2014 Winter Olympics

[gkIrish]

Canada Olympic hockey team: The all-snub team could compete too - CBSSports.com

Olympic hockey: The All-Snub team looks pretty good - NHL - Sporting News

Goaltending and defense very average compared to the rest of the top teams. Forwards are pretty good but a lot of those guys are "names" that are older and have lost a ton of their skill.

 

[KPENN]

Canada's B team (going off camp invites) and who made original roster.

Neal-Giroux-Eberle
Hall-Thornton-Couture
Lucic-E. Stall-St. Louis
Marchand-J. Staal-Ladd
M Richards

Alzner-Seabrook
M. Staal-Boyle
Phaneuf-Letang
Green

Crawford
Holtby

 

[aubeirish]

Yeah OK I can buy that. That's not how I read your posts. Sorry.

No sweat man. I'm not exactly the best in expressing myself.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Bottom line is the US played its worst game of the tournament and Canada played probably its best and it was 1-0. They play 20 times Canada might win 11-12 times. So spare me the Canada B team BS

It was their worst game because they were actually playing a top 4 team. Every other team that the US played either lost 2 games before the round robin was over or didn't make it out of the quarter finals. Heck, Finland beat Russia more easily than the US and everyone is basically agreeing that Russia was trash this Olympics.

I don't think this was by far Canada's best game, they have consistently dominated every team they have played but just couldn't put the puck in the net, which was a problem again today. The US had blown teams out more than Canada to this point, so had more momentum, and were the home team (so could match lines) and Canada still controlled a majority of the play. There is a lot more to it than Canada playing their best game and the US their worst.

Also, I think that you are really under selling what Lativa did this tournament. Yes, Canada barely beating them was embarrassing but seriously they kept every single game they lost within two goals. At a point in the second period against the swedes they were actually beating them. I doubt it is a coincidence that teams struggled with them.

 

[gkIrish]

Canada's B team (going off camp invites)

Neal-Giroux-Eberle
Hall-Thornton-Couture
Ladd-E. Stall-Lucic
Marchand-J. Staal-Kunitz
M Richards

Alzner-Seabrook
M. Staal-Boyle
Phaneuf-Letang
Green

Crawford
Holtby

Kunitz is on the Olympic roster

 

[KPENN]

Kunitz is on the Olympic roster

Tits forgot he was on there, fixed it.

 

[aubeirish]

Add Stamkos, Subban and Smith between the pipes (because they didn't play).

 

[KPENN]

Add Stamkos, Subban(because he didn't play) and Smith between the pipes.

Good point, but technically it would be St. Louis over Stamkos on the B team and Smith is still technically on the team though.

 

[aubeirish]

Good point, but technically it would be St. Louis over Stamkos on the B team

Your right. I would probably put McKinnon in that team too. He's really good.

 

[KPENN]

Your right. I would probably put McKinnon in that team too. He's really good.

Yeah he is, thought Colorado was crazy for passing over Jones for him but he's been great this year.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

Your right. I would probably put McKinnon in that team too. He's really good.

I don't think Boyle would make the team. I think it would probably be someone like Bieksa, Gorges, Giordano, or even a younger guys like Myers

Even though Harding has MS I think he would have to be there, I wanted him on Canada's roster much more than Mike Smith

 

[KPENN]

I don't think Boyle would make the team. I think it would probably be someone like Bieksa, Gorges, Giordano, or even a younger guys like Myers

As i said i didn't put a ton of effort into it, I just looked at guys that got invited to camp.

 

[aubeirish]

Yeah he is, thought Colorado was crazy for passing over Jones for him but he's been great this year.

I thought so too. I think you want to build with defense, which they lack, but I think they felt he was too good to pass. Him and Crosby are from the same little town of 25 000 habitants in Nova Scotia. What are the odds. I think they like the fact that he trains with Sydney during the off season. That is just a guess though.

 

[Emcee77]

Man, it's frustrating to think that Canada didn't even bring guys like Giroux and Thornton. Another top centerman like one of them would have made a huge difference for us. Real weakness of our squad.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

As i said i didn't put a ton of effort into it, I just looked at guys that got invited to camp.

Oh, I know. Just wanted to say that Boyle probably wouldn't have made it, but I think the forwards were pretty close to what the team would be.

 

[TheSunIsRising]

I thought so too. I think you want to build with defense, which they lack, but I think they felt he was too good to pass. Him and Crosby are from the same little town of 25 000 habitants in Nova Scotia. What are the odds. I think they like the fact that he trains with Sydney during the off season. That is just a guess though.

I may be wrong, but I'd bet that Jones was who Sakic was leaning towards prior to the Memorial Cup. Then with the way that MacKinnon played in that tournament, plus hiring Pat Roy as (GM) Coach - with Roy having had significant exposure to MacKinnon from the 'Q', that Sakic changed direction.

I think this will be one of those decisions that gets looked at back-and-forth over the years, and at any point in time may look good or not-so-good. I expect both players to have stellar careers.

 

[aubeirish]

I may be wrong, but I'd bet that Jones was who Sakic was leaning towards prior to the Memorial Cup. Then with the way that MacKinnon played in that tournament, plus hiring Pat Roy as (GM) Coach - with Roy having had significant exposure to MacKinnon from the 'Q', that Sakic changed direction.

I think this will be one of those decisions that gets looked at back-and-forth over the years, and at any point in time may look good or not-so-good. I expect both players to have stellar careers.

Yea, good point. Like you said, both should have great careers.

 

[ulukinatme]

Has this been posted already?

2014 Sochi Olympics -- Dutch coach Jillert Anema says U.S. should focus more on speedskating, not football - ESPN

There are only two things I can't stand in this world. People who are intolerant of other people's cultures... and the Dutch.

 

[ACamp1900]

The Dutch should focus more on defending their own borders... Rather than asking for help after the invasion...

#whowonyallswardickhole

 

[phork]

Hell Latvia almost beat the A team.

That goalie stood on his head. Hot goal tending can get you far, especially in the Olympics.

Bottom line is the US played its worst game of the tournament and Canada played probably its best and it was 1-0. They play 20 times Canada might win 11-12 times. So spare me the Canada B team BS

How about Canada shut them down? You act like its not possible after taking the dominant Russians to OT.

That is beyond stupid. Canada's Olympic results:
3-1 win over #12 Norway
6-0 win over #9 Austria
2-1 OT win over Finland
2-1 late game win over #11 Latvia
1-0 win over US

Excluding the Austria game, they have their 4 wins by a combined 5 goals. Two of those wins were against the worst two teams in the tournament. The other two were against very good teams where they won very close games... one being in OT.

Yet you actually, truly believe that a B team made up of players who didn't make the Canada roster would be the second best team. Even though the results tell you that Canada's "A Team" is not appreciably better as a team than Finland, the US, or presumably Sweden. And the "A Team" placed only 3rd in pool play. And struggled with LATVIA.

That's pure bullshit.

3 goals in 5 games. Defense.

Goaltending and defense very average compared to the rest of the top teams. Forwards are pretty good but a lot of those guys are "names" that are older and have lost a ton of their skill.

See defense wins championships.

Kunitz is on the Olympic roster

So after assembling that roster you are going to bitch about one guy?

Add Stamkos, Subban and Smith between the pipes (because they didn't play).

Tavares as well, he got hurt.

 

[gkIrish]

That goalie stood on his head. Hot goal tending can get you far, especially in the Olympics.



How about Canada shut them down? You act like its not possible after taking the dominant Russians to OT.



3 goals in 5 games. Defense.



See defense wins championships.



So after assembling that roster you are going to bitch about one guy?



Tavares as well, he got hurt.

Phork, there are very few things I enjoy more than responding to posts line by line but I honestly don't know what your point is with most of the statements you just made.

If defense wins championships, then how does Canada B's relatively average defense help your argument?

No one is trying to say that USA > Canada A. We were disputing whether Canada B would field a team that could compete for one of the 2 remaining medals.

And I wasn't "bitching" about anything. I just corrected a factual inaccuracy (something I try to do regularly on the board regardless of the topic) as I would hope others do when I overlook something.

 

[aubeirish]

Phork, there are very few things I enjoy more than responding to posts line by line but I honestly don't know what your point is with most of the statements you just made.

If defense wins championships, then how does Canada B's relatively average defense help your argument?

.

Letang, Seabrook, Subban, Hamhuis, Green, Boyle, Alzner, Campbell, Burns, Girardi, and others. That wouldn't make an average defense. Pick 6 guys in there and you have a pretty elite group. Not quite as good as the other Canadian group, but good enough to win.


Phork, I didn't count John T because he played for most of the tournament.

 

[gkIrish]

Letang, Seabrook, Subban, Hamhuis, Green, Boyle, Alzner, Campbell, Burns, Girardi, and others. That wouldn't make an average defense. Pick 6 guys in there and you have a pretty elite group. Not quite as good as the other Canadian group, but good enough to win.


Phork, I didn't count John T because he played for most of the tournament.

Alzner is not good
Boyle-37 years old
Brian Campbell & Girardi are not Olympic quality defensemen
Mike Green is good offensively but really don't think he is great at much else. Not the type of player that seems to succeed in the Olympics.

I thought Hamhuis was on the A team?

Letang, Seabrook, Subban are very good players I'll give you that.

 

[aubeirish]

Alzner is not good
Boyle-37 years old
Brian Campbell & Girardi are not Olympic quality defensemen
Mike Green is good offensively but really don't think he is great at much else. Not the type of player that seems to succeed in the Olympics.

I thought Hamhuis was on the A team?

Letang, Seabrook, Subban are very good players I'll give you that.

Both Subban and Hamhuis are on the roster, but do not play. I mean there are other guys, but you really only need 2 pairings to compete at a high level. You don't need superstars on that 3rd pairing. You can probably make a shutdown pairing quite easily.

 

[gkIrish]

Both Subban and Hamhuis are on the roster, but do not play. I mean there are other guys, but you really only need 2 pairings to compete at a high level. You don't need superstars on that 3rd pairing. You can probably make a shutdown pairing quite easily.

See but now you're mixing the A and B team. I've been assuming the A team would remain unchanged, including guys that don't play. If you split the A team in half then supplemented it with other players they would each likely be able to contend for a silver/bronze.

 

[aubeirish]

See but now you're mixing the A and B team. I've been assuming the A team would remain unchanged, including guys that don't play. If you split the A team in half then supplemented it with other players they would each likely be able to contend for a silver/bronze.

Yes, but in reality they would likely not put all eggs in one basket. Even then, I still think the leftover guys makes for a fine defensive unit. Better than most defensive units in the tournament. Just my opinion. Hockey is much like soccer. Anybody can win really with good structure and goaltending. We have seen it a lot in this tournament. Teams are playing what we call the trap. They are giving anything outside the box, blocking anything inside and wait for the other team to make a mistake. On a big sheet like this, the shots are just coming from much easier angles for the goaltender to cover.

 

[phork]

Well that was embarrassing.

But then theres this... All in the family I suppose.

 

[greyhammer90]

Well that was embarrassing.

Just saw the score. Ouch. Back to the old drawing board.

 

[NDWorld247]

Well that was embarrassing.

I was coming here to post the exact same thing. I'm happy I didn't waste my time watching the game. Unacceptable.

 

[STLDomer]

Patrick Kane is a joke