International TournamentsDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
And, like Yzerman no doubt, I reserve the right to make last-minute changes. So the projected Yzerman lineup I presented yesterday is being changed this morning.
Delete Jay Bouwmeester.
Add Drew Doughty.
I don't necessarily disagree with the posters who are wondering about Jeff Carter. It could easily be Mike Richards over Carter, but also understand most fans and media talk about these decisions in a vaccum.
That is to say we compare one player vs. the other and make a value judgment that is just based on A vs. B. A lot more goes into for Yzerman and Babcock. It's an intricate jigsaw puzzle and it's how the pieces fit together. It may be that with Toews and Bergeron (the top Canadian faceoff men in the NHL, if I'm not mistaken) they don't have as great a need for Richards as they might have.
I believe who plays wing with Getzlaf and Perry is a major source of concern and while I think Eric Staal may get named in that spot, there is also a lot of support for Carter perhaps moving in there on the right side and possibly shifting Perry to the left.
Anyway, discuss amongst yourselves, but also know that while we all rush to make our judgments based on our likes and dislikes and NHL stats etc., Babcock has played this entire Olympic tournament in his mind. He's thought of every game situation (a faceoff in the right side defensive zone circle protecting a one-goal lead) and whether he has the right players on his roster to put on the ice. The degree of complexity that they've looked at is astonishing.
What way a player shoots, whether he can play on the other side, faceoffs, penalty kill, shootout, power play and the many variations of each of those go into the mix.
Should be fun, but for the record, my projected Yzerman picks are now as follows:
Nash-Crosby-Bergeron
EStaal-Getzlaf-Perry
Morrow-Toews-Iginla
Marleau-Thornton-Heatley
Carter
I wouldn't be shocked if Richards supplants Carter and I still wonder if Morrow is an absolute lock or not. I think Seabrook is secure in the top six, but we'll see.
I don't think it's likely you're going to come back to this thread, but in case you do, I have a few questions.
- Do you think Yzerman will go (has gone) with a rookie like Doughty, even though he said in a one-elimination tournament he wants to go with consistency, not potential?
- Yzerman has said he wants to emphasize defensiveness and consistency. We're also filled with high-scoring players, but lack forwards that can do the PK. Why don't you think he would take M. Richards, the consistent two-way player who can do the PK, over Carter, who's only known for goal scoring and has slowed down his production this year?
- Pierre made the point about Mike Green and the power play on TV but you didn't get to respond. Do you have anything to say about (a rebuttal) that you could say here?
Lastly, it says on Wikipedia that you went to Woburn. Is that true? If so, we went to the same high school. Neat.
Its Green or Boyle not both I like Boyles experience.
I dont understand Bergeron on the first line that doesnt make alot of sense to me.
This is my team
Nash Getzlaf Iginla
Stamkos Crosby St. Louis
Marleau Thornton Heatley
Morrow Richards Perry
Toews
Pronger Weber
Keith Seabrooke
Niedermayer Bouwmeester
Boyle
Fleury
Brodeur
Luongo
This team has alot of power guys I like the idea of having a speedy scoring line with Crosby St Louis and Stamkos. I believe Toews can easily move into that line if Stamkos isnt playing up to par. But the way Stamkos is scoring and his chemistry with St Louis I really believe that could be an absolutely deadly line.
Nash-Crosby-Bergeron
EStaal-Getzlaf-Perry
Morrow-Toews-Iginla
Marleau-Thornton-Heatley
Carter
I wouldn't be shocked if Richards supplants Carter and I still wonder if Morrow is an absolute lock or not. I think Seabrook is secure in the top six, but we'll see.
In the words of your friend Pierre, "The Legend of Bobby Mac continues to grow".
St. louis is a top 3 line player, he'd be a waste on the 4th line playing the fewest mins... guys like MRichards, Morrow, Bergeron, and Toews are more suited for the 4th line role.
If you have St. Louis, the only top 3 line guy you'd take out would be Staal, but seriously... is St. Louis any better than Staal? Staal is a more complete player and is a monster in the playoffs.
The team doesn't need another forward. This is particularly true after Yzerman stressed players who bring a more complete game. He doesn't belong on the team - not with the likes of Niedermayer, Pronger, Bouwmeester, Weber, etc...
Dan Boyle is almost as good offensively and miles ahead of Green defensively. If Green can develop his defensive game he could probably end up being a more offensive version of Dan Boyle.
I guess you are just angry you have to eat some crow
I don't understand why so many are dissing Bergeron. He's quietly having a great season and was great on a line with Crosby on that uber Canadian Jr. squad during the lockout. I'm sure Babcock already has them as a tandem but Bergeron is versatile enough to play on any line.
I don't understand why so many are dissing Bergeron. He's quietly having a great season and was great on a line with Crosby on that uber Canadian Jr. squad during the lockout. I'm sure Babcock already has them as a tandem but Bergeron is versatile enough to play on any line.
My guess is that alot of people are looking only at stats and haven't watched him play this year. I mean he wasnt even at camp and Stevie went to watch St. Louis and Lecavalier in Boston and all of a Sudden Bergeron is the guy hes interested in. He followed him much more after that. The guy is a beast and can do it all in any situation. The nay sayers will be quite surprised come Feb when they get a closer look.
Easy to predict if/when you have insider info... 
