IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
He's not bad defensively and he brings a physical game. Plus he'll have chemistry with Crosby. If he plays like he did this past season, then he'll be a good player to have.
Agreed. How many players scored more goals than Neal this year? The answer is three, but there are "too many better players than him" .
My point was that Neal is better than all of those players. Nash has no heart; J Staal sucks; he's better than RNH, Benn and E Staal, and he should be on the team before Richards.
Posts like this make it hard for people to take you seriously. Nash has no heart? Jordan Staal sucks? Must be beacause hes not a Penguin anymore, right?
Neal has much more to prove then one good year, playing alongside the best player in the world. One thing that sticks out for me is how bad he performed in front of Yzerman in the Penguins-Lightning series a year ago. He had a chance to be a go to guy with no Geno and Crosby, and he was a non-factor. You couldn't even notice him. In the Flyers series, he was making a fool of himself, running around throwing cheap-shots. Hes just not the type of guy I want on the big stage. He loses focus rather easily, and tends not to show for big games. Just my opinion though, Im sure there are other people like yourself who thinks he should be there, I just don't see where he fits.
My point was that Neal is better than all of those players. Nash has no heart; J Staal sucks; he's better than RNH, Benn and E Staal, and he should be on the team before Richards.
Neal's had one strong year and two okay years. Saying he's "better" than all of those players is a big stretch. If he replicates this past year next year then I'd say maybe he should make it...but at this point, no.
Also, keep in mind that Neal is great at not only being an idiot but doing it at a horrible time. He has the unimpressive distinction of making Getzlaf look like a classy guy.
as far as Nash goes...I don't agree that he has "no heart" - but even if that's true, who cares. We're trying to win a gold medal...not giving out the Order of Canada here. Come on.
With all due respect to the posters- Shane Doan, Jamie Benn, James Neal, and Spezza are way behind the depth charts when considering my forwards for Sochi. Same with RNH, who finished just one pro season of hockey and turned 19 years old only a couple of months back. I also agree with one poster who mentioned Martin St. Louis as a possible forward for Sochi. St. Louis on the big ice has always played well, including when he played in 2006 in Italy, and in the WHC in 2009, when he was Canada's best player leading them to a Silver Medal.
In a follow up, I do not see any of the above guys actually making the team as of right now. I do not see St. Louis making it, since not making it in 2010, might hinder him in 2014 and he will be 39 in two years. However, I still want Canada to concentrate on guys that will skate like the wind, and emphasize speed on the big ice.
Too many young players with no experiences in the big stage
I would've taken Eric Staal, nash, perry, getzlaf, neal, iginla and others before them
2010: Bolded with Olympic experience
Goaltenders/Gardiens de but 1 Roberto Luongo L/G 6'3" 205 04/04/79 Montreal, Que./QC Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
29 Marc-André Fleury L/G 6'2" 180 11/28/84 Sorel, Que./QC Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) 30 Martin Brodeur L/G 6'2" 210 05/06/72 Montreal, Que./QC New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Defence/Défenseurs
2 Duncan Keith L/G 6'1" 194 07/16/83 Penticton, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
6 Shea Weber R/D 6'4" 230 08/14/85 Sicamous, B.C./C.-B. Nashville Predators (NHL)
7 Brent Seabrook R/D 6'3" 220 04/20/85 Tsawwassen, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
8 Drew Doughty R/D 6'1" 203 12/08/89 London, Ont. Los Angeles Kings (NHL) 20 Chris Pronger L/G 6'6" 213 10/10/74 Dryden, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
22 Dan Boyle R/D 5'11" 190 07/12/76 Ottawa, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL) 27 Scott Niedermayer L/G 6'1" 200 08/31/73 Cranbrook, B.C./C.-B. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Forwards/Avants
10 Brenden Morrow L/G 5'11" 205 01/16/79 Carlyle, Sask. Dallas Stars (NHL)
11 Patrick Marleau L/G 6'2" 220 09//15/79 Aneroid, Sask. San Jose Sharks (NHL) 12 Jarome Iginla R/D 6'1" 203 07/01/77 St. Albert, Alta./Alb. Calgary Flames (NHL) 15 Dany Heatley L/G 6'3" 216 01/21/81 Calgary, Alta./Alb. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
16 Jonathan Toews L/G 6'2" 209 04/29/88 Winnipeg, Man. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
18 Michael Richards L/G 5'11" 195 02/11/85 Kenora, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) 19 Joe Thornton L/G 6'4" 235 07/02/79 St. Thomas, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
21 Eric Staal L/G 6'4" 205 10/29/84 Thunder Bay, Ont. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
24 Corey Perry R/D 6'3" 209 03/16/85 Peterborough, Ont. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
37 Patrice Bergeron R/D 6'2" 194 07/24/85 Sillery, Que./QC Boston Bruins (NHL)
51 Ryan Getzlaf R/D 6'4" 221 05/10/85 Regina, Sask. Anaheim Ducks (NHL) 61 Rick Nash L/G 6'4" 218 06/16/84 Brampton, Ont. Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
87 Sidney Crosby L/G 5'11" 200 08/07/87 Cole Harbour, N.S./N.-É. Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
2 goalies, 6 skaters.
My team with Olympic experience: Crosby, Toews, Keith, Doughty, Weber, Fleury. 5 skaters, 1 goalie. Not far off AT ALL.
Iginla will probably be a 2nd liner in 2014.
Couture, RNH, Hall, Duchene, Skinner and Seguin add a greater element of speed and two-way play than Perry, Getzlaf, Neal and Staal. My choices will be just as good offensively as them as well, imo. Nash would be my 14th forward.
Goaltenders/Gardiens de but 1 Roberto Luongo L/G 6'3" 205 04/04/79 Montreal, Que./QC Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
29 Marc-André Fleury L/G 6'2" 180 11/28/84 Sorel, Que./QC Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) 30 Martin Brodeur L/G 6'2" 210 05/06/72 Montreal, Que./QC New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Defence/Défenseurs
2 Duncan Keith L/G 6'1" 194 07/16/83 Penticton, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
6 Shea Weber R/D 6'4" 230 08/14/85 Sicamous, B.C./C.-B. Nashville Predators (NHL)
7 Brent Seabrook R/D 6'3" 220 04/20/85 Tsawwassen, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
8 Drew Doughty R/D 6'1" 203 12/08/89 London, Ont. Los Angeles Kings (NHL) 20 Chris Pronger L/G 6'6" 213 10/10/74 Dryden, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
22 Dan Boyle R/D 5'11" 190 07/12/76 Ottawa, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL) 27 Scott Niedermayer L/G 6'1" 200 08/31/73 Cranbrook, B.C./C.-B. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Forwards/Avants
10 Brenden Morrow L/G 5'11" 205 01/16/79 Carlyle, Sask. Dallas Stars (NHL)
11 Patrick Marleau L/G 6'2" 220 09//15/79 Aneroid, Sask. San Jose Sharks (NHL) 12 Jarome Iginla R/D 6'1" 203 07/01/77 St. Albert, Alta./Alb. Calgary Flames (NHL) 15 Dany Heatley L/G 6'3" 216 01/21/81 Calgary, Alta./Alb. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
16 Jonathan Toews L/G 6'2" 209 04/29/88 Winnipeg, Man. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
18 Michael Richards L/G 5'11" 195 02/11/85 Kenora, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) 19 Joe Thornton L/G 6'4" 235 07/02/79 St. Thomas, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
21 Eric Staal L/G 6'4" 205 10/29/84 Thunder Bay, Ont. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
24 Corey Perry R/D 6'3" 209 03/16/85 Peterborough, Ont. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
37 Patrice Bergeron R/D 6'2" 194 07/24/85 Sillery, Que./QC Boston Bruins (NHL)
51 Ryan Getzlaf R/D 6'4" 221 05/10/85 Regina, Sask. Anaheim Ducks (NHL) 61 Rick Nash L/G 6'4" 218 06/16/84 Brampton, Ont. Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
87 Sidney Crosby L/G 5'11" 200 08/07/87 Cole Harbour, N.S./N.-É. Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
2 goalies, 6 skaters.
My team with Olympic experience: Crosby, Toews, Keith, Doughty, Weber, Fleury. 5 skaters, 1 goalie. Not far off AT ALL.
Iginla will probably be a 2nd liner in 2014.
Couture, RNH, Hall, Duchene, Skinner and Seguin add a greater element of speed and two-way play than Perry, Getzlaf, Neal and Staal. My choices will be just as good offensively as them as well, imo. Nash would be my 14th forward.
Your team is desiged like an all star team would be. U.S. would kick the crap out of that soft team.
Your team is desiged like an all star team would be. U.S. would kick the crap out of that soft team.
USA might be tougher, but goals win you hockey games.
The defense certainly isn't soft.
Staal, Nash, Iginla, Neal may be bigger bodies but they're not exactly tough.
Duchene, Skinner, RNH, Seguin, etc can still pack on some pounds before then. It seems like a young team but Couture for example will be 25 then and in his prime. It's not that big of an issue.
Neal's had one strong year and two okay years. Saying he's "better" than all of those players is a big stretch. If he replicates this past year next year then I'd say maybe he should make it...but at this point, no.
Also, keep in mind that Neal is great at not only being an idiot but doing it at a horrible time. He has the unimpressive distinction of making Getzlaf look like a classy guy.
as far as Nash goes...I don't agree that he has "no heart" - but even if that's true, who cares. We're trying to win a gold medal...not giving out the Order of Canada here. Come on.
You need heart to win the Gold medal; the Russians will certainly have it, as will Sweden, the US, and every other team.
USA might be tougher, but goals win you hockey games.
The defense certainly isn't soft.
Staal, Nash, Iginla, Neal may be bigger bodies but they're not exactly tough.
Duchene, Skinner, RNH, Seguin, etc can still pack on some pounds before then. It seems like a young team but Couture for example will be 25 then and in his prime. It's not that big of an issue.
Well if you look at the LA Kings, they physically dominated the competition and thus won the cup with that. Pittsburgh/Philly both had awesome offenses, but completely lacked a team defense. If Canada iced that team, they'd be winning/losing a lot of 6-5 games. No matter how big those players get, they're not role players, they are players that succeed in top 6 roles. The defense can't cover all the mistakes that forwards make, the forwards need to help with a team defense.
Well if you look at the LA Kings, they physically dominated the competition and thus won the cup with that. Pittsburgh/Philly both had awesome offenses, but completely lacked a team defense. If Canada iced that team, they'd be winning/losing a lot of 6-5 games. No matter how big those players get, they're not role players, they are players that succeed in top 6 roles. The defense can't cover all the mistakes that forwards make, the forwards need to help with a team defense.
Well "my Team Canada" has plenty of skill. That person that I quoted had too much of it and no grit among the forwards and wouldn't stand a chance of playing physical and team defense kinda game. Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh with an all offense strategy, but after that, they got nowhere.
Well if you look at the LA Kings, they physically dominated the competition and thus won the cup with that. Pittsburgh/Philly both had awesome offenses, but completely lacked a team defense. If Canada iced that team, they'd be winning/losing a lot of 6-5 games. No matter how big those players get, they're not role players, they are players that succeed in top 6 roles. The defense can't cover all the mistakes that forwards make, the forwards need to help with a team defense.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spfan
Well "my Team Canada" has plenty of skill. That person that I quoted had too much of it and no grit among the forwards and wouldn't stand a chance of playing physical and team defense kinda game. Philadelphia beat Pittsburgh with an all offense strategy, but after that, they got nowhere.
The defense that I posted is THE best in the world. Carey Price is up there with the best. There won't be many 6-5 games.
More grit up front doesn't equate to better defense. If you think subbing Couture, Skinner, Seguin, RNH, Duchene and Hall for Iginla, Getzlaf, Perry, Neal, Staal and Nash will make the team better defensively, I don't know what to say. Especially on big ice and especially in 2 years. Couture, Seguin, RNH and Duchene are all fine two-way players.
You're evaluating my team as of now and underrating the impact two years of development will have. A bunch of these guys are in their 2nd year in the NHL. They'll be in their 4th then, and will show much improvement offensively, defensively and physically. i think you're especially underrating a guy like RNH who will be a top talent in the game and good all around player.
Is Getzlaf suspended for the first game of the Olympics if he's not on the squad for the Worlds next year? That would be the stupidest thing of all time.
The defense that I posted is THE best in the world. Carey Price is up there with the best. There won't be many 6-5 games.
More grit up front doesn't equate to better defense. If you think subbing Couture, Skinner, Seguin, RNH, Duchene and Hall for Iginla, Getzlaf, Perry, Neal, Staal and Nash will make the team better defensively, I don't know what to say. Especially on big ice and especially in 2 years. Couture, Seguin, RNH and Duchene are all fine two-way players.
You're evaluating my team as of now and underrating the impact two years of development will have. A bunch of these guys are in their 2nd year in the NHL. They'll be in their 4th then, and will show much improvement offensively, defensively and physically. i think you're especially underrating a guy like RNH who will be a top talent in the game and good all around player.
Agreed completely; I'm not sold on RNH though. I'd prefer Seguin to be in there over him.
Agreed completely; I'm not sold on RNH though. I'd prefer Seguin to be in there over him.
I am not sold on RNH. The guy just turned 19, and completed one season where he was decent but not great. Other more established guys should be looked at over RNH, like Seguin and Skinner.
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