48 Hours to Team Selection - Choose Team Canada Forwards

[Poe969]

is Yakapov a dual citizen....he'd be a lock to make it!

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Kunitz? For his chemistry with Crosby?

Exsqueeze me?

Just like junior chemistry never translates to the NHL, chemistry in the NHL doesn't seem to translate at the Olympic level. Seabrooke went to Vancouver in 2010 based on his chemistry with Keith, but was completely exposed, could not come close to handling the assignments Keith was needed for, and saw the least ice time of any blueliner on the team.

Crosby will be then #1C, and likely Captain. Crosby's line will be the go-to line. Who on god's green Earth could possibly think that Chris Kunitz is the single best choice to be the trigger man on Team Canada's do-or-die line at the Olympic level?

And Crosby has chemistry with everyone. Yes, he makes Kunitz better. He will also make Stamkos better, or Nash, or Benn, etc, all of whom are better to start with than Kunitz.

Kunitz deserves a spot on this team about as much as Cheechoo does.

[RyZ]

I wonder if Neal has a real shot on the wings. He has the same points per game average as Crosby at #1 in the league this season (34 points in 24 games). Nobody else matches that in the league, let alone of the Canadian wings. He's red hot.

[moon]

My concern with Neal is his skating, defence and he is a penalty magnate.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Originally Posted by Red John

Canada should just send the 23 best Corsi players.

Just for entertainment's sake, Canada's All CorsiRel Team:
(shuffled around a bit for position mostly)

Kunitz Crosby Bergeron
Hartnall Thornton Williams
Cammalleri Toews Sharp
Neal J Staal Marchand
E Kane

Not that bad, really. Probably about 50% accuracy, and most of these guys have been in the Olympic discussion before.

Defence (Note - I don't know which side guys play on, and for the purposes of this exercise don't care):

Keith -- Hamhuis
Subban -- Seabrooke
Burns -- Vlasic
Green -- TJ Brodie (Captain, obviously)

Except for Brodie, all of these guys have been considered. But I'd be pretty upset if Canada took this defence.

Which really reflects the fact that CorsiRel is a pretty good stat for evaluating forwards, but TERRIBLE at evaluating defencemen.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I wonder if Neal has a real shot on the wings. He has the same points per game average as Crosby at #1 in the league this season (34 points in 24 games). Nobody else matches that in the league, let alone of the Canadian wings. He's red hot.

I was going to make a Neal post as well. He's like Canada's Ovechkin-lite as he gets a ton of shots on net and scores a lot of goals in doing so. We have a bunch of centres that will be going (not a bad thing), some of which being forced to play wing though as a result. Neal is a natural scoring winger that will fit in well on any of the top 3 lines.

Should be an easy pick IMO. Guy has been lights out all season (when not hurt or suspended mind you ).

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I am a little surprised only 66.8% of voters have Duchene on the team

[trackercowe]

Seabrook.

[timbit]

Not trying to beat a dead horse...but Skinner with a goal and an assist tonight; 20 goals and 33 points in 32 games. He is also lightening fast.

[moon]

Originally Posted by timbit

Not trying to beat a dead horse...but Skinner with a goal and an assist tonight; 20 goals and 33 points in 32 games. He is also lightening fast.

Career high 56 points and an awful (for team Canada) 24 points last year.

There is something for taking a hit hand but if we are going with a good start to this season Seguin and Kunitz are having better years with better histories of this not being a fluke 30 games.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by moon

Career high 56 points and an awful (for team Canada) 24 points last year.

There is something for taking a hit hand but if we are going with a good start to this season Seguin and Kunitz are having better years with better histories of this not being a fluke 30 games.

He is 21 yrs old. Fourth season in the league. His 18 yr old season he had 31 goals His first three seasons he averaged 27 goals per season pro rated. Seguin or Kunitz did not have those numbers their first three seasons....and in their 4th season they sure as hell did not have his goal per game stats.

He is on pace for a 48 goal season pro rated.

4th highest goals per game winger in the NHL. Second behind Neal amongst Canadians.

Moon....he is one of the best scoring wingers in the NHL and he works harder in all three zones than either of your guys.

The only issue he has is he has had some concussion issues. He is healthy and on fire right now.

Also faster.

Fluke...my arse. Watch him play.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Just for entertainment's sake, Canada's All CorsiRel Team:
(shuffled around a bit for position mostly)

Kunitz Crosby Bergeron
Hartnall Thornton Williams
Cammalleri Toews Sharp
Neal J Staal Marchand
E Kane

Not that bad, really. Probably about 50% accuracy, and most of these guys have been in the Olympic discussion before.

Defence (Note - I don't know which side guys play on, and for the purposes of this exercise don't care):

Keith -- Hamhuis
Subban -- Seabrooke
Burns -- Vlasic
Green -- TJ Brodie (Captain, obviously)

Except for Brodie, all of these guys have been considered. But I'd be pretty upset if Canada took this defence.

Which really reflects the fact that CorsiRel is a pretty good stat for evaluating forwards, but TERRIBLE at evaluating defencemen.

Hmm I'm usually not a big stats guy, and while that isn't even close to Canada's top team, it's really not bad. That team would probably be a decently competitive Olympic team still. Yes, even with TJ Brodie. Him being amongst those names is pretty damn good.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by timbit

Fluke...my arse. Watch him play.

wow I read that wrong

[moon]

I don't think he sucks and just because I prefer someone else doesn't mean that you watch all I games and I have no idea who he is.

The fluke part is in regards to if he is now a PPG guy or the 60 point guy he has been before this 30 game sample.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't think he sucks and just because I prefer someone else doesn't mean that you watch all I games and I have no idea who he is.

The fluke part is in regards to if he is now a PPG guy or the 60 point guy he has been before this 30 game sample.

Well that happens a lot when you are 21 and uber talented....you get frigging better and keep getting better. He scored 31 as a healthy 18 year old.

[moon]

Originally Posted by timbit

Well that happens a lot when you are 21 and uber talented....you get frigging better and keep getting better. He scored 31 as a healthy 18 year old.

Good for him doesn't mean that is the level that he will be at for his whole career.

Good or even great players are going to be left off this team.

Kunitz is 5th in scoring on off many lists, Thornton is scoring at a better rate than Skinner and has done it for 10+ seasons and likely won't make it, Seguin putting up similar PPG pace with more of a history and he will be left off.

Every winger on the team will be one of the best scoring wingers in the league and likely either a. a better scorer or b. at least as good defensively as Skinner.

He is a good player but he certainly isn't better than any of the centers that will make it ahead of him- Toews, Tavares, Crosby, Getzlaf. Hard to argue that he should push off natural LWers like Benn, Sharp, Hall or even Kunitz. Isn't an upgrade over other converted centers who could play LW like Stamkos, E. Staal, Duchene.

I also don't know if stats have changed or ESPN is wrong but I have him behind Neal, Kunitz, Hall, Seguin, Sharp as Canadian wingers/converted centers PPG and tied with Perry and Duchene.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by moon

My concern with Neal is his skating, defence and he is a penalty magnate.

He's a good skater, but when he glides he pulls to the left.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by moon

Good for him doesn't mean that is the level that he will be at for his whole career.

Good or even great players are going to be left off this team.

Kunitz is 5th in scoring on off many lists, Thornton is scoring at a better rate than Skinner and has done it for 10+ seasons and likely won't make it, Seguin putting up similar PPG pace with more of a history and he will be left off.

Every winger on the team will be one of the best scoring wingers in the league and likely either a. a better scorer or b. at least as good defensively as Skinner.

He is a good player but he certainly isn't better than any of the centers that will make it ahead of him- Toews, Tavares, Crosby, Getzlaf. Hard to argue that he should push off natural LWers like Benn, Sharp, Hall or even Kunitz. Isn't an upgrade over other converted centers who could play LW like Stamkos, E. Staal, Duchene.

I also don't know if stats have changed or ESPN is wrong but I have him behind Neal, Kunitz, Hall, Seguin, Sharp as Canadian wingers/converted centers PPG and tied with Perry and Duchene.

I stated that he was second behind Neal in goals per game this season amongst
Canadian wingers, which is what he plays.

My point was that he should be mentioned amongst other Olympic hopefuls at wing, as he is an excellent player with a lot of speed and high level offensive skills.

You inferred he was a fluke. I took exception to that.

He is 21 years old and outside the prior health issues, has proven that he should be under consideration.

I know the Canada skill level at forward is ridiculous....just believe he is very under rated.

I read a post a month ago where a poster thought we may be able to get Skinner for Backlund.

On a side note, if Monahan has his numbers at 18 or 21 I suspect the Flames fanbase would be ecstatic and expecting some consideration for the 2018 games. I hope he does.

[moon]

Originally Posted by timbit

I stated that he was second behind Neal in goals per game this season amongst
Canadian wingers, which is what he plays.

My point was that he should be mentioned amongst other Olympic hopefuls at wing, as he is an excellent player with a lot of speed and high level offensive skills.

You inferred he was a fluke. I took exception to that.

He is 21 years old and outside the prior health issues, has proven that he should be under consideration.

I know the Canada skill level at forward is ridiculous....just believe he is very under rated.

I read a post a month ago where a poster thought we may be able to get Skinner for Backlund.

On a side note, if Monahan has his numbers at 18 or 21 I suspect the Flames fanbase would be ecstatic and expecting some consideration for the 2018 games. I hope he does.

I didn't infer he was a fluke I said we have to wait to see if his 30 game where he is at a PPG is a fluke based on a small sample or if where he has improved his game.

You seemed to take a lot of offense that I said he was a good player and going to miss out.

Of course him for Backlund is ridiculous but we shouldn't be basing things on crazy trade proposals from homer fans.

[moon]

Sure the Corsi team has a lot of guys that should be there but they are the undisputed top guys in the world. If Corsi is worth a damn Crosby, Toews and Getzlaf better be at/near the top.

What is concerning is that the outliers are really nowhere close (Cammy, Hartnell, Williams) which makes you wonder about guys that get pumped up by some because of their corsi numbers. It seems that some crap guys can get great corsi numbers despite not having very good seasons at all.