Olympic Hockey Thread

[PeteMoss]

Yeah... not a big Mike Green guy after watching him in the playoffs last year... really wouldn't feel good having him trying to defend some of the Russians or Swedes one on one.... could've helped the PP though.... guess they are going to go with Boyle and Doughty or Weber.

I think Bouwmeester could've made it over Seabrook but figured Seabrook and Keith work well together and won't need time to develop chemistry as the shut down guys.

Boner... would you have taken Carter over Richards?

[YourRealDad]

Can't argue with any of the selections other than Eric Staal. I would have taken his brother Jordan instead, as he is a much better two-way player. If you're not taking Mike Green because he can't play defence, then you shouldn't be taking Eric either.

LOVE that the three Flames d-men never made it. There are so many cocky Flames fans up here that have been talking Phaneuf up so much that this is awesome.

And as I've pointed out on here before, I am going to the Olympics and have tickets to Canada's first men's hockey game against Norway. Going to try and buy some scalped tix to a playoff game too hopefully!

[loosejonnyt]

Look out for Doughty, I think he's really gonna shine in the spotlight, he's the next Lidstrom.

[PCC]

Patrice Bergeron probably wouldn't make my list of top 100 active Canadian hockey players.

[toptenguy]

Originally Posted by Vernitis

Russia is taking the gold so too bad Canada.

Seriously. That's the SCARIEST looking roster I've ever seen.

[NippleAppleCrap]

Originally Posted by PorkChopCunt

Patrice Bergeron probably wouldn't make my list of top 100 active Canadian hockey players.

He's here for his chemistry with Sid the Squid.

Mike Green hasn't been the best defenseman in the league this year, just the highest scoring.

I would've put J-Bo in before Doughty but I really liked Dreghr's explanation of why they don't need to play it safe and go with experience when they've got the D-Men on already and I'm now fine with it.

Cherry will no doubt be mad at no Phaneuf and no Robidas proving that it's a good call they're not on the team.

Marleau/Thornton/Heater should be a line. Squid/Bergeron and somebody. Put Niginla with Morrow and you have a lot of heart and a physical pressence. No doubt Perry/Getz will be on a line as well, unless they go Bergeron/Squid/Perry which was a great line in the juniors.

[PeteMoss]

Crosby and Bergeron played together in one tournament like 5 years ago... if that's why they took him its a poor call. He's a faceoff guy, etc... I can't see sticking him on the top line while Iginla's on the checking line.

[NippleAppleCrap]

It's a chemistry thing. If you think a Mike Babcock team isn't going to play a line with defensive specialist forwards who can score as much as a Crosby line you don't know Babcock.

Crosby's a chemistry guy. He slumps when he doesn't have linemates he likes. He's more than likely an alternate to begin with, but the reason he's on the team is no doubt because they're going with young guys with chemistry. Almost everybody on the team has a teammate/player they've played with internationally before, and it's slim on older guys.

It's pretty much the opposite of the Torino team which is what they want.

[NippleAppleCrap]

Not that Niginla is a defensive specialist.

[Boner]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Boner... would you have taken Carter over Richards?

Between the two I'd go with Richards but neither should be going.

[anarchyutd]

I ninth the surprise for no Phaneuf and the lack of surprise for Mike Green, who is a "defenseman" in name only.

Cant wait to see what the US team looks like.

And looking through those rosters - Hnat Dominichelli is still alive? "Hey, I'm like the 700th greatest Canadian player currently alive...but I play in Switzerland and I'm like the second best player in the country, so maybe I'll play for Switzerland in the Olympics!"

Mike Piazza and the Italian baseball team salute you.

[NippleAppleCrap]

Lol Mike Green is a better defenseman than Phaneuf. Phaneuf is a few good hits and a few thousand poor decisions.

[PCC]

USA! USA! USA! USA!

Roster:

David Backes
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Chris Drury
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kesler
Phil Kessel
Jamie Langenbrunner
Ryan Malone
Zach Parise
Joe Pavelski
Bobby Ryan
Paul Statsny

Erik Johnson
Jack Johnson
Mike Komisarek
Paul Martin
Brooks Orpik
Brian Rafalski
Ryan Suter

Ryan Miller
Johnathan Quick
Tim Thomas

Roster looks good except for Drury and Callahan. Callahan you can maybe make a case for but Drury has been absolutely god-awful this season. I can think of a ton of veteran players that could provide that leadership - Gionta, Tkachuk, SCOTT FUCKING GOMEZ. And the fact Thrashers wunderkid defenseman Zach Bogosion didn't crack the roster.

[toptenguy]

Not the POWERHOUSE lineup that they've had from 1996 to 2002, but still credible. You never know!

And by the way, I FINALLY understand your avatar, as per 20 minutes ago.

Also, Paul Statsny = TRAITOR! GO PLAY FOR SLOVAKIA!!! (or at least it would be cool if he did)

[PCC]

It's a lot credible when you start thinking of top 9 combinations:

Parise - Statsny - Kane
Ryan - Pavelski - Kessel
Backes - Kesler - Brown (OUCH)
Malone - Drury - Langenbrunner
Callahan

Now that's a decent team. Half the team kicks your ass, the other half scores on you. It reeks of Brian Burke, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[PCC]

I'm not just hating on the Rangers. IMHO, the best American-born Rangers player didn't make the team:

Ryan Callahan, RW 40 9-10-19 -11
Brandon Dubinsky, C 27 7-10-17 9
Chris Drury, C 35 5-9-14 -7

[PeteMoss]

Yeah... not really that scary compared to other teams.... but it'll probably depend on Ryan Miller... if he's glorious Ryan Miller you've got a shot... if he's late season fatigued Ryan Miller you're screwed.

[Boner]

USA has the best "team" out of anyone, opposed to just a big collection of scorers.

[anarchyutd]

Naturally, as a Ranger fan, I like Callahan a lot and think he'll eventually be worth the fact that he's essentially their third best winger.

That said, if he's one of the USA's top 8 or 9 wingers, me thinks I'll root for Henrik.

[NippleAppleCrap]

My boy Jeremy Roenick said on the radio that he doesn't see how Drury is on the team and not TJ Oshie or Scotty Gomez. Agree with JR as usual.