Stamkos will miss the 2014 Olympics. St. Louis named replacement

[cDnStealth]

Eric Francis is a moron. I wouldn't at all be surprised if MSL ends up being our MVP. His speed and shiftiness will be an asset on the open ice.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

St. Louis earned his way on this roster by his consistent play before the selections and since.
11th in the NHL couldn't be overlooked twice.
Stevie Y got a chance at a do over and made the right choice.

IMO the issue with all these dream teams is that the selections are micromanaged to the point where guys making the decisions why not to bring players rather than simply look at what they are doing in the NHL. Lots of Canadian players have played better than Nash and Hamhuis this season but it seems like the braintrust convinced themselves those players had flaws. St. Louis should have made the team in the first place based on his play the last two seasons and to me it's laughable that he had to be a sub. I still think team Canada isn't bringing the best team possible.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

If anyone wasn't aware, Eric Francis either knows nothing or just likes to say stupid things to get attention. None of his criticisms of the St Louis selection made any sense, and his alternate selection would've been one of Eric Staal or Tyler Seguin.

For those that didn't hear:

1. He's too small. Team America named big guys as their reserves. On big ice. So we can't have a small guy. The teams that have won the Stanley Cup recently have all been big teams. This is a two-week best-on-best tournament. Never mind that St-Louis has a Stanley Cup, and he got it against a big mean team that was allowed to get away with a helluva lot more than teams are allowed now.
2. He's 38 years old. He's also the reigning Art Ross winner, and again, this is a two week best-on-best tournament. He's not all of a sudden going to age five years in the next 18 days.
3. Oh yeah, he's still small. Fleury was small, he won a gold medal too.


I feel like I've wasted the time it took to write this. I dislike Francis a whole lot after this interview.

To be fair I don't believe many people in this city look to Eric Francis for an informed opinion. I heard the interview but it really didn't bother me as I was listening not for insight but for entertainment of listening to a man that knows nothing pretend to know what he's talking about.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO the issue with all these dream teams is that the selections are micromanaged to the point where guys making the decisions why not to bring players rather than simply look at what they are doing in the NHL. Lots of Canadian players have played better than Nash and Hamhuis this season but it seems like the braintrust convinced themselves those players had flaws. St. Louis should have made the team in the first place based on his play the last two seasons and to me it's laughable that he had to be a sub. I still think team Canada isn't bringing the best team possible.

How can you say that?

You don't put rain tires on for the winter. Where they are playing, who they are playing and what they are playing for all matter when considering who to pick.

What is Hamhuis' selection based off if not for his play this season and what the selection committee believes they can get out of him on international ice? He doesn't have a previous history with team Canada, he's not a 'legacy' selection, and he's not far and away worse than anyone else not on the team. He's as good as Giordano, Seabrook and probably better than Marc Staal, with the separative criteria being he's more dependable and consistent than all 3 of them.

Seems like you're interested in flash. Team Canada selection committee is more interested in substance.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Ed Snider does not approve of this move, hates the Olympics.

"It’s a farce,” Snider said. “He’s one of the best players in the league. It’s ridiculous. He’s better than half the guys on that team.

“Anybody that thinks that Claude Giroux doesn’t belong on the Canadian Olympic team, they don’t know anything about hockey as far as I’m concerned. It’s politics to a certain degree. He had to pick his own guy. His guy’s good, but Claude’s better.”

In fact, Snider isn’t a big fan of the Olympics in the first place. It came up last year during the lockout negotiations and ultimately the players’ association won. NHLers want to represent their countries and the NHL obliged.

“As an owner, I think it’s ridiculous,” Snider said.

“I haven’t taken a poll, but how can anyone be happy breaking up your season? No other league does it. Why should we?”

http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/f...efends-giroux/

[Inglewood Jack]

Snider is correct that Giroux is better than some of the guys picked, including possibly Marty. but that's not the guy he should be pissed over...it's Marleau, Carter and Kunitz that he should be ranting about, not the reigning Art Ross holder.

[codynw]

Kunitz deserves to be on the team, with or without Crosby.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by codynw

Kunitz deserves to be on the team, with or without Crosby.

yes, that career best 61 points is tough to come by in Canada's talent pool, but by gosh they are lucky to have him on the squad.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Carter is has ECHL skating but one of the best shots in the league.

I don't know where you guys thought he was a good skater. He's awful.

Are you sure you weren't confusing Jeff Carter with Dany Heatley?