[GDT] Team Canada Olympic Roster Announcment (8am MT)

[moon]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

How many 93 point seasons has Kuntiz had?

Probably one at the end of this year.

And again is Giroux able to play LW? Is him playing on his off wing better than a Natural LWer?

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by saillias

Claude Giroux... How long does he get to live off the goodwill of one 93 point season? People talk about this guy like he belongs in the same tier as Crosby, Malkin, Ovie, Stamkos. For all the hype he's peaking offensively at about a PPG pace.

It's been a lot more than one season. He's had multiple great playoff runs (55 points in 50 games), and four seasons scoring at nearly a PPG pace (he's only played 5 and a half seasons). You act like he's been in the league as long as the other guys, which just isn't the case. Giroux became a great player in only his second season (during their Cup run), and became an elite player shortly thereafter. It's not like he's a 29 year old who's only had a couple great seasons.

Giroux's also on a hot streak at the moment (just came off a nine game point streak), so he's only getting better as the season goes on.

[flames_fan_down_under]

I still find it hard to believe that Tavares is only 23 years old, man this kid has barely even scratched the surface of his prime. Excited to see him as part of Team Canada.

Any team with Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Toews, Getzlaf and Perry in a top 6 is going to be next to impossible to beat.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

I still find it hard to believe that Tavares is only 23 years old, man this kid has barely even scratched the surface of his prime. Excited to see him as part of Team Canada.

Any team with Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Toews, Getzlaf and Perry in a top 6 is going to be next to impossible to beat.

Not if the goalies suck.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by moon

Lol

There isn't a roster close to this and huge question marks on every countries roster.

Who are the teams guaranteed to beat Canada?

You were laughing as well when I said the junior team had no chance too weren't you? How'd that turn out.

Russia, Sweden, Americans and possibly Finland. I see a 5th place finish for Canada.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

The only players aged 30 and under that have a higher goals per game than Rick Nash are Malkin, Crosby, Stamkos, and Ovechkin.

Yeah but Malkin, Crosby, Stamkos and Ovechkin are still producing at that clip and routinely have 80+ point seasons while Nash is on a decline as he's only eclipsed 70 points once in his career in 2009 and his seasons since total 67, 66, 59 and this season he's on pace for about 45-50 points. Flames fans used to consider a 60 point season for Iginla a disappointment but for Nash it was his norm and that was in his prime. Rangers fans think he has lost a step and is no longer going to the net post-concussion.

Rick Nash isn't a bad player but we are talking about Team Canada and the best of the best here and to me he's not remotely close. Even his biggest supporter Doug MacLean was stuttering when the 960 guys grilled him about how Nash deserved to make the team given his poor play this season.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Not if the goalies suck.

I guess you're right. But our goalies don't suck....sooo...

[moon]

Originally Posted by iggypop

Can anyone give a breakdown of the number of NHL captains/assistants are on the team? I don't have time to look it over at work, but have always enjoyed that stat. TIA

6 Captains- Toews, Crosby, Weber, Benn, Getzlaf, Tavares
6 Asst. Captains- Keith, Pietrangelo, Marleau, Stamkos, Bergeron, Sharp

My guess is that the next forwards have a good chance of being St. Louis, Giroux who are both captians. Gio a good possibility for defense if a lefty goes down Captain. Thornton outside chance, captain.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by BurningSteel

Where's Jarome?

in the retirement home

Originally Posted by timbit

Those 15 players they selected that have been integral components of Stanley Cup (s) and/ or Olympic Gold Medal winners are not team oriented?

Give your head a shake.

Subban is one who always gets a bum rap for not being a team guy. He's the ULTIMATE team guy. He's more excited when his teammates score than when he does.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

I still find it hard to believe that Tavares is only 23 years old, man this kid has barely even scratched the surface of his prime. Excited to see him as part of Team Canada.

Any team with Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Toews, Getzlaf and Perry in a top 6 is going to be next to impossible to beat.

Best top 6 in the tournament. And when you look at it like that, it's easy to see why St. Louis was left off. IMO Nash and Marleau are better suited for bottom 6 roles then St. Louis is. This can't be an entire team of allstars who try and play Harlem Globetrotters around the ice. You need a shut down line who are physical and can grind down the other side. As much as I disagree with the Nash pick, Nash plays that role much better then St. Louis ever could.

[moon]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

You were laughing as well when I said the junior team had no chance too weren't you? How'd that turn out.

Russia, Sweden, Americans and possibly Finland. I see a 5th place finish for Canada.

The Juniors had a very good chance though, they won their group and made the SF's. Those are also 17, 18 and 19 year olds and weird things happen.

What is the rationale for any of those teams beating Canada. They all have worse rosters than Canada and a ton of holes.

[V]

I don't really have an issue with Kunitz, solely because of how unimpressive Crosby was in 2010. If Kunitz has proven to be an all-star with Crosby it's better than what we had last Olympics.

I definitely prefer St. Louis and Giroux over Nash and Carter, though.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Some Stevie Y comments about Giordano:

Eric Francis‏@EricFrancis1h
Yzerman: "Mark Giordano was a player we discussed & was in consideration. In event of injury he could potentially remain in consideration."

Eric Francis‏@EricFrancis1h
Again, as Yzerman just told me on conf call, Mark Giordano still very much in the mix in case of injury, especially because of his LH shot

Between now and the Olympics, we play the Blues, Predators (x2), Hawks, Sharks, Canucks, and the Canadiens. Only team we don't play is the Kings. Time to start double-shifting McGrattan and Westgarth until one of the top-8 D-men gets knocked out

[Huntingwhale]

Also wanted to mention that having Duchene on this team is going to be amazing. No one really talks about him, but with his speed and skill I think we're going to see him have a breakout tournament. Him and Crosby paired together would be amazing to see.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

I guess you're right. But our goalies don't suck....sooo...

Depends on your definition of suck. I'd say Finland, the Americans, and Sweden all have better starters. Russia is right there with us if Bobrovsky plays well, heck even Hiller would contend for a spot on Canada. The only significant teams we're that much better then are the Czech's and Slovak's.

We do have three good goalies without question, but none of them are top five at the moment imo.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by moon

Probably one at the end of this year.

And again is Giroux able to play LW? Is him playing on his off wing better than a Natural LWer?

If he keeps up at his current pace of 47 points in 44 games he will fall short.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Any word on team Captains?

Crosby, Toews, Weber?

[V]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

This can't be an entire team of allstars who try and play Harlem Globetrotters around the ice. You need a shut down line who are physical and can grind down the other side.

That was Toews, and it will be Toews again. Toews/Sharp/whoever will be impossible to break down. Far from a globetrotter line.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Estrada I know what you're saying about Nash, I'm not the biggest Nash fan in the world but I think people are unfairly criticizing him. The guy has produced a lot of goals in his career and even last season, had there been no lockout, would have had close to 80 points, having 42 points in 44 games, scoring 21 goals, thats a goal every other game, which to me is impressive.

[stemit14]

Dan hamhuis and Marc Edward Vlasic instead of giordano?!!! That is sooo stupid.