Ty Anderson: Blake Wheeler over Bobby Ryan

That's all I can say.

I liked Wheeler when he was here in Boston, and I think he's become a better player in Winnipeg. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not overly upset that he was chosen as one of the spare forwards. Between Ryan, Wheeler, and Okposo either one would have been ok with me.

I think the glaring omission for me is the fact Erik Johnson didn't get picked, but Brooks Orpik did :ash:

I liked Wheeler when he was here in Boston, and I think he's become a better player in Winnipeg. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not overly upset that he was chosen as one of the spare forwards. Between Ryan, Wheeler, and Okposo either one would have been ok with me.

I think the glaring omission for me is the fact Erik Johnson didn't get picked, but Brooks Orpik did :ash:
- fudd1689

Wheeler is not the player I would leave off to add Ryan.

I liked Wheeler when he was here in Boston, and I think he's become a better player in Winnipeg. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not overly upset that he was chosen as one of the spare forwards. Between Ryan, Wheeler, and Okposo either one would have been ok with me.

I think the glaring omission for me is the fact Erik Johnson didn't get picked, but Brooks Orpik did :ash:
- fudd1689

I agree with you. Orpik really does nothing for me on this ice.

I liked Wheeler when he was here in Boston, and I think he's become a better player in Winnipeg. I'm probably in the minority, but I'm not overly upset that he was chosen as one of the spare forwards. Between Ryan, Wheeler, and Okposo either one would have been ok with me.

I think the glaring omission for me is the fact Erik Johnson didn't get picked, but Brooks Orpik did :ash:
- fudd1689

I'm taking Buff or Yandle before EJ, though EJ and Orpik play a more similar style than the other two. I think Buff is the glaring omission, and a vastly underrated player. Ryan, Yandle, and EJ are right there too, but Buff just brings too unique of a skill-set to not bring in my opinion. I understand he's a horrible skater, bigger ice, etc, but Buff would be perfect to use as the extra forward/d-man.

For (frank)s sakes,hockey people are hard to get to swallow any change.

Let me say it one more time, real clear:

There is no reason for a bottom 6 in international hockey, or any bottom 6 reasoning on your roster choices.

If every NHL team had the talent to dress 4 first lines, they would (frank)ing do it.

Stop bringing scrubs and specialists to these things.

Horrible job picking this team! There gonna be lucky to compete for Bronze. Wheeler,Martin and Orpik to name a few should NOT be on this team! Shero,Bylsma influence for Martin and Orpik, but a stupid influence! Yandle over both, not even close. Buff I agree with because he's a bad skater and lazy. Okposo and Ryan should be there over Wheeler, not even close

If Wheeler is capable on penalty kills, he'll be used more than Ryan would. Is Ryan the type of player you bring in as an 'extra' or a top 6? He certainly isn't playing a bot 6..

For (frank)s sakes,hockey people are hard to get to swallow any change.

Let me say it one more time, real clear:

There is no reason for a bottom 6 in international hockey, or any bottom 6 reasoning on your roster choices.

If every NHL team had the talent to dress 4 first lines, they would (frank)ing do it.

Stop bringing scrubs and specialists to these things.
- TommyDeVito

special teams is a real thing in the olympics. being shorthanded is a real thing. i'd rather have stepan - callahan, the top PK duo on a top 5 PK team in the league, out there for team USA against a stacked PP team of kovalchuk - ovechkin - datsyuk - malkin - markov than like...stastny - kessel.

i totally disagree with leaving ryan off the team, but obviously they had their reasons and they know him better than we do. it's not like burke was the only one who had anything against him, it sounded like there were 9 people in the room and they took votes and the majority of them wanted him off the team. USA took a similar approach with their roster in 2010 and everyone shat on burke for picking drury, langenbrunner, cally, etc. and the team overachieved and won silver...almost taking out canada for gold.

Horrible job picking this team! There gonna be lucky to compete for Bronze. Wheeler,Martin and Orpik to name a few should NOT be on this team! Shero,Bylsma influence for Martin and Orpik, but a stupid influence! Yandle over both, not even close. Buff I agree with because he's a bad skater and lazy. Okposo and Ryan should be there over Wheeler, not even close
- twpguy

You should apply to be a GM.

I don't buy the line of thinking that kept Bobby Ryan off this team, but when/if the US doesn't win gold, a lack of Bobby Ryan won't be the reason.

Bigger ice over in Sochi but they still have blue lines.

Not that one game is a good indicator but Buff was out against Malkins line yesterday for Malkins return. His line dropped 4 even strength goals on him.

For (frank)s sakes,hockey people are hard to get to swallow any change.

Let me say it one more time, real clear:

There is no reason for a bottom 6 in international hockey, or any bottom 6 reasoning on your roster choices.

If every NHL team had the talent to dress 4 first lines, they would (frank)ing do it.

Stop bringing scrubs and specialists to these things.
- TommyDeVito

Oh shut up already. You're all butthurt because your Sens player got left off the team. Cry is a river. Fortunately for us, we can use the poop you're spewing as a float from drowning in those tears.

Oh shut up already. You're all butthurt because your Sens player got left off the team. Cry is a river. Fortunately for us, we can use the poop you're spewing as a float from drowning in those tears.
- systemtool

You're somethin else, bud.

And no, I really don't care that Bobby was left off the team - a) I want him fresh after the break and a little angry, and b) (frank) the USA.

But in general, even on team Canada, I hear people saying poop like Logan Couture should make the team over Taylor Hall, because he's so good defensively, and Kunitz should be there over Marty St Louis because he kills penalties....it's complete nonsense.

The USA has at least 6 good players up front and 2-3 rearguards who can do amazing work on special teams, there's no need for Callahans, Orpiks and Stepans on the team. But hey, do what you want. I DGAF.

Bigger ice over in Sochi but they still have blue lines.


- yinzer_nation

You're somethin else, bud.

And no, I really don't care that Bobby was left off the team - a) I want him fresh after the break and a little angry, and b) (frank) the USA.

But in general, even on team Canada, I hear people saying poop like Logan Couture should make the team over Taylor Hall, because he's so good defensively, and Kunitz should be there over Marty St Louis because he kills penalties....it's complete nonsense.

The USA has at least 6 good players up front and 2-3 rearguards who can do amazing work on special teams, there's no need for Callahans, Orpiks and Stepans on the team. But hey, do what you want. I DGAF.
- TommyDeVito

Yea the whole fack two way forwards and good stay at home defenders is working real well for teams like the islanders and oilersoilers

I bet youd like canadas first pairing to be subban - letang?

You're somethin else, bud.

And no, I really don't care that Bobby was left off the team - a) I want him fresh after the break and a little angry, and b) (frank) the USA.

But in general, even on team Canada, I hear people saying poop like Logan Couture should make the team over Taylor Hall, because he's so good defensively, and Kunitz should be there over Marty St Louis because he kills penalties....it's complete nonsense.

The USA has at least 6 good players up front and 2-3 rearguards who can do amazing work on special teams, there's no need for Callahans, Orpiks and Stepans on the team. But hey, do what you want. I DGAF.
- TommyDeVito

For a Canadian, you sure have a lot of interest in the construction of team USA, which more than obviously is based solely on the Ryan snub. But you DGAF.

If you got two guys with talent, might as well take a guy who is more versatile and brings as many tools with him as possible. Common sense and really basic stuff. You still need guys to kill penalties and play shut down roles.

Seriously though, if you're going to tell people you dont give a (frank), then act like you DGAF. Thing is, teams like US and Canada have enough goal scorers they need Ryan just as much as they need a Callahan. But hey, you DGAF right?

special teams is a real thing in the olympics. being shorthanded is a real thing. i'd rather have stepan - callahan, the top PK duo on a top 5 PK team in the league, out there for team USA against a stacked PP team of kovalchuk - ovechkin - datsyuk - malkin - markov than like...stastny - kessel.

i totally disagree with leaving ryan off the team, but obviously they had their reasons and they know him better than we do. it's not like burke was the only one who had anything against him, it sounded like there were 9 people in the room and they took votes and the majority of them wanted him off the team. USA took a similar approach with their roster in 2010 and everyone shat on burke for picking drury, langenbrunner, cally, etc. and the team overachieved and won silver...almost taking out canada for gold.
- rangerdanger94

Well of course you think having callahan and Stepan on the team is a great idea

Yea the whole fack two way forwards and good stay at home defenders is working real well for teams like the islanders and oilersoilers

I bet youd like canadas first pairing to be subban - letang?
- rangerdanger94

NHL/Olympics. Same thing youre saying? Btw, how is forgetting about having a decent scoring fwd working out for the rangers?

NHL/Olympics. Same thing youre saying? Btw, how is forgetting about having a decent scoring fwd working out for the rangers?
- Cptmjl

Im saying special teams still exist. And not good but usa still has kane, kessel, pacioretty, parise, etc.

Im saying special teams still exist. And not good but usa still has kane, kessel, pacioretty, parise, etc.
- rangerdanger94

So youre saying they have one line? Sounds like a good game plan.

So youre saying they have one line? Sounds like a good game plan.
- Cptmjl

Yes because okposo is the difference between usa winning gold and usa not making it our of their group.

For a Canadian, you sure have a lot of interest in the construction of team USA, which more than obviously is based solely on the Ryan snub. But you DGAF.

If you got two guys with talent, might as well take a guy who is more versatile and brings as many tools with him as possible. Common sense and really basic stuff. You still need guys to kill penalties and play shut down roles.

Seriously though, if you're going to tell people you dont give a (frank), then act like you DGAF. Thing is, teams like US and Canada have enough goal scorers they need Ryan just as much as they need a Callahan. But hey, you DGAF right?
- systemtool

And you care why?

Oh that's right, you don't.

He's in a trolling mood, Tommy, just ignore him