Pitkanen just recovering from injury I can understand that. And Staal after a long season of taking a pounding, playing lots of minutes I can understand (plus he probably wants to spend time with wife and kids). Even Tlusty missed some games with injury at the end of the season so that would also make sense from his standpoint.
A little surprised that if Sutter and McBain were offered that they won't participate though. Of course they could have been nursing injuries that we never knew about.
So looks like Canes will be: Ward, Jokinen, Skinner, Dwyer, and Faulk (with Ruutu and Tlusty a maybe)
Alright. I know a little while ago there was a discussion about them being invited, but I didn't see anything about them accepting. Dwyer's a choice I didn't see coming. Between those teams already eliminated and the ones possibly gone in the first round, I would have thought his spot would be taken by someone more talented.
Kinda weird to see that Cam is going. I guess that he is just paying more dues so he has a better shot on the Olympic team.
Prettymuch. Canada's selection committee takes it a lot more serious then the US's does. So a top player going (Ward, Skinner) is going to help their cause. Doubt that Staal has much to worry about given how he played last Olympics and the fact that he's been a very solid 70+ point guy throughout his career.
This is the only way Cam was going to show Team Canada he can perform in an important game with a stacked team in front of him.
McBain is an RFA who is never going to play for the US in the Olympics so there is no upside for him to play in it. He gets hurt severely it's just money coming right out of his pocket.
Guys that have families like Staal, Gleason, and Pitkanen may just want to be with them as long as possible which no one should begrudge them for.
I'm a little disappointed that Sutter passed on going. Would like to see him with some more talent on the wings and with all that extra ice to burn past people on.
Sutter is most likely never going to be considered for the Olympics so I don't really fault him for not going. Like other people have said, it's pretty much a meaningless tournament to everyone except a few countries in Europe. The only players that should go are players who will potentially be competing for an Olympic spot in the future, provided they still have the energy to play.
This is all assuming the NHL releases its players, but that's another can of worms entirely.
Sutter sounded kinda funny about saying no. "yeah...uh...it just wasn't a good fit". He looked uncomfortable talking about it.
I really wish that kid would have played for the United States. I don't know if he'll ever get to an Olympics with Canada and it's a shame because he takes it to a whole different level internationally. It seems like Ryan Kesler has the inside track on the "Brandon Sutter" role unless they decide to start going back towards the Kris Draper types to fill out the bottom lines and kill exclusively.
I really wish that kid would have played for the United States. I don't know if he'll ever get to an Olympics with Canada and it's a shame because he takes it to a whole different level internationally. It seems like Ryan Kesler has the inside track on the "Brandon Sutter" role unless they decide to start going back towards the Kris Draper types to fill out the bottom lines and kill exclusively.
).
