I definitely think Dubinsky would have been a good choice over Stepan, and that's what it came down to, the coaches chose Stepan.

Okposo wasn't even a consideration, he had 6 points his last two games, and most certainly the team was already determined by then.
- jimbro83

Me too. Does Dubi play a little more of a reckless game, of course he does. But he's a better skater and is having a great season at the faceoff dot. He's a 5th center for this team. He's better suited for it.

Me too. Does Dubi play a little more of a reckless game, of course he does. But he's a better skater and is having a great season at the faceoff dot. He's a 5th center for this team. He's better suited for it.
- tomburton99

he's more versatile, can play wing too and yes, better at faceoffs.

Whatever though, like it says in the NY Post this morning, it's been a 4 year audition for the Olympic team, not a 41 game one.

I just hope it helps catapults Stepan's game back to where it belongs. That's all I care about.

ryan should just be there, he is a good skater and could've used his sick moveson the bigger surface, i am worried about stepan, he is sometimes even too slow for nhl rinks, what is he going to do when there is even more space. good for stepan to make it but he doesn't deserve it and lets be honest, we want stepan to be our #2 center after a bonafide #1, that is saying enough.

ryan should just be there, he is a good skater and could've used his sick moveson the bigger surface, i am worried about stepan, he is sometimes even too slow for nhl rinks, what is he going to do when there is even more space. good for stepan to make it but he doesn't deserve it and lets be honest, we want stepan to be our #2 center after a bonafide #1, that is saying enough.
- webleedblue

I think people here are starting to get ridiculously too hard on Stepan. I know everybody is really down on this team, but I think starting to imply that Stepan is too slow even to play in the NHL now is a little exaggerated.

At least Stepan making the Olympic team gets people off Dan Girardi's back for a little while.

I think people here are starting to get ridiculously too hard on Stepan. I know everybody is really down on this team, but I think starting to imply that Stepan is too slow even to play in the NHL now is a little exaggerated.

At least Stepan making the Olympic team gets people off Dan Girardi's back for a little while.
- jimbro83

alright too slow wasn't right but he is a below average skater, which is dangerous for european ice

I definitely think Dubinsky would have been a good choice over Stepan, and that's what it came down to, the coaches chose Stepan.

Okposo wasn't even a consideration, he had 6 points his last two games, and most certainly the team was already determined by then.
- jimbro83

I believe I read a week or 2 ago that a little before the GMs release the Olympic camp roster, they.submit a list of all eligble players that can be picked privately to the Olympic committee. If you're not on the list, you can't be selected. And just because you're on the list doesn't mean you're invited to the orientation camp. Guys like KO and bishop might've been left off that original list and ineligible to be selected.

I think people here are starting to get ridiculously too hard on Stepan. I know everybody is really down on this team, but I think starting to imply that Stepan is too slow even to play in the NHL now is a little exaggerated.

At least Stepan making the Olympic team gets people off Dan Girardi's back for a little while.
- jimbro83

Pretty crazy that ranger fans are actually pissed and upset that one of their players was chosen. Odd bunch in here.

Pretty crazy that ranger fans are actually pissed and upset that one of their players was chosen. Odd bunch in here.
- rangerdanger94

it's actually pretty aggravating

Pretty crazy that ranger fans are actually pissed and upset that one of their players was chosen. Odd bunch in here.
- rangerdanger94

Tell me about it. How about being happy and supportive of a guy that was a second round pick for the Rangers and has exceeded all expectations.

And on the lovefest with Bobby Ryan, there is a reason why he isn't there. He can certainly put the puck in the net, but he has some lazy dog tendencies, which I am sure haven't gone unnoticed.

Tell me about it. How about being happy and supportive of a guy that was a second round pick for the Rangers and has exceeded all expectations.

And on the lovefest with Bobby Ryan, there is a reason why he isn't there. He can certainly put the puck in the net, but he has some lazy dog tendencies, which I am sure haven't gone unnoticed.
- Pete V

people need to realize that there is nobody in the USA who knows Bobby Ryan better than Brian Burke. He is the one who was responsible for drafting him second overall in 2005.

people need to realize that there is nobody in the USA who knows Bobby Ryan better than Brian Burke. He is the one who was responsible for drafting him second overall in 2005.
- jimbro83

Rumor floating around that Burke wanted Jack Johnson in 05, but his scouting team advised him to pick Ryan. I honestly think Brian Burke has fallen into the category of Sather. What I mean by that is the game has passed him by. There is no reason why Pacioretty was taken ahead of Ryan and the snubbing of Yandle is just a joke. He's head and should the best offensive D-man the US has.

It was dumb, at least if he spent the time with Barbara Underhill it would have made sense. Be that as it may, he's a Ranger, and so I hope for the best.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

Underhill has been on the Maple Leafs payroll since April of 2012.

After Brian Boyle, she gave up on the Rangers.

Pyatt placed on waivers yesterday. How shocking

Pyatt placed on waivers yesterday. How shocking
- mames11

About two months too late......

I think people here are starting to get ridiculously too hard on Stepan. I know everybody is really down on this team, but I think starting to imply that Stepan is too slow even to play in the NHL now is a little exaggerated.

At least Stepan making the Olympic team gets people off Dan Girardi's back for a little while.
- jimbro83

It may not have been the Olympics but how quickly some people forget he has shown up big time on the national stage

Tell me about it. How about being happy and supportive of a guy that was a second round pick for the Rangers and has exceeded all expectations.

And on the lovefest with Bobby Ryan, there is a reason why he isn't there. He can certainly put the puck in the net, but he has some lazy dog tendencies, which I am sure haven't gone unnoticed.
- Pete V

Yes, we are too unbiased at times. The one thing people fail to realize is USA wanted 5 Centers. No Step means your putting Dubi on the team, not Bobby Ryan. But I disagree with the whole Bobby Ryan thing. To leave him off is crazy. If you really think he can only excel in a top 6 scoring role on this team that's fine, at MINIMUM you have him as one of the extra forwards in case a top 6 forward goes down and then another forward than can slide into a bottom 6 role.

I also do not understand how Paul Martin was always a "lock" and put in the same category as Mac. This is the same Paul Martin the Pens couldn't trade away for a bag of pucks when we was horrible 2 years ago right?

It may not have been the Olympics but how quickly some people forget he has shown up big time on the national stage
- cranford93

Yes to mean Stepan has more upside than Dubi in case of an injury. And I know this board loves Wheeler but ya gotta go Ryan > Wheeler as it looks like that's what it came down to in that ESPN article (really good read and you all need to check it out.)

Yes, we are too unbiased at times. The one thing people fail to realize is USA wanted 5 Centers. No Step means your putting Dubi on the team, not Bobby Ryan. But I disagree with the whole Bobby Ryan thing. To leave him off is crazy. If you really think he can only excel in a top 6 scoring role on this team that's fine, at MINIMUM you have him as one of the extra forwards in case a top 6 forward goes down and then another forward than can slide into a bottom 6 role.

I also do not understand how Paul Martin was always a "lock" and put in the same category as Mac. This is the same Paul Martin the Pens couldn't trade away for a bag of pucks when we was horrible 2 years ago right?
- mrhattrick27

And the Same Paul Martin that is always injured. I actually don't mind Brooks Orpik being named. He brings a game and elements of game that US blue line lacks. Other than Mcdonagh, Orpick would be the only one willing to clear the crease and block a shot.

About two months too late......
- Downeaster

Well, if true, it makes perfect sense. The Leafs are all excellent skaters.

And the Same Paul Martin that is always injured. I actually don't mind Brooks Orpik being named. He brings a game and elements of game that US blue line lacks. Other than Mcdonagh, Orpick would be the only one willing to clear the crease and block a shot.
- tomburton99

I have a feeling by the end of the tournament we will see Mac playing on the right side along side Suter and playing every other shift. Book it now. Mac is rising to Suter status and the Olympics will be his coming out party.

And No one mentioned this but how big a steal is his contract after seeing Robocop get $7 per??

I have a feeling by the end of the tournament we will see Mac playing on the right side along side Suter and playing every other shift. Book it now. Mac is rising to Suter status and the Olympics will be his coming out party.

And No one mentioned this but how big a steal is his contract after seeing Robocop get $7 per??
- mrhattrick27

I don't that will happen because there is no way Fowler and Shattenkirk get paired together. Mcdonagh is gonna need to be paired with of them to provide balance. You know Bylsma will never break up Martin and Orpik. Mcdonagh will finally show the world that he's a top 10 D-man though.

Talk about an odd bunch. You're all defending Stepan's addition to the USA squad, actually I could care less about the Olympics. They are suppose to be about amateur sports. But I digress. Yet the same defenders of Step are ready to run Ryan Callahan out of town and all he's done is bust his a$$ for you the "fans" and the organization game in, game out. Odd bunch indeed.

Talk about an odd bunch. You're all defending Stepan's addition to the USA squad, actually I could care less about the Olympics. They are suppose to be about amateur sports. But I digress. Yet the same defenders of Step are ready to run Ryan Callahan out of town and all he's done is bust his a$$ for you the "fans" and the organization game in, game out. Odd bunch indeed.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

who is running Ryan Callahan out of town?

who is running Ryan Callahan out of town?

- jimbro83

Check out some previous blogs. A lot of people want to trade Cally rather than give him a new contract (because of his injury history?)

Resigning Callahan is a no-brainer, IMO. I am not sure why you'd trade your captain and heart-and-soul of the team for any reason.

who is running Ryan Callahan out of town?

- jimbro83

C'mon, everyone on here. Don't pay him, he's not worth the money etc. This is not new news Jim.