48 Hours to Team Selection - Choose Team Canada Forwards

[timbit]

Originally Posted by moon

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.

I am going to bed however, 2nd in goals per game as a Canadian winger is a little better than good. It is not like it happened all of a sudden. As I stated, as an 18 year old, his only healthy year....he had 31 goals.

Anyways, all good.

I actually enjoy a lot of your viewpoints and rebuttals to counter opinions.

Good night.

[Poe969]

shouldn't you be saying "Goodnight Moon"

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by moon

I will give a pass if someone left Stamkos off due to injury but even that is a stretch.

My assumption is that he's injured, and won't be ready. Which is the only rational for leaving him off.

I assume I speak for the 6%.

[t0rrent98]

Tyler Sequin, P.K. Subban, Jamie Benn, Alex Pietrangelo, Nathan MacKinnon (just because),

[Hemi-Cuda]

TSN just had their Team Canada lineup predictions and they all seemed to agree that Rick Nash will be on the team. Am I missing something with him? The guy has a whopping 7 goals this year, and he has never been a big game performer (his playoff stats are abysmal). How can he be ahead of guys like Benn, St. Louis, or Thornton?

[Rejean31]

Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin should both get strong consideration.

[djsFlames]

Benn for sure.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

TSN just had their Team Canada lineup predictions and they all seemed to agree that Rick Nash will be on the team. Am I missing something with him? The guy has a whopping 7 goals this year, and he has never been a big game performer (his playoff stats are abysmal). How can he be ahead of guys like Benn, St. Louis, or Thornton?

He dominated the Russians in Vancouver, and the coaching staff for Canada loves what he brings in all 3 zones in a short tournament. Hitch loves him. That counts for a lot, as shown by that US selection article. Babcock obviously likes what he brings as well, he played the hell out of him in a couple games if memory serves.

Nash is a good player.

[djsFlames]

One thing can be said with certainty, this crop of forwards is WAY more impressive than those on the US roster.

[stemit14]

When you think about it... Canada has enough star players that it could easily field 3 full teams that could all have a legit shot at winning a medal in these Olympics. Even guys that are having off years (Spezza, Nash, staal) would still be good enough to give the Russians, swedes, USA, fins, and Czechs trouble. I don't think those countries could say the same.

I mean, look at all the great players that might not be on this team... Seguin, benn, duchene, iginla, Lucic, Spezza, Letang, Neal, St. Louis, Giordano, Thornton, Boyle, marleau, couture, Richards, carter, etc.

[FAN]

I put a lot of stock on guys who were there for 2010. I have Bergeron, Carter, Couture, Crosby, Getzlaf, Giroux, Nash, Perry, M. Richards, E. Staal, St. Louis, Stamkos, Tavares, and Toews.

I'm not sure Nash would make it given that he seems to be a different player after his concussion but as overrated as some fans think he is, Nash pre-concussion is a bonafide 30-40 goal scorer in the NHL and has been very productive for Team Canada in international tournaments. I also think he has a unique skillset and would be one of the best options to put in front of the net on the PP and collect garbage goals.

I think Eric Staal would make it based on reputation alone but I won't be surprised if he's left out.

I generally left out unproven guys like Duchene or Skinner on the team. Skinner has zero Team Canada experience and Duchene's international experience is very limited and far from being a consistent producer. The only guy in this category I included was Logan Couture. I feel he has a bit more pedigree than a guy like Duchene in the NHL and given how he has produced in the NHL the past few seasons there's no question that Couture is the type of versatile, all-around forward that Team Canada can just put anywhere in the lineup.

I left out guys like Benn, Sharp and Neal because I don't think they are elite talents and I think that all else being equal Yzerman would select centers who can move to the wing rather than pure wingers.

I kept Mike Richards in there because he was on the 2010 team and he's a winner. I put Tavares in there because he's going to be a mainstay on Team Canada for years to come, he has the NHL numbers, and he's been an absolute star for Team Canada in the past. It's time for Tavares to "graduate" to the Team Canada Olympic team.

[19Yzerman19]

I left out guys like Benn, Sharp and Neal because I don't think they are elite talents [...] I kept Mike Richards in there because he was on the 2010 team and he's a winner.

Lmao

[Erick Estrada]

Kind of shocked how many people picked Rick Nash who IMO won't make the team. He's been on the decline for years now and if anyone has been paying attention has not been the same player coming back from his early season concussion. I just don't see how he gets picked given that he hasn't played at an elite level for years now.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

TSN just had their Team Canada lineup predictions and they all seemed to agree that Rick Nash will be on the team. Am I missing something with him? The guy has a whopping 7 goals this year, and he has never been a big game performer (his playoff stats are abysmal). How can he be ahead of guys like Benn, St. Louis, or Thornton?

Rick Nash is the captain of the All-Overrated team. I think a lot of fans and media types are really guilty of looking to the past when they think of Rick Nash and not the present. I still don't think he makes the team as I'm hoping Yzerman and Co. are actually paying attention to how players are currently playing and not using the Oilers good old boys approach.

[strombad]

The only thing that has surprised me thus far, really, is that there are some people leaving off Sharp.

The guy has played lights-out hockey for the past 4 or 5 years, is on pace for and 80-90 point season, and leads the Blackhawks in goal scoring. Add that to the fact that he's far more well known for his "200ft game" than he is for pure scoring (despite putting up pretty consistent 30 goal seasons) and I think you've got a guy you can't leave off no matter what.

[badger89]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

TSN just had their Team Canada lineup predictions and they all seemed to agree that Rick Nash will be on the team. Am I missing something with him? The guy has a whopping 7 goals this year, and he has never been a big game performer (his playoff stats are abysmal). How can he be ahead of guys like Benn, St. Louis, or Thornton?

One of the most overrated players in the NHL. Good for the odd highlight reel goal, but far from consistent. It's difficult to see how people still overrate him, especially given his recent performance.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by strombad

The only thing that has surprised me thus far, really, is that there are some people leaving off Sharp.

The guy has played lights-out hockey for the past 4 or 5 years, is on pace for and 80-90 point season, and leads the Blackhawks in goal scoring. Add that to the fact that he's far more well known for his "200ft game" than he is for pure scoring (despite putting up pretty consistent 30 goal seasons) and I think you've got a guy you can't leave off no matter what.

Yeah I'm thinking I may just revise my roster to include Sharp as an extra forward in place of Taylor Hall. I hate leaving a guy who can skate that well at home, but he's redundant with Duchene as a starter and Sharp is more versatile.

[Knut]

Sharp is also on fire Goal wise right now, but can also play a 3rd/4th line shutdown role if needed.

He is also fast... i think he is a lock.

[Stay Golden]

Benn, Seguin and Subban should all be on Canada's roster.

[You Need a Thneed]

Iginla has to be higher on any list than Rick Nash. And I don't think Iginla is going.