, medicinal marijuana and a vacation destination for millions...and millions. Sounds a lot like Jamaica to me.

Jamaica is competitive like the Ducks and can impact the medal count, but aren't expected to lead the way.

Boston Bruins

Boston is always in the hunt and typically leave an indelible mark. They are loaded with tradition and carry a certain arrogance and swagger that reeks of entitlement. I would compare them to the host nation of Great Britain.

They'll almost always finish near the top, and they'll usually have a good excuse ready in case they don't.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres may suffer from some self-esteem issues being the less successful neighbor and division rival to the Bruins. Nestled in upstate New York near the Canadian border, Buffalo is less than 20 miles from one of the true wonders of the world, Niagara Falls.

Given the beautiful images of the falls and Buffalo's current position as a playoff outsider, I'll compare them to Norway. With the impressive fjords in Norway and the country's average performance in the Summer Games, I see a pretty good fit.

Plus it's fun to say fjord. \fē-ˈȯrd, ˈfē-ˌ; ˈfyȯrd\

Calgary Flames

I know it's too early in the list to use the same nation twice, but I can't shake the connection between the Calgary Winter Games of 1988 and the Jamaican Bobsledding team. Calgary geographically has zero in common with Jamaica, and there is virtually no comparison other than the bobsledders were massive underdogs competing in a sport outside of the tropical nation's comfort zone.

While hockey is certainly indigenous to Calgary, the once mighty Flames could certainly be considered underdogs headed into next season.

Carolina Hurricanes

Carolina features two large Canadian brothers who could lead the team to new heights this season. Recent addition Alex Semin will be along to help the Staals, Eric and Jordan, to the top of the Southeast division.

I'll go with Germany, which is the adopted home of two other heavyweight brothers, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko. Germany is also home to the autobahn, a highway network with no posted speed limits. With four offices in North Carolina, NASCAR and their numerous fans in the Hurricanes demographic can appreciate that.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks seemed well-built for success with a talented core and loyal, vocal fan base. They are always relevant come playoff time and have the ideology that they should be the best. This comparison leads me to Germany.

Germany is competitive in just about all international competitions, and may have a similar expectation of their athletes as Chicago.

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche play in one of the most beautiful cities in America, geographically speaking. With the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, it's hard not to be impressed with the mile-high city. Their hockey team has fallen on hard times recently but has a young nucleus determined to get back to the top.

We'll compare the Avs to Switzerland for the obvious topographical similarities, and for the Swiss current position in the Summer Olympics. Solid history, but not strong recently.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus is a tough team to compare, because you can potentially offend a hockey fan base or a nation. Columbus is a great sports town, and the Blue Jackets have one of the nicest arenas in the league. They are a young team historically speaking, and have had very limited success.

With those criteria, I'll compare them to Ireland. Though it is known for it's sporting heritage in other areas and is one of the coolest places to visit, Ireland will never be near the top of the medal count during the Olympics

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars play in another great sports town that may look at hockey as the step-brother that may or may not have violated your drum set. The Stars do have a Stanley Cup in Dallas, but will always play fourth fiddle to football, baseball and basketball.

I'll compare them to Spain. Spain as a nation has a strong sporting history, but they'll be the first to tell you that there is fútbol español and then there is everything else.

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings were a pretty easy team to compare. Perennially near the top of the standings, Detroit is a pretty polarizing team. Love them or hate them, their success is undeniable.

I compare them to Russia, for the obvious "Russian Five", and because Russia is always near the top of the medal count. Russia is also known for its cold winters, organized crime and storied hockey tradition.

Any wonder that Russians excel in Hockeytown?

Edmonton Oilers

The young Edmonton Oilers are chock full of talent, but have the history of some famous forefathers casting a huge shadow in Alberta. While nobody reasonably expects an Oiler dynasty like the one in the 1980s, the playoffs would be a nice start.

We'll compare them to the Ukraine, a young country that has a remarkable history, with some significant changes of late.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers of Florida play in a location where hockey is not the first option. Though they have a pretty solid fan base, most residents of South Beach are more keenly aware of football, basketball and tanned backsides on their sandy shores.

The obvious comparison for me is Brazil, where the festive lifestyle of Rio is similar to Miami. The Brazilians typically aren't near the top of the medal table in the Olympics, but they seem to be more concerned with when soccer season begins.

Los Angeles Kings

The Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings play in a city that is idyllic from a geographical and weather standpoint. It is widely perceived that L.A. is a snapshot of United States culture with its excess, and glamorous, often superficial persona.

Though Los Angeles and America may represent those things to the rest of the world, the U.S. is always near the top of the medal count in Olympic competition, particularly the Summer Games.

Minnesota Wild

The self proclaimed "State of Hockey" boasts one of the league's perennially disappointing teams. With big names coming to help the franchise, Minnesota is looking to build for the future.

A nation that is attempting to trumpet it's arrival on the Olympic scene is Romania. Steeped in tradition, Romania is relevant in the medal count, but rarely at the top.

Montreal Canadiens

Another pretty easy comparison was the Montreal Canadiens.  It would be fun and easy to compare them to East Germany with their long successful and storied run in the Summer Olympics before becoming irrelevant. Unfortunately, there is no more East Germany. (For comparison's sake people, I'm hardly bemoaning the fall of the Berlin Wall.)

I chose to compare Montreal to France. The language and French history in Canada are obvious, but the pride for each despite very little recent (Olympic/hockey) success is also very much the same.

Nashville Predators

It would be easy to compare Nashville to the United States with it's country music heritage and BBQ eating, line dancing personality. However, I'll take a different route. I'll compare the Predators to Japan.

Bear with me here. Japan sits in the shadow of a much bigger, stronger nation (China), yet still manages to hold its own against them in competition. I compare that to Nashville's situation, sitting in a division with Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. Overmatched in traditional hockey markets, Nashville still manages to hold its own.

New Jersey Devils

Okay, this was a no-brainer and too easy to pass up. However, I'll still back up my New Jersey comparison to Italy.

Both the Devils and Italians are surrounded by teams/countries determined to be more successful, but they still manage to compete and traditionally are strong in the Summer Olympics. Italy ranks sixth all time in medals won at the Summer Olympics.

New York Islanders

Sorry New York Islander fans, but because of the conditions in which you are forced to play, I'm comparing you to Mexico. Your barn may be full of history, but you deserve better. Mexico, like the Islanders, is neighbors with a big spending loud-mouth, that gives them both an inferiority complex.

New York Rangers

On opposite coasts from Los Angeles, the New York Rangers are my second team to be compared to the United States. Loud and proud, the Rangers play in the heart of the world's (arguably) best city, and have no problem telling that to anyone that will listen.

Though distinctly different from L.A., New York is the outspoken "ugly American" version of the United States that the rest of the world sees. Comparatively, the Rangers and the U.S. always finish near the top.

Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators play in the capital city, but that's not the only reason why I compared them to Canada. The Canadian team are usually competitive in the Summer Olympics, but aren't going to win the overall medal count. The Senators by comparison, field a solid squad on the ice, but need some work if they want to win the Stanley Cup.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers have tasted glory before and are looking to get back there after a 37-year drought. They put a competitive, physical team on the ice and their fans are loud and boisterous. In spite of a poor reputation, the Flyer faithful are a knowledgeable fun-loving crew.

I'll compare them to the Australian team. Always competitive, the Aussies are well supported and are keen on having a good time despite the outcome.

Phoenix Coyotes

I almost feel bad doing this but I'm comparing the Phoenix Coyotes to a nation called Mauritius. Mauritius is a tiny island nation off the coast of Madagascar. They boast a population of roughly 1.3 million and are about 787 square miles in size. Participating in seven Summer Olympiads, Mauritius has garnered one bronze medal. Bantamweight boxer Bruno Julie took the bronze in Bejing 2008.

If you are scratching your head with a puzzled look, you probably look like a Phoenix resident being asked to spell Radim Vrbata.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins are another of the more polarizing teams in hockey. Blessed with a roster full of talent, the Penguins are an annual favorite to win the Stanley Cup.

For this reason alone I will compare them to China. Their roster is filled with good people I'm sure, but everyone loves to root against them it seems.

Does that make Crosby the Yao Ming of the Penguins? Global icon, sometimes spectacular, often injured. Hmmm.

San Jose Sharks

I'm giving my wife credit for this slide because she is Australian. I asked her which team she would compare Australia to. She said the Sharks. They are always good, but not great, and San Jose reflects the laid-back Aussie style and nice weather.

I thought that was a pretty good assessment. Probably better than my initial observations that there seem to be a lot of shark attacks in Australia.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues posed a tough comparison for me. I was thinking of a blue-collar, hard-working town full of good people that always support their team. The Blues reflect this with their style of play and so I thought of South Korea.

South Korea always places well in the Summer Olympics, but doesn't win the medal count. Though the entire nation may not reflect it, I was watching a South Korean soccer game, and it actually reminded me of the Blues. The Blues have a steady, relentless forecheck, and that was how South Korea played Mexico. Mexico probably had more talent, but the Koreans seemed to work harder.

Ken Hitchcock would have been proud.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay drew an interesting comparison, so stick with me here. I compared them to Ukraine focusing on general manager Steve Yzerman. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, Ukraine became an independent nation. They have competed in four Summer Olympics bringing home an impressive 96 medals.

I compare that to Yzerman leaving the Red Wings to take charge of the Lightning. He left a powerful and proven franchise (under obviously different circumstances), to make his own mark with a younger franchise.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs, like Ottawa, are also compared to Canada. Full of support and optimism, the Canadian team has had some success in the Summer Games, but tends to excel more during the Winter Olympics.

The Leafs in part tend to excel in the early months of the season before taking the late spring and summer off.

Apologies to all of my Leaf friends.

Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks are a great hockey team. Just ask them and their loyal supporters and they'll be happy to tell you. Though their team trophy case could be compared the French military trophy case (possibly less decorated), I'll compare them to Great Britain.

Pretty much for every reason that I compared Boston to them, Vancouver seems to have a sense of entitlement despite never having won anything more than the paper mache President's Trophy.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals sit near the nerve center of world politics. They always seem to perform well during the regular season, then choke it away during the playoffs. Though they have some measured success, they have never lifted the Stanley Cup.

I compare them to South Korea, because of the constant threat of Communism to each (insert Ovechkin joke here) and the success that each have achieved at the Olympic and NHL level.

Winnipeg Jets

Oh Winnipeg, how you vex me with your incomparable city and team. The closest similarity I could come up with for the Jets was Finland. Home of some ridiculously cold winters and loyal fan support, the Finns are surprisingly well represented in the Summer Olympics historically.

With their recent pilgrimage back to the great white Manitoba north, the NHL in Winnipeg is looking to build, or rebuild a similar legacy. Plus, Teemu Selanne got his super cool "Finnish Flash" nickname as a member of the original Jets