Update: Hamhuis has a groin injury, not a concussion

[sureLoss]

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2014/02...medium=twitter

Dan Hamhuis was back on the ice today following the Canucks game day skate.

He is trying to get ready to play in Toronto Saturday.

Speculation is running wild now with a theory that he suffered a head injury and will be the next Team Canada player replaced before the Olympics.

Hamhuis has had no visible ailments here on the road. No cast. No limp.

[codynw]

#GIOlympian

[Locke]

The things people will do to get out of playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

[Neeper]

I hope Gio gets his spot!

[strombad]

I would feel terrible wishing a concussion on a player. I hope he gets well fast, but I certainly wouldn't be upset if this caused Gio to slot in.

[troutman]

Seabrook is probably ahead of Gio on the depth chart.

[Vinny01]

Don't want to wish concussion symptoms on anyone but if there was a player on team canada I wanted to see go down it is Hamhuis. Left handed shot from a hated rival. I think if he is out there is a really good chance Gio takes his spot

[jg13]

Gio might get his shot after all.

[Puppet Guy]

Paging Mr. Giordano. Paging Mr. Mark Giordano.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by troutman

Seabrook is probably ahead of Gio on the depth chart.

Assuming that the management at Team Canada is sticking by wanting to have balanced shooters, Gio is the next lefty in line versus Seabrook's RH shot.

[Poe969]

Hamhuis shouldn't have been named to the team to begin with. I'll just be happy if he isn't on the team.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Assuming that the management at Team Canada is sticking by wanting to have balanced shooters, Gio is the next lefty in line versus Seabrook's RH shot.

But what about Phaneuf?

[the_only_turek_fan]

Not being biased here, but having seen plenty of Seabrook, Hamhuis, and Giordano over the last 3-4 years, Giordano is the best of the three.

He should have been named from the start. If the Flames were in 1st place he would have been easily named.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by fotze

This is a different situation from Stamkos. With Stamkos a 25% Stamkos should be on this team. For the 8th best defenceman, its different. A 90% 8th best defencemen, there are probably now 4 other players that should be there instead at this point. This is of course assuming the concussion stuff is true.

This. I wasn't onboard with the Hamhuis pick to begin with but if he's not 100% then there are much better players waiting in the wings.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Assuming that the management at Team Canada is sticking by wanting to have balanced shooters, Gio is the next lefty in line versus Seabrook's RH shot.

Also combined with the fact that Giordano has shown to be a better defensman this year, putting up only 6 less points in 21 less games on a far worse hockey team, and is IMO more of a physical prescence and better skater, I don't see how Seabrook is a better option.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by codynw

But what about Phaneuf?

[The Yen Man]

I know you can dress all 8 dmen, but the 8th guy there is probably limited in minutes. He's there if one of the other guys is either hurt, or not doing well, or for specific situations (ie. Subban on the pp). If Hamhuis isn't 100% healthy, then he really shouldn't be there, since that defeats the whole purpose of that role in the first place.

[Flash Walken]

Implications for Hamhuis are greater than just the Olympics.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sport...91/?cmpid=rss1

"My wife certainly shows a lot of concern with the head hits," Hamhuis said. "She's obviously thinking long-term. She doesn't care so much about the hockey career, it's more about me as a husband and dad. Certainly, immediate family is definitely more concerned about the long term and these concussions are scary for them.

"If there is more to come, I think you have to take a look at what is most important," the father of two continued. "That's hopefully not going to happen. But they all know that it's a risky game, and if I ever feel like it's putting myself at risk long term, than I'll have to take a step back and think about things."

Hamhuis suffered the concussion on Feb. 9, after taking a thunderous check from Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf. He lost consciousness for 20 seconds or so, his body laying stiff and flat on the ice in a frightening scene. Asked whether he worries about a fourth concussion, Hamhuis replied: "Oh sure, it's always on the back of your mind, especially right now coming back off of one. It's an injury that nobody wants."

Hamhuis, 28, has proved otherwise durable during his career, missing nine games in six seasons before joining the Canucks as an unrestricted free agent last summer. He sustained his second concussion last season and missed four games, and his first came in the 2002-03 season.

[stemit14]

It should definitely be gio... His only competition among left handed defencemen is mark staal and gio is a much better choice at this point

[IgiTang]

I honestly can't see Gio being picked over Seabrook. To have a pair of Keith/Seabrook brings a lot of stability to Team Canada. Weber/Doughty, Bouw/Pietrangelo, Keith/Seabrook. Subban and Vlasic being 7/8 makes a lot more sense than Gio since Vlasic is already named.