[Rumour] H Sedin out for Olympics, M Johansson in

[Flash Walken]

This is one of the drawbacks of trying to find every scoop seconds before someone else.

I just wait until I see "[News]" with sureLoss' name underneath.

I'm quite happy to wait until it's confirmed news. I don't need to hear the 'rumour' 8 hours prior.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Mikko Koivu is not going now either. Can Backlund play for Finland?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Mikko Koivu is not going now either. Can Backlund play for Finland?

Markus Granlund!

[MissTeeks]

Filppula is out for the Fins too.

[GoFlamesGo1989]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Mikko Koivu is not going now either. Can Backlund play for Finland?

He could of if he didn't play for Sweden in the World Championships in 2012. His mother is from Finland.

[alan21]

Originally Posted by GoFlamesGo1989

He could of if he didn't play for Sweden in the World Championships in 2012. His mother is from Finland.

What are the rules for that anyways?

Petr Nedved played for team Canada before but he's on the Czech national team now.

[flamesfan1297]

Well No I can never cheer for Sweden

[djsFlames]

I like how through the whole ordeal he just responded with things like "Nope, heard nothing. I doubt I'm on there. It doesn't really matter if they don't pick me."

Mature.

[driveway]

Johansson v. Backlund advanced stats; source: Extraskater.com

Johansson
CF% 49.3% FF% 48.9% CF%rel +0.2% FF%rel +0.5% PDO 99.0 O-Zone starts 54% QoC(TotTm%) 29.6%

Backlund
CF% 49.1% FF% 50.2 CF%rel +5.0% FF%rel +4.6% PDO 98.0 O-Zone starts 46.3% QoC(ToTm%) 31.2%

To summarize: Backlund and Johansson have largely similar numbers, the significant differences occur in O-Zone starts, where Backlund starts most of his shifts in the D-zone and Johansson starts most in the O-zone and in relative Fenwick and Corsi, meaning that Backlund is (excuse the grammar) 'more better' than his teammates than Johansson is. Backlund also faces more difficult competition that Jonansson does.

Considering that Johansson should be assuming 3rd/4th line minutes and duties in Sochi, and also considering that Backlund exceeds Backstrom and Berglund in D-Zone starts and QofC, the numbers indicate to me that Backlund would have been the better choice for team Sweden as he is the better defensive player, better suited to facing stiffer competition and defensive zone starts.

But then, we already know that I'm the conductor of the Backwagon so my defence of the man is well within character.

However, I will be happy to take the gold medal away from those filthy, blonde pickled-fish eaters.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by driveway

Johansson v. Backlund advanced stats; source: Extraskater.com

Johansson
CF% 49.3% FF% 48.9% CF%rel +0.2% FF%rel +0.5% PDO 99.0 O-Zone starts 54% QoC(TotTm%) 29.6%

Backlund
CF% 49.1% FF% 50.2 CF%rel +5.0% FF%rel +4.6% PDO 98.0 O-Zone starts 46.3% QoC(ToTm%) 31.2%

To summarize: Backlund and Johansson have largely similar numbers, the significant differences occur in O-Zone starts, where Backlund starts most of his shifts in the D-zone and Johansson starts most in the O-zone and in relative Fenwick and Corsi, meaning that Backlund is (excuse the grammar) 'more better' than his teammates than Johansson is. Backlund also faces more difficult competition that Jonansson does.

Considering that Johansson should be assuming 3rd/4th line minutes and duties in Sochi, and also considering that Backlund exceeds Backstrom and Berglund in D-Zone starts and QofC, the numbers indicate to me that Backlund would have been the better choice for team Sweden as he is the better defensive player, better suited to facing stiffer competition and defensive zone starts.

But then, we already know that I'm the conductor of the Backwagon so my defence of the man is well within character.

However, I will be happy to take the gold medal away from those filthy, blonde pickled-fish eaters.

You are leaving out a couple important facts.

1. Backlund is on a hot streak, one that I believe is unparalleled in his career. Who knows how long that can continue.

2. Johansson has been a better player in every season he has been in the NHL and he has shown more consistency than Backlund in their short NHL careers.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Johansson making the team isn't necessarily a snub, but Backlund deserved to be on that team. Add in the Hudler fiasco and Giordano being much better than Hamhuis and I'm already upset for a lot of Flames players. Guess I'll be supporting the Swiss team for Berra's sake, just can't support the Czech's after screwing with Hudler so badly.

Oh, and cheering for team Canada of course. What, do you think I'm some sort of ###### bag? Only a real ###### bag would cheer against his home country. I mean who would do such a thing?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by alan21

What are the rules for that anyways?

Petr Nedved played for team Canada before but he's on the Czech national team now.

Nedved was a special case because he defected from Czechoslovakia

he couldn't play for the Czech team until he spent 5 years back living their and gained citizenship

[trackercowe]

Vrbata not going is every bit of a snub as Hudler being left out. The Czech's really screwed the pooch on this one and will be lucky to finish in the top five.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Vrbata not going is every bit of a snub as Hudler being left out. The Czech's really screwed the pooch on this one and will be lucky to finish in the top five.

No idea what the Czechs are thinking. That team selection looks like it was done with a dartboard.

[Sune76]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Johansson making the team isn't necessarily a snub, but Backlund deserved to be on that team. Add in the Hudler fiasco and Giordano being much better than Hamhuis and I'm already upset for a lot of Flames players. Guess I'll be supporting the Swiss team for Berra's sake, just can't support the Czech's after screwing with Hudler so badly.

Backlund is just on a hot streak. He has been extremley inconsistant in his NHL career. Johansson is also 2 years younger.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

You are leaving out a couple important facts.

1. Backlund is on a hot streak, one that I believe is unparalleled in his career. Who knows how long that can continue.

2. Johansson has been a better player in every season he has been in the NHL and he has shown more consistency than Backlund in their short NHL careers.

True, but the tournament is next week, not two years ago.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Sune76

Backlund is just on a hot streak. He has been extremley inconsistant in his NHL career. Johansson is also 2 years younger.

I have no problem with the Johansson selection. I just said Backlund deserves to be on that team, and he does.

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

You are leaving out a couple important facts.

1. Backlund is on a hot streak, one that I believe is unparalleled in his career. Who knows how long that can continue.

2. Johansson has been a better player in every season he has been in the NHL and he has shown more consistency than Backlund in their short NHL careers.

This is not true regarding advanced stats. It is true considering overall point production.

Backlund shows much more consistency year-to-year in the advanced metrics, particularly in Relative Corsi, Zone-starts, and Quality of Competition.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Locke

No idea what the Czechs are thinking. That team selection looks like it was done with a dartboard.

Omg

Opposing teams are going to have a field day with nedved on the ice. I don't get that selection at all! NHL teams had fun with him before he left. International teams will run up the score. The Swedish 4th line will make him their B$&@?!

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

True, but the tournament is next week, not two years ago.

Your point? Backlund right now is no better than Johansson, so looking at their history is more than a fair way to establish separation between the two.