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Keith YandleKeith Yandle

The 2026 Gold Medal will grow US hockey by bringing in kids from non-traditional states

The 1980 Olympic gold medal meant so much for guys like me... This game right now, what it can mean for a sport. You're going to get kids from different cultures, different backgrounds playing hockey that never did. It was 12 states represented [on this team]. The 1980 teams was probably strictly Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts. This effect is going to take us even further.

The long-term impact on registration numbers and NHL draft picks from non-traditional states will take years to verify.

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Void
Feb 23, 2026
#20283
Big CatBig Cat

Hockey is only America's fourth most important sport and we still beat Canada

I choose to win with class. Does it hurt for Canada that I graciously said hockey is our fourth like the fourth sport we're best at? We're football, baseball, basketball... and then hockey. I love hockey, but it's our fourth most important sport. And Canada, Canada's everything. And we fucking beat you. And we have the gold.

Subjective ranking of sport importance, though commonly cited in US TV ratings and participation.
Win
Feb 23, 2026
#20284
Big CatBig Cat

Olympic coaches should receive medals along with the athletes

Did you know that the coaches don't get medals? That's bullshit. Bizarre. [PFT: They get the stuffed animal though.] Oh man. [Big Cat:] Could you imagine being a Canadian and that is your sport and it's everything... and then afterwards they're like, 'Hey, here's a Labu Booo.'

It is a factual rule of the IOC that only athletes receive medals, not coaches.
Loss
Feb 23, 2026
#20736
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Norway shouldn't count in the Winter Olympic medal standings because they invented all the sports

Norway's like the friend that's like, 'Hey, do you want to come to my house and play all my video games and I'll beat you at all of them?' That's what Norway does. If you take out Norway, which you should, we [the US] dominated these Olympics.

The take is satirical and based on the premise of excluding a top competitor to change the standings.

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Keith YandleKeith Yandle

The NHL must return to the 1 through 8 playoff seeding format

I think everybody's on our page that they want it one through eight... they gotta figure a way to get it where it's one through eight. 'Cause when you're losing contenders in the first round... guys are gonna lose jobs over that. Gary [Bettman] seems to kind of shut it down every time it's talked about.

This is a widespread opinion on league structure, not a verifiable fact.
Win
Keith YandleKeith Yandle

The Buffalo Sabres will upset the Boston Bruins in the first round

I think at the end of the day, that Buffalo, it's their year to at least win the series. Go on beat the Bruins... I think they got the mojo coming into this year since they fired their gm. They've been great.

The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, which concluded on May 1, 2026. This confirms Keith Yandle's prediction that the Sabres would win the series.
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Keith YandleKeith Yandle

Sidney Crosby is like Tom Brady — built differently and can play at a high level for as long as he wants

People think Sid's like on his way out. Like you gotta put him in the same category as Tom Brady. Like these guys, they're built differently. They can play for however long they want and put up great numbers. Like he just had his 21st season of over a point a game, which is unheard of.

Subjective opinion on Crosby's longevity, though factually grounded. Cannot be definitively resolved.