IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Babcock: goalies picked, 8 d and 15 forwards in the hunt
Green is an offensive specialist that would be lethal on the PP... he's definitely ahead of Seabrook IMO... I don't think Seabrook is part of the 8 to be honest. (already have a lot of 2-way d-men)
Green is an offensive specialist that would be lethal on the PP... he's definitely ahead of Seabrook IMO... I don't think Seabrook is part of the 8 to be honest. (already have a lot of 2-way d-men)
how many guys do you need to work the PP?
this team is already going to be stacked offensively... on the PP, every dman available to them is a 1st unit guy on their respective teams... I doubt the PP suffers without Green, when you have Niedermayer, Boyle, Keith, Weber, etc available.
I think Seabrook is a lock because of his chemistry with Keith... he's a 1st pairing dman in the NHL that has proven success playing alongside another player who is a lock on this team... to me having that familiarity is more important for a short tournament like this, than adding a PP specialist like Green, on a team that is already offensively stacked at every position, with several options to play the point on the PP.
So, we know who the 3 goalies are, Brodeur Luongo and Fleury, that's a lock.
It's probably pretty safe to say that the 8 defense are:
Nidermayer
Pronger
Weber
Keith
Boyle
Bouwmeester
Seabrook
Doughty
So, who would you guess the 15 forwards in the hunt are? Let's not turn this into another "pick what the lines will be", let's just guess who are still being considered. My guesses:
Green is an offensive specialist that would be lethal on the PP... he's definitely ahead of Seabrook IMO... I don't think Seabrook is part of the 8 to be honest. (already have a lot of 2-way d-men)
And I don't consider St. Louis a lock either... one thing going against him will be his size .
My god, I think Marty is a "bit" past any size issues! Stanley Cup champ, Hart Trophy winner, superstar who produces night-in and night-out on an inconsistent hockey team. Size has never been an issue for him. He is a lock, can play in all situations, can score, make plays, and most importantly is incredibly determined and driven to succeed. 100% lock.
My god, I think Marty is a "bit" past any size issues! Stanley Cup champ, Hart Trophy winner, superstar who produces night-in and night-out on an inconsistent hockey team. Size has never been an issue for him. He is a lock, can play in all situations, can score, make plays, and most importantly is incredibly determined and driven to succeed. 100% lock.
like I said above, he was the hardest player to leave off the team I would take.
Basically it comes down to Brad Richards vs. St. Louis for me for the same spot on the team... and I'd take Richards.
He's also a Stanley Cup champ, is a Conn Symthe winner, star who produces night-in and night-out (I don't consider either player a superstar). He's also, as recently as the past couple years, has played in all 3 forward positions.
Finally, he's having every bit as good a season as St. Louis... in fact statistically he's better - same number of points, more goals, with 2 fewer games played.
Because of Brad Richards, I'd keep St. Louis off the team... I don't think he fits a 4th line role as well as others (like Morrow/Doan, who are both bigger players which will come in handy on a smaller ice surface, playing in a 4th line role).
Not sure at all what Yzerman may choose to do, and you may be right that he is a 100% lock on the team... but I think there's justifiable reasons to think he shouldn't be, because that spot basically comes down to who the best fit will be on the 3rd line left wing spot beside Getzlaf and Perry. It also helps that is a better faceoff guy than Getzlaf - who is the only subpar faceoff player down the middle for Canada, and having a converted center, who's good on the draws, on his left side could be an added bonus for that line.
Umm..what makes you think Fisher deserves to be there more than Toews?
I guarantee that Mike Fisher will not be on the Olympic team.
Probably not, but he can play a 4th line/defensive/penalty killing role a lot better than Toews can. The guy has been in many playoff series, has played for Canada at the international level before, and is having a career season.
The fact that Bergeron is even being considered is amazing after his concussion problems over the past two seasons. He's really come a long way and is playing great right now.
That said, I don't think he'll make the team, but he can suit up as a center or RW. Having a forward like that who can win faceoffs and shutdown the top lines of the opposition would be a valuable addition, but I'm not expecting him to be named to the roster, unfortunately.
like I said above, he was the hardest player to leave off the team I would take.
Basically it comes down to Brad Richards vs. St. Louis for me for the same spot on the team... and I'd take Richards.
He's also a Stanley Cup champ, is a Conn Symthe winner, star who produces night-in and night-out (I don't consider either player a superstar). He's also, as recently as the past couple years, has played in all 3 forward positions.
Finally, he's having every bit as good a season as St. Louis... in fact statistically he's better - same number of points, more goals, with 2 fewer games played.
Because of Brad Richards, I'd keep St. Louis off the team... I don't think he fits a 4th line role as well as others (like Morrow/Doan, who are both bigger players which will come in handy on a smaller ice surface, playing in a 4th line role).
Not sure at all what Yzerman may choose to do, and you may be right that he is a 100% lock on the team... but I think there's justifiable reasons to think he shouldn't be, because that spot basically comes down to who the best fit will be on the 3rd line left wing spot beside Getzlaf and Perry. It also helps that is a better faceoff guy than Getzlaf - who is the only subpar faceoff player down the middle for Canada, and having a converted center, who's good on the draws, on his left side could be an added bonus for that line.
Brad Richards is a natural center who Canada has too many of and St. Louis is a natural winger which Canada is short on.
And I don't consider St. Louis a lock either... one thing going against him will be his size and his right handed shot for a winger. With the other names on the list, I think the right wing is pretty much locked up in the top 3 spots, and St. Louis isn't exactly the best fit for a 4th line - where a guy like Doan would be of better use.
I think the locks above are correct... and I think they'll find a left handed shooter to play on the 3rd unit with Getzlaf and Perry, who are both right handed shots, giving Brad Richards a step up in that role over a guy like St. Louis IMO. He also has the same number of points (3 more goals) than St. Louis does this season.
It's basically keeping the Sharks line together (which I think they will) and Perry on the 3rd line right side that will have St. Louis on the outside looking in.... though it wouldn't surprise me if he does make the team over Doan in the end, considering his history with the team and is having a solid season this year.
Martin's size didnt prevent him from playing in the last 2 WC's, olympics or world cup.
He is more than capable of playing the 4th line role if needed.
i think patrick sharp should be getting some consideration. he's very versatile and is capable of playing all three forward positions, hes an excellent pk'er and is good defensively. i would rather have sharp manning that 4th line right wing than doan.
good point about his faceoff ability though... but as a 13th forward, wouldn't someone who's more versatile - can play any forward position, and has recently, be a more fitting addition?
Toews is that type of player... has played on the left side, right side and center in Chicago... is a solid defensive player that plays on the PK, is over 60% on faceoffs and is already a well regarded young captain in the league.
if it comes down to Toews and Bergeron for that 13th spot, do you give it Bergeron because of the right handed shot? personally, I'd take Toews as my 13th forward.
faceoffs, he's 60.6% to Bergeron's 58.4%... and with Crosby (57%), and Thornton (53%), faceoffs shouldn't be a concern... Getzlaf is the only center that is below 50% on the team (though the only other right handed center). Marleau at 54.5% and M. Richards at 51.3%, could also both be on the team, and both support solid faceoff numbers.
And all these guys are also solid PK players as well.
My mistake on Getlaf.... I agree with you about Toews though, I think he's there regardless on the 4th line.
He's considered a lock, then Penner and Fisher might as well be locks as well.
Me -->
Marleau is 3rd in the league in goals, 11th in points while playing with Thornton and Heatley (also locks), and is a great two way forward with blazing speed... why take a chance after the Turin debacle and split up a line with proven chemistry this year? He will be there, guaranteed.
