The thought of making sure there is a an equal amount of right handed vs left handed dmen on Team Canada is ridiculous.

Can you imagine a scenario where say: Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Crosby, Sakic were all available and were told sorry, we cannot take the best players, only the best for the position we are looking for.

Bring the best players. They are elite athletes who get used to adjusting.
- willey101

You don't need an equal number, but at least a couple.

It makes a difference on both the PP and the PK, especially on the larger ice surface that really will be an advantage for the Russians, and surprisingly the Finns.


There are more Finns playing in the KHL than in the NHL, and just like the Russians, will be able to draw from these players, who will NOT have to fly from North America and hit the ice within two days of arriving, having to deal with time change issues and trying to develop on ice chemistry.

The KHL will be shutting down two weeks prior to the Olympics, giving the Russians and Finns a huge advantage to hold extensive training camps, get settled in Sochi and being well prepared for the tournament. Yes they will have to incorporate players coming from North America a couple days prior to the start of the games, but the bulk of their teams could be much better prepared than those with their teams made up of almost 100% NHLers.

They're seriously going to take Kunitz?

They're seriously going to take Kunitz?
- RogerRoeper

The only way Canada won't be a favourite to win is if they make roster decisions like that.

The only way Canada won't be a favourite to win is if they make roster decisions like that.
- daeth

When do they decide? December?

Remember that 98' team. Rob Zamuner played on it. Rob (frank)ing Zamuner.

Oh and Gretzky wasn't good enough to take a shot in the shootout.

Remember that 98' team. Rob Zamuner played on it. Rob (frank)ing Zamuner.

Oh and Gretzky wasn't good enough to take a shot in the shootout.
- RogerRoeper

Rob Zamuner was on there?

You don't need an equal number, but at least a couple.

It makes a difference on both the PP and the PK, especially on the larger ice surface that really will be an advantage for the Russians, and surprisingly the Finns.


There are more Finns playing in the KHL than in the NHL, and just like the Russians, will be able to draw from these players, who will NOT have to fly from North America and hit the ice within two days of arriving, having to deal with time change issues and trying to develop on ice chemistry.

The KHL will be shutting down two weeks prior to the Olympics, giving the Russians and Finns a huge advantage to hold extensive training camps, get settled in Sochi and being well prepared for the tournament. Yes they will have to incorporate players coming from North America a couple days prior to the start of the games, but the bulk of their teams could be much better prepared than those with their teams made up of almost 100% NHLers.
- Doppleganger

The russians, finns, swedes, canadians, yanks will all be filled mostly with nhl'ers.
Especially the go to difference makers. Same goes for the czechs and slovaks.
In fact, i think the swedes will be 100% nhl'ers.

If the russians win, it'll be way more because of datsyuk, ovechkin etc. not the 3rd pairing khl guy who had more time to prepare.

Your point is moot

The russians, finns, swedes, canadians, yanks will all be filled mostly with nhl'ers.
Especially the go to difference makers. Same goes for the czechs and slovaks too.

In fact, i think the swedes will be 100% nhl'ers.

If the russians win, it'll be way more because of datsyuk, ovechkin etc. not the 3rd pairing khl guy who had more time to prepare.

Your point is moot
- hugefemale dog77

Ovechkin, Malkin, and Datsyuk would be a decent 4th line.

Ovechkin, Malkin, and Datsyuk would be a decent 4th line.
- laughs2907

Well that's all the playing time they're gonna get since they wont have as much time to prepare as the superstar khl'ers like morozov and zinoviev

The russians, finns, swedes, canadians, yanks will all be filled mostly with nhl'ers.
Especially the go to difference makers. Same goes for the czechs and slovaks.
In fact, i think the swedes will be 100% nhl'ers.

If the russians win, it'll be way more because of datsyuk, ovechkin etc. not the 3rd pairing khl guy who had more time to prepare.

Your point is moot
- hugefemale dog77

There were only 22 Finns who played in the NHL last season. Are you suggesting that they ALL will make the Olympic team? Only none of them played more that 40 games.

There are just as many, if not more Finns playing in the KHL. Would it not be logical to build the team from that group and add the NHLers to it?

Remember, they, the Finns are already in Russia, the KHL will shut down for two weeks prior to the Olympics giving them a good training camp.

I think a lot of people will be surprised at how many players from the KHL will be part of Olympic teams.

Well that's all the playing time they're gonna get since they wont have as much time to prepare as the superstar khl'ers like morozov and zinoviev
- hugefemale dog77

You forgot about Ilya Kovalchuk & Viktor Tikhonov.

There were only 22 Finns who played in the NHL last season. Are you suggesting that they ALL will make the Olympic team? Only none of them played more that 40 games.

There are just as many, if not more Finns playing in the KHL. Would it not be logical to build the team from that group and add the NHLers to it?

Remember, they, the Finns are already in Russia, the KHL will shut down for two weeks prior to the Olympics giving them a good training camp.

I think a lot of people will be surprised at how many players from the KHL will be part of Olympic teams.
- Doppleganger

Dude...

J. Jokinen, m. Koivu, selanne
Leino, o. jokinen, fillpula
Korpikoski, barkov, ruutu
Bergenheim, s. koivu, miettenen
Granlund

Timonen, salo
Pitkanen, lydman
Lepisto, vannanen
Vatanen

Rask
Rinne

That's only 2 players and only 1 of them a starter that didnt play in the nhl last year

The thought of making sure there is a an equal amount of right handed vs left handed dmen on Team Canada is ridiculous.

Can you imagine a scenario where say: Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Crosby, Sakic were all available and were told sorry, we cannot take the best players, only the best for the position we are looking for.

Bring the best players. They are elite athletes who get used to adjusting.
- willey101

Philosophically I agree, but it would at least be unusual if they had a couple of right-shot D playing the left side. There are more many left-hand shot than right-hand shot players in the NHL. While wingers often play on their off side it is rare for defencemen. Lots of left shots play on the right D growing up as the more talented defenceman was better able to play their "unnatural" side. Few right-hand shot D have any significant experience playing the left side (PP not counted as that is more for shooting purposes).

Goaltenders: Tomas Vokoun, Ondrej Pavelec, Michal Neuvirth

Defensemen: Tomas Kaberle, Jakub Kindl, Rostislav Klesla, Filip Kuba, Zbynek Michalek, Ladislav Smid, Marek Zidlicky

Forwards: Patrik Elias, Martin Erat, Martin Hanzal, Ales Hemsky, Tomas Fleischmann, Jaromir Jagr, David Krejci, Milan Michalek, Tomas Plekanec, Vladimir Sobotka, Jiri Tlusty, Jakub Voracek, Radim Vrbata

Maybe a khl'er here or there, but this is pretty much gonna be the czech team.

Again, ill say


Side note; that's a pretty good effin team.

Rob Zamuner was on there?
- laughs2907

Oh yes. It was unbelievable.

Oh yes. It was unbelievable.
- RogerRoeper

WTF were they thinking?

Along with the fact that almost every major nation is gonna send over 90% nhl'ers, Fuk the khl and the extra couple weeks of preparation.

And aside from a handful of players from different nations, those euro leagues are full of plugs in comparison to the talent the nhl will send over.

WTF were they thinking?
- laughs2907

They outsmarted themselves. They wanted to send over a 'well rounded' nhl type squad. And by doing so they left off some obvious talent.

That said, i still believe canada was the best team. They badly outplayed the czechs in the semis and ran into hasek who put one of the best goaltending performances in history during that tourney.

They outsmarted themselves. They wanted to send over a 'well rounded' nhl type squad. And by doing so they left off some obvious talent.

That said, i still believe canada was the best team. They badly outplayed the czechs in the semis and ran into hasek who put one of the best goaltending performances in history during that tourney.
- hugefemale dog77

Yeah, I just looked it up... Pretty good team.

http://www.hockeynut.com/olympics/canros.html

They outsmarted themselves. They wanted to send over a 'well rounded' nhl type squad. And by doing so they left off some obvious talent.

That said, i still believe canada was the best team. They badly outplayed the czechs in the semis and ran into hasek who put one of the best goaltending performances in history during that tourney.
- hugefemale dog77

Not to mention Marc (frank)ing Crawford leaving #99 on the bench in the shootout.

Yeah, I just looked it up... Pretty good team.

http://www.hockeynut.com/olympics/canros.html
- laughs2907

Except they named Lindros Captain. Was that a Bobby Clarke move, if I remember correctly?

He couldnt even hold half that teams jock. What a waste!!!

Hell of a D corp, and same with net. Ridiculous talent there.

Except they named Lindros Captain. Was that a Bobby Clarke move, if I remember correctly?

He couldnt even hold half that teams jock. What a waste!!!

Hell of a D corp, and same with net. Ridiculous talent there.
- bruinsbeer69

shhhh

They outsmarted themselves. They wanted to send over a 'well rounded' nhl type squad. And by doing so they left off some obvious talent.

That said, i still believe canada was the best team. They badly outplayed the czechs in the semis and ran into hasek who put one of the best goaltending performances in history during that tourney.
- hugefemale dog77

This idea that you nee to send "role Players" to play those roles is B.S. NHL stars play better defensively than ever. Send the best talent.

They pulled that in 06' too. Draper was on that team. And Bertuzzi had not been good for a good couple of years but he was still sent over.

Crawford not putting Gretzky in the shootout is mind-boggling though.

This idea that you nee to send "role Players" to play those roles is B.S. NHL stars play better defensively than ever. Send the best talent.

They pulled that in 06' too. Draper was on that team. And Bertuzzi had not been good for a good couple of years but he was still sent over.

Crawford not putting Gretzky in the shootout is mind-boggling though.
- RogerRoeper

agreed.
doing this negates Canada's biggest strength imo..... our depth of top end talent all the way down the lineup.

generally speaking most of the major nations can kinda 'washout' our top lines if you will.
while we send Crosby, Giroux, Tavares etc.
Russian has datsyuk, ovechkin, kovalchuk etc.
Sweden has the sedins, backstrom etc.
USA has parise, kessel, suter etc.

great players they are notwithstanding, considering sending over guys like marchand and j. staal to fill a specific role over more talented players like couture, hall, Duchene etc is a silly move imo.

the difference comes in those 3rd, 4th lines and bottom pairings.
we'll be rolling out true elite players like toews, e.staal, Bergeron, hall, pietrangelo and our counterparts will be forced to match them with guys like steen, hornqvist, nikitin, kulemin, stepan, orpik.

even though our very top end guys are still probably the strongest group save maybe Russia, the point of the post remains.

3. The big ice factor cannot be underestimated, and the Americans will have to find a way to adapt quickly to a game that can often be played at a much different pace than NHL games. To try and dictate the tone and pace of games in the tournament, the Americans will need to capitalize on a strong collection of smart, nimble puck-moving defensemen. This blue-line unit will look dramatically different than the one in Vancouver, which had a more blue-collar identity. Young players like Kevin Shattenkirk of St. Louis, Keith Yandle, who is an underappreciated talent in Phoenix, Martin, Jack Johnson of Columbus and Ryan Suter, who should have won the Norris Trophy last season, have the potential to stretch opposing defenses and spring a fast, talented group of forwards.


read entire article @ http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...s-win-gold-sochi-olympics