How's it a waste? He was impressive at camp but that's a small sample. He's still a few years away from being an NHL regular. They will take their time with him as anyone should with young defensemen.
- Sabresfan-365

Tyler Myers, Larsson, Viktor Hedman along with 50 other 19 year old defencemen say hello.

I am not saying I think he should or even can make the team but why be mad he got an invite ? If anything he will be there to make the other guys work harder for their spots.I would take Benn over Marchand every day but we don't have that option now. Every team invited some very questionable players like why the hell would Sweden invite Tallinder?
- blizzzard

I'm not mad he was invited just seems kinda hilarious considering Peter chiarelli and fat (frank) Julien are part of the team Canada management.

Doesn't make sense to invite someone who wouldn't even belong on an Olympic roster in their dreams.

Even still I'd have him go back to juniors and finish his eligibility there and once he's done, make him a permanent fixture in Buffalo. Don't want him getting sent up and down every 2 months. St. Louis was willing to wait with Pietrangelo, we should be exercising the same patience.
- Sabresfan-365

Remind me was he 18 or 19 when he played his first NHL game.

Even still I'd have him go back to juniors and finish his eligibility there and once he's done, make him a permanent fixture in Buffalo. Don't want him getting sent up and down every 2 months. St. Louis was willing to wait with Pietrangelo, we should be exercising the same patience.
- Sabresfan-365

He will be a tough one to figure out a developmental plan for he is 6'5 230 already he could be usefull at the NHL with that size alone. Defense are always tricky you have to do everything just right with them cant leave them down to long you put them out to much. I guess the guys around him making the decisions will have the best idea of what this monster needs to thrive.

Tyler Myers, Larsson, Viktor Hedman along with 50 other 19 year old defencemen say hello.
- toddkac

Don't you think that one is a bad example?

I'm sure if you pulled up the list of defensemen drafted 2008-present day that made the NHL after one year of junior hockey, you'll notice that almost all of them are top 10/top 5 picks.

If Zadorov was really that good, he would have gone where Ristolainen went.

That doesn't mean we don't want to be physical and Lucic has scored 30 goals before he isn't just some thug. He in my opinion is the best power forward in the game and I like that he has been given a shot to see what he can do every junior squad had a physical player on it and its not a bad idea to have one guy who can really throw the body or screen the goalie.
- blizzzard

I have no problem with Lucic and Marchand being selected but what is wrong here is that Jamie Benn is twice the hockey player than these guys. This decision on Benn has to be personal in some way as everyone knows Jamie Benn is an elite player and worthy of being on Team Canada, what a shame. Benn must be wondering WTF

Remind me was he 18 or 19 when he played his first NHL game.
- toddkac

I think 19? Became a permanent roster player around 20 right after they sent him to the AHL, then the OHL (back when you could still do that apparently).

I'm not mad he was invited just seems kinda hilarious considering Peter chiarelli and fat (frank) Julien are part of the team Canada management.

Doesn't make sense to invite someone who wouldn't even belong on an Olympic roster in their dreams.
- Putzfrau

One guy who is streaky but is big and is pretty damn fast at top speed is Wheeler maybe he should of got an invite or at least over Marchand

I think 19? Became a permanent roster player around 20 right after they sent him to the AHL, then the OHL (back when you could still do that apparently).
- Sabresfan-365

So much for being patient like you said all young defencemen should be treated....your own example shows the blues tried to get him to show he could make the team in his draft year when he was 18

Anything else?

I have no problem with Lucic and Marchand being selected but what is wrong here is that Jamie Benn is twice the hockey player than these guys. This decision on Benn has to be personal in some way as everyone knows Jamie Benn is an elite player and worthy of being on Team Canada, what a shame. Benn must be wondering WTF
- flyerdude17

I am actually a huge Lucic fan, I imagine you are to being a philly fan you likely love the game he plays just as much as I do. I think he can play and create offense not in the same way Benn can but I think Lucic deserved a shot to at least try out. Now if he can create offense and be effective on the big ice surface is something that is yet to be seen.

same as any other sabres offseason. Best draft in a while though.
- toddkac

I agree there

So much for being patient like you said all young defencemen should be treated....your own example shows the blues tried to get him to show he could make the team in his draft year when he was 18

Anything else?
- toddkac

Doesn't that kinda prove my point though? They tried and they were forced to send him to the AHL. Then they called him up again, and then sent him to junior?

It's going to take more than one year for Zadorov to become an NHL regular

Doesn't that kinda prove my point though? They tried and they were forced to send him to the AHL. Then they called him up again, and then sent him to junior?

It's going to take more than one year for Zadorov to become an NHL regular
- Sabresfan-365

huh?
you said wait like St. Louis did?
hockeybuzz where even proving your point wrong is right.

huh?
you said wait like St. Louis did?
hockeybuzz where even proving your point wrong is right.
- toddkac

Yea St. Louis did wait. They called him up, realized he wasn't ready and sent him back down.

All I'm saying is we should cut out the middle man (which in this example would be 7th D, or something like that) since he's clearly not talented enough to become a NHL D at 19 years old


Also Pietrangelo>Zadorov at his age. If Zadorov was at Pietrangelo's level in terms of talent maybe but it's not the same.


Wait wouldn't the same thing apply to you then?

I have no problem with Lucic and Marchand being selected but what is wrong here is that Jamie Benn is twice the hockey player than these guys. This decision on Benn has to be personal in some way as everyone knows Jamie Benn is an elite player and worthy of being on Team Canada, what a shame. Benn must be wondering WTF
- flyerdude17

Exactly

no kidding!!! Wow, Lucic on this list is so out of place it isn`t even funny. He would be completely embarrassed if he somehow made the team and had to compete at the Olympics. He is one of the most over rated players of all time and that is on the small ice surface. On the Olympic ice....wow, what a glaring error that is.

Dallas fans must be thrilled that they have a new blogger!

Here's the real question surrounding these Olympics, is a gold medal enough to recognize Lindy Ruff's herculean contribution to Hockey Canada and the game in general?

Is it too soon to say that Jamie Benn owes his career to Lindy Ruff?

Neal got invited to right ? I would take him over Kunitz but your the Pens fan so maybe you wouldn't ? How do you feel about it If him Crosby and Neal are all invited Crosby is a lock but I only think they take one of Neal/Kunitz. I think Neal could play the role of Heatley.
- blizzzard

As a Penguins fan, I'm more inclined to say Kunitz is the better player overall but Neal has a very special wrist shot. They are different players. That said I can't see why both couldn't get a spot on Team Canada even if one gets scratched.

I'm stunned to see Benn didn't get an invite to Team Canada but I veemently disagree with your comments on Lucic, Marchand and Kunitz. Those guys are good experient hockey players and above all, winners. Not saying I would take all of them over Benn but they deserve to be called just as much.
- Orpik44

Lucic and Marchand would be a disaster on team Canada. Bruins hockey won't work.

These orientation camps are next to meaningless now. They can't even do any actual skating because of insurance reasons. All evaluation is going to come from on-ice/NHL play.

Lucic and Marchand would be a disaster on team Canada. Bruins hockey won't work.
- Jeffmt

I was about to say something along the lines of "the best news that the Russians, Swedes, and Americans could hear is that Lucic is on Team Canada".

Tillander has nothing to do with winning....sad. You compare Cammalleri to Tillander.
- toddkac

You said vets. You never said they had to be considered good

Vanek to Phoenix for Boedker and Samuelsson.

P5.

(Not really. Just really bored with this inactivity)

McBain is getting a beating on here. He is a very decent dman. My strategy of dmen is simple.

Top 2 Ehroff and Myers, good or bad, they are considered are top dmen for the long haul. you keep them.

The next two, who create a Top 4 are rounded out with solid younger guys who cant really gain much experience being in the AHL anymore and deserve their shot in the NHL on a full time basis. Also vets who still can produce and a stop gap solution till yungsters are ready. Tallinder is a stop gap while McBain is a very solid dman who will only get worse if demoted. If he regains form he will be at worst a top 4 d man playing with Weber on our last pairing. Pysyk is only Dman who does deserve a shot at top 4 minutes. Risto is questionable to me at this point. Need to see more.

The bottom pairing dmen which give us our 5/6/7 dmen for the year are veterans who excel in certain aspects such as PK or PP. Consistent play, locker room guy, guys who can be ready if an injury occurs mid game to move up a pairing. Mike Weber is the 5th dmen for sure. Excels on PK and overall great leader. Sulzer can fit here too as an extra. You do not throw Ruhwedel or a Pysyk or young guy on here just to basically ride the bench when they can be a top 2 or top 4 guy in the AHL

If you have read this far you see who the locks will be on the team. Making lines look like:

Ehroff-Pysyk
Myers-Tallinder
Weber-McBain
Sulzer

Risto returns to Europe
Ruhwedel plays in the AHL along with McNabb
Zadarov when eligible plays Top 4 in AHL then can play a top 4 in NHL later on

- Beezer33

tl;dr.