Slight tweak on the previous poll, in this thread I'm asking which current Predator will grow the most (in terms of their on-ice performance) through their participation in the Olympics? Which player will come back a stronger player than they were when they left Saturday evening from Pittsburgh?
The only problem with trying to bring back tips for the PP after spending time with elite players is you come back to a team without those elite players.
I said Hornqvist. The guy has already proven he can be an incredibly quick learner if the right things are honed in on. I'm not really sure if that will translate automatically, but I think spending time with guys like the Sedins, Backstrom, and especially Forsberg will give him a better view of the game. We might see an improvement by the post season (assuming we make it), but I'm more curious as to what will happen after he has an off season to work on his game using advice from those kinds of players.
Weber. He is entering his prime and the whole NHL knows he's an elite defenseman, even buried down here in Nashville. This is Weber's first experience playing with the best players on earth. The elite, upper echelon guys in the NHL. The guys he now belongs with.
Weber. He is entering his prime and the whole NHL knows he's an elite defenseman, even buried down here in Nashville. This is Weber's first experience playing with the best players on earth. The elite, upper echelon guys in the NHL. The guys he now belongs with.
no its not. i think he has world junior experience. elite talent there. young, but elite
I cant really say who will benefit the most individually, but my hopes are that they can all take something away from the experience to make the Predators a better hockey club.
Hopefully playing a different system under different coaches will bring back fresh prespective, especially on the power play.
Suter having the "A" for the USA is pretty substantial. If they have a good tourney I expect him to return full of confidence and ready to be a leader on our team.
Hornqvist, if he can pick up some "winner" mojo by osmosis from all those swedes...
Weber. He is entering his prime and the whole NHL knows he's an elite defenseman, even buried down here in Nashville. This is Weber's first experience playing with the best players on earth. The elite, upper echelon guys in the NHL. The guys he now belongs with.
Not too mention the importance of the games being in Canada I'm hoping he handles the pressure fine and they do well not as well as the U.S. I hope but well enough. the same with all of them. I'm sure theres tons those guys will learn from the experience itself.
Weber. He is entering his prime and the whole NHL knows he's an elite defenseman, even buried down here in Nashville. This is Weber's first experience playing with the best players on earth. The elite, upper echelon guys in the NHL. The guys he now belongs with.
I would vote Weber if I could. He seems to be a big part of the D for Canada and to face the pressure that they have on them is huge. If they win the gold, he will be a big part of it and I think that translates in to him being a better player for us when he comes back. Honestly, I think it will help him, Suter and Hornqvist the most. If any or all of them rise to the occasion, then it bodes well for us to have them. It's good we have those three already but if they rise to the top amongst the best in the world, that speaks volumes to me about them as players.
To me, it really depends upon the respective roles these players are expected to play on their teams as well as the success their team sees (more games, more success equal more growth opportunities).
If Shea Weber continues to see the ice time he saw against Norway, and continues to play a large role on their PP units- he'll be right up there.
Suter's ice time and leadership role also is conducive to that kind of growth with success.
I'm less knowledgeable regarding the respective roles of the other players, but Erat and Hornqvist have good opportunities as well due to potential for team success.
If I had to pick one player, I'd select Weber given the likelihood of Canada advancing to, and likely favored in, the gold medal game provided his ice time and role with the team is consistent with the Norway game. Suter would be my second choice, just a reeeaaal thin hair behind him.
Everyone treats Radulov like he's a deadloss when I see him as a European prospect who could come over soon. Radulov royally ****ed up BUT has anyone NOT ****ed up when they were 19, 20, 21, 22? The line Radulov is going to be playing on the Olympics is the line of Radulov-Kozlov-Federov. That's a lot of NHL games playing along side Captain Clueless. He would also be a nice piece to rebuilding the first line
Radulov-Wilson-Hornqvist.
Seriously, that's a video game line right there. Classic playmaker, Sniper, grinder/power forward line.
I think Radulov could learn the following in the Olympics:
1) Incredible experience that can translate to the NHL
2) Long term thinking that might, MIGHT be able to smooth things over with the Preds.
In 2 years Radulov will come back. By that time, Sully and Arnott will be off the books and Radulov and Wilson can replace both of them. Dumont can go down to the second line with Legwand and forward to be named later.
If Radulov wants to keep play in the Olympics he HAS to come back per rules. WHEN he comes back he solves a lot of the Preds salary problems because of his low rookie number and RFA status.
I think Radulov has the most to gain and grow in the Olympics and that is what makes him the answer to this.
I think Sulzer will benefit most from the tournament. He's one of the go-to-guys on Germany and played almost 15 minutes in their first game against Sweden. He looked pretty calm and didn't look like he was over-thinking the game like I have seen him do with the Preds. It was also good to see him get some PP and PK time and was played quite a bit in the last few minutes when they were down by 2. I think the games will help his confidence as well as help him adjust to the speed of the NHL.
After watching a couple of days now, I really think Suter has the most growth potential for the exact reason PredsV82 stated...he is being made the face of USA Hockey...
Wearing an "A" in his first Olympic Games, seeing top minutes in every situation and in fact leading his team in ice time in both games thus far (as Weber has done as well), Suter is really becoming the focus of attention for the US defense.
Additionally, off the ice, Suter is going to have to grow as well in terms of his interaction with the media as well as becoming more of a vocal leader in the locker room. Suter is a classic lead by example type of captain. There is no problem with that, but there is room for growth...
I really think depending on how far Team USA goes in these games that Suter has the most to gain from these games and really honestly expect him to come back energized and on a high for the remainder of the season due to the fact that he will have no time to really sit down and decompress and will ultimately be riding the high of participating in these Games until the season is over...hopefully a long way into the summer months...
I couldn't decide between Suter, Weber or even Radulov.
I was impressed with Rads until that stupid penalty he took today that looked similar to the one he got suspended over in the playoffs. Actually I think he's been playing pretty great, even on the PK, I saw him directing players on the ice, more aware of what's going on around him, going to the net. But he's not a choice.
I really think the amount of success each team has will determine how much they grow. Obviously any Olympic experience is going to benefit each player, but how they handle everything will tell a lot, especially the young guys Weber, Suter, Hornqvist, Sulzer.
But from the very first game I think Suter has looked fantastic. The intensity of these games is so high, and any success is only going to be good for him, no doubt beating Canada with such a good performance is going to go a long way. So I'm going to go with Suter.
