Ray77 Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 The Canadian Men's 2014 Olympic roster was named today...the USA team was announced after the Winter Classic. As each country begins announcing their Olympic rosters, what are everybody's thoughts, comments, predictions, etc.? This should be an awesome year of Olympic hockey! Quote
Ray77 Posted January 7, 2014 Author Posted January 7, 2014 Olympic team rosters for all of the countries/teams. Thoughts? Predictions? Snubs? Surprises? Team USA Roster Team Canada Roster Team Finland Roster Team Russia Roster Team Sweden Roster Team Czech Republic Roster Team Slovakia Roster Team Switzerland Roster Team Latvia Roster Team Norway Roster Team Austria Roster Team Slovenia Roster Quote
I Ranger Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 At first glance, I really like the looks of the Swedish team especially up front. If Lundquist is his usually self, they will be tough to beat. Quote
keikla Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 The Czech Republic is obviously hoping to save money by selecting athletes who qualify for senior citizen discounts. Quote
siouxweet Posted January 7, 2014 Posted January 7, 2014 how in the world does luongo make it ahead of corey crawford? Quote
Ray77 Posted January 7, 2014 Author Posted January 7, 2014 how in the world does luongo make it ahead of corey Crawford? I thought all of the following were head scratchers: Hamhuis Vlasic Nash Carter Kunitz Marleau Ahead of these guys: St. Louis Seabrook Boyle Giroux Thornton Couture (depending on his injury status) Neal Quote
keikla Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 I thought all of the following were head scratchers: Hamhuis Vlasic Nash Carter Kunitz Marleau Ahead of these guys: St. Louis Seabrook Boyle Giroux Thornton Couture (depending on his injury status) Neal The major thing in favor of Kunitz is his demonstrated chemistry with others who were guaranteed to make the team. When most of the Olympic teams start practicing together just a few days before their first game, that chemistry becomes much more significant. And Couture might be a different story if he wasn't injured. Quote
Ray77 Posted January 8, 2014 Author Posted January 8, 2014 The major thing in favor of Kunitz is his demonstrated chemistry with others who were guaranteed to make the team. When most of the Olympic teams start practicing together just a few days before their first game, that chemistry becomes much more significant. And Couture might be a different story if he wasn't injured. Yeah, I get that. The Kunitz pick was questioned in the press conference after the announcement and Yzerman specifically said something to the effect of many will think he made this team because of Crosby, but while Crosby makes him better, he also makes Crosby better and we also think he'd have made it on his own merit (I'm paraphrasing, of course). I question that. I would rather have a James Neal or Claude Giroux over Kunitz, whether Kunitz plays with Crosby or not. And truth be told, I think St. Louis was the biggest snub of all...I still don't get that one. Now, of course since I say all of this, Kunitz is going to have an excellent Olympics, scoring multiple goals and setting up even more for Crosby and Yzerman is going to look like a genius! You really can't go wrong with any of these guys, I'm not saying Kunitz or any of the others is a horrible pick (well, Hamhuis was a horrible pick, although he won't see the ice over there unless they play Norway) but other than that, Yzerman and his staff had a really tough job choosing 25 guys to go to Sochi. Quote
I Ranger Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 I thought all of the following were head scratchers: Hamhuis Vlasic Nash Carter Kunitz Marleau Ahead of these guys: St. Louis Seabrook Boyle Giroux Thornton Couture (depending on his injury status) Neal On head scratchers for other countries, how about Sweden leaving off Hedman and Brodin on D when their D isn't all that strong and Semin being left off Russia. The Czechs left of some NHL talent forwards as well for a country not all that strong at the forward position. Hopefully it all plays out well for the USA! Quote
Snake Posted January 8, 2014 Posted January 8, 2014 Yeah, I get that. The Kunitz pick was questioned in the press conference after the announcement and Yzerman specifically said something to the effect of many will think he made this team because of Crosby, but while Crosby makes him better, he also makes Crosby better and we also think he'd have made it on his own merit (I'm paraphrasing, of course). I question that. I would rather have a James Neal or Claude Giroux over Kunitz, whether Kunitz plays with Crosby or not. And truth be told, I think St. Louis was the biggest snub of all...I still don't get that one. Now, of course since I say all of this, Kunitz is going to have an excellent Olympics, scoring multiple goals and setting up even more for Crosby and Yzerman is going to look like a genius! You really can't go wrong with any of these guys, I'm not saying Kunitz or any of the others is a horrible pick (well, Hamhuis was a horrible pick, although he won't see the ice over there unless they play Norway) but other than that, Yzerman and his staff had a really tough job choosing 25 guys to go to Sochi. On the flip-side, if Kunitz is on the team solely due to his chemistry with Crosby and they start struggling, what latitude will the coach have to break up the duo? I suppose one could find plenty of guys to play with Crosby, but would Hockey Canada take a chance on having Kunitz be a liability if he suddenly was on a line with other players? It seems to me that would be somewhat reckess and there's no doubt heads would roll if this were the case. I'll go with the assumption that Kunitz made the team based on his merits and not as a package with Crosby. Uggh...I feel dirty giving credence to a Penguin! Quote
MafiaMan Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 It's almost time...any Olympic predictions? Quote
Blackheart Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 It's almost time...any Olympic predictions? First place gets gold. Quote
smokey the cat Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 First place gets gold. Second place gets silver. Quote
MafiaMan Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 Cue the carnival music...not quite what I had in mind for predictions, Blackheart and smokey. I'll offer one up - I think Russia has waited four years for the chance to avenge the thrashing it took at the hands of Canada in Vancouver. And I think they get their revenge. Quote
andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!! Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 Cue the carnival music...not quite what I had in mind for predictions, Blackheart and smokey. I'll offer one up - I think Russia has waited four years for the chance to avenge the thrashing it took at the hands of Canada in Vancouver. And I think they get their revenge. Yeah but I don't think they get gold. I'm picking Sweden. --- USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! Quote
Ray77 Posted January 29, 2014 Author Posted January 29, 2014 The big question - will the USA or Canada even medal this year? Quote
scpa0305 Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 The big question - will the USA or Canada even medal this year? Yes....US gold and Canada silver.....take it to the bank! Predicting a top 10 game of all time in the Chip. 1 Quote
MafiaMan Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Yes....US gold and Canada silver.....take it to the bank! Predicting a top 10 game of all time in the Chip. Bold pick! I like it! USA wins it on a TJ Oshie power play goal after Sidney Crosby gets 2:00 for a slew-foot! 2 Quote
The Sicatoka Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I think Shattuck-St.Mary should be declared an Olympic hockey participant and anyone who's ever played there plays for the SSM Olympic squad. Quote
Hayduke Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 I think Shattuck-St.Mary should be declared an Olympic hockey participant and anyone who's ever played there plays for the SSM Olympic squad. Women's too! Scary looking at those rosters... Quote
Blackheart Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Bold pick! I like it! USA wins it on a TJ Oshie power play goal after Sidney Crosby gets 2:00 for a slew-foot! USA wins gold but is clearly outplayed by Slew Foot Sid and his Canadian counterparts. Quote
MafiaMan Posted January 31, 2014 Posted January 31, 2014 SI picks Sweden to win the gold medal in men's ice hockey...USA in women's. Quote
keikla Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 SI picks Sweden to win the gold medal in men's ice hockey...USA in women's. I would love to see the USA women come up with gold. That being said, unless you're the gopher's women program, it's incredibly difficult to win that many games in a row against a competitive opponent (and arch rival at that). I almost wonder if it would have been better had they lost that last preview game to Canada. Quote
keikla Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Work is relatively slow today, so I've been perusing around www.nbcolympics.com for good stuff about the games. I decided to look at the list of all athletes, since there's a few biathlon people I know personally since I live in a major training location. Dustin Byflugien is on the list of athletes for men's hockey. I'm assuming this is just a website error? Based on the couple articles about the selection process, I don't even think he would even be considered a roster alternate in lieu of injuries. Quote
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