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

[moon]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

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

With a heathy Crosby ad Eastern teas tanking he could easily have a better second half.

[Red John]

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.

In your attempt to attack Moon as a Canada homer you've swung the other way as a Canada hater. Don't be a hater.

While you certainly can question a couple of decisions (Giroux, MSL, Hamhuis mainly) this is still by far and away the best roster going to the Olympics. It's not the same as the world juniors where the gap was siginificantly smaller and you could argue that other countries (like Sweden) actually had a superior roster.

How confident are you in your prediction? Willing to bet you $500 that Canada finishes 4th or higher. PM me if interested.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

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.

My definition of suck is pretty standard, ie. bad, not good, terrible, brutal, horrendous. I certainly don't think any of our goalies fall into that category.

I don't really know if you're commenting on my post, or not, but I never said anything about our group of goalies being better than those countries. But I do think they can definitely compete with those countries goalies. Is Lou as good as Tuuka Rask, Henrik Lundqvist, or John Quick, maybe not, but I am happy that we have Lou in net who certainly competes and is having a pretty damn good season.

[moon]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

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.

For this season Price and Luongo's numbers are right there with the other top guys and better than Lundqvist's.

Bobrovsky outside of 45 games last year is way behind the Canadian goalies and I don't Hillier comes close to beating out the 3 Canadian guys.

Price and Luongo have both shown they can be lights out and have the ability to be the best goalie in the tournament. The good thing for Canada is unlike other teams they don't need that from their goalies and only need them to be good.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by 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.

Duchene plays LW, they're not going to play him with Crosby in place of Kunitz.

Duchene would be great with Getzlaf and Perry. He would add some much needed speed to an otherwise slow line.

[Meers]

Nash was the only player that really surprised me. But I get how he could be more useful in a bottom six role than St. Louis or Giroux.

[Tinordi]

Do the people criticizing Kunitz understand that he's currently 6th in the league in scoring?

Please let that sink in.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by 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.

Seriously. Could you imagine a line of Duchene, Crosby and Stamkos? Heavens....

I would love to see a Benn/Toews/Sharp line too. They would wreak havoc on those Ruskie defenseman. DON'T STOP CYCLING!

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Do the people criticizing Kunitz understand that he's currently 6th in the league in scoring?

Please let that sink in.

But a pylon could score if it played with Crosby!

Seriously I don't see why people are upset about this pick. He's earned his spot.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Do the people criticizing Kunitz understand that he's currently 6th in the league in scoring?

Please let that sink in.

And just imagine where a better player (ie. Duchene) would be in scoring playing with Crosby.

Please let that sink in.

[Tinordi]

Seriously, like which left wing is Kunitz bumping off that's such a travesty?

Hall
Neal
Skinner

Would any of you seriously take any of those guys over Kunitz who has instant chemistry with the best player in the tournament and is SIXTH in the league in overall scoring?

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

And just imagine where a better player (ie. Duchene) would be in scoring playing with Crosby.

Please let that sink in.

You're right I'd have to imagine it because it isn't real. Duchene doesn't play with Crosby so who knows how he'd do.

What we do know is that there's a guy who has 47 points, 14th in the league for PPG playing with the best player in the tournament for over 100 games now who's also available to pick.

[SuperMatt18]

http://allwonmedia.com/sports/how-deep-is-team-canada/

Interesting article that creates the A through J Canada teams.

Don't agree with his order, especially on the lower rosters, but interesting to show just how deep Canada is.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

And just imagine where a better player (ie. Duchene) would be in scoring playing with Crosby.

Please let that sink in.

Proven Chemistry is less risky than Speculated Chemistry

[codynw]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

And just imagine where a better player (ie. Duchene) would be in scoring playing with Crosby.

Please let that sink in.

Crosby always seems to have difficulty adjusting to new wingers. Bringing someone that he is already used to and plays great with is not worth complaining about.

[moon]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

And just imagine where a better player (ie. Duchene) would be in scoring playing with Crosby.

Please let that sink in.

Where would he be? Ahead of Crosby in scoring?

Kunitz has done about as well as anyone would be expected to be playing with Crosby. He was also very good in Anaheim before playing with Crosby.

You know who wasn't very good playing with Crosby? Pretty much everyone they tried with him in 2010.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by moon

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.

Why are they worse? Because their names aren't superstar names and some hard to pronounce? They're built like a team while Canada is built like an all star team whose pieces don't match.

[East Coast Flame]

In 2010 Crosby tied for second on the team in points (7 in 7 games), playing with two guys he had never played with before (mostly Iggy and Staal)....he'll be fine.

[moon]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Why are they worse? Because their names aren't superstar names and some hard to pronounce? They're built like a team while Canada is built like an all star team whose pieces don't match.

Because they aren't as good hockey players.

Canada is built like a team probably more so than any of the other teams.

The pieces match great. They have natural wingers playing wing. They have 4 dominant centers down the middle. They have guys who can win FO's, they have a great shutdown line. They have shutdown defensemen- Vlasic, Weber, Pietr, Bouw. They have offensive guy- Subban, Keith, Doughty.

They have guys who have worked well together Perry/Getzlaf, Kunitz/Crosby and Pietr/Bouw.

This Canadian team was built like a real team and not like an All-Star team at all. That is what 95% of the complaints are. It is absolutely ridiculous, but not surprising, that you don't get that.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

In 2010 Crosby tied for second on the team in points (7 in 7 games), playing with two guys he had never played with before (mostly Iggy and Staal)....he'll be fine.

Yea he will be fine this year because he will be playing with Kunitz.