He's a tricky one for me.

On one hand, he has played very well anytime it matters

On the other hand, you watch him play during the regular season a lot of the time and it's not good.
- IanEsplen

Doughty's a lock for the team. Even if he has a poor start to the season he'll be named. The only way he isn't is if he gets an injury of some sort.

He's too good. He has too much experience. He plays great under pressure. He skates well. He is solid offensively and defensively.

I think, barring any injury or a disastrous start to the season, Petro is a lock to make the team, along with Weber and Keith.

I would love to see Hamuis get the call. Great skater, excellent hockey-sense, positioning, and some untapped offensive potential. What more can you ask for.
- Zogg

And he has the Lord on his side.

To me, Hamhuis and J-bo really have to play onto this team and hope for either an injury or two, or just below normal play from the frontrunners.

I can't see them making it before;

Weber, Doughty, Keith, Seabrook, Pietrangelo, Letang or Subban. I still can't believe Girardi didn't get an invite.

So let's say Keith and Seabrook are a pair.

Keith gets hurt and Seabrook is so used to plying with a LHD partner now his game is off.

Now you have a team that has two D, who are pretty well useless.

I'm not saying it needs to be 50/50, but there needs to be another LHD.

If Canada takes 6 RHD they will not be bringing home a medal.

And another thing, the best players don't win gold medals. The best teams win gold medals.
- IanEsplen

I don't think Seabrook makes it unless a couple other guys get hurt. He isn't in their league. The only reason he gets consideration is that he's played with Keith for so long. It made sense in Vancouver on the smaller ice, but on the bigger ice the guys he'll have to beat out are just better. Hamhuis slots in ahead of Seabrook. Seabrook might be a bit bigger and meaner than Hamhuis, but those are intangibles that are more valuable in the playoffs than on the big ice in the single elimination Olympics tournament.

To me, Hamhuis and J-bo really have to play onto this team and hope for either an injury or two, or just below normal play from the frontrunners.

I can't see them making it before;

Weber, Doughty, Keith, Seabrook, Pietrangelo, Letang or Subban. I still can't believe Girardi didn't get an invite.
- Canuckleafer

That's 1 LD and 6 RD. Won't happen.

J-Bo is as close to a lock as you can get without being a lock. He skates amazing. He's excellent defensively. He's big. He can add a little offense. He has a tonne of experience (international, not playoffs). He's a very safe pick. And yeah, his coach is one of the coaches.

So what happens if both Subban and Weber prefere to have LHD partners and prefer to play in their natural spot?

IMO, you have to be nuts to ignore that and just tell them you guys are the top two D in the league. make it work.
- IanEsplen

Marc staal will line up next to them

WTF?
- docmorgan

My point is that the best players make it. Everyone keeps making it out like these NHL defensemen can't play either side?! I mean come on... If a D can't play the opposite side, then he doesn't make it. I'm not saying a player makes it just because he is a "better player." Hamhuis is a notch below the the D there, the only other guy who is below him is Methot, but in my opinion they're even. Every other D has more to offer, produces more, and is just as good defensively. Hamhuis has a shot at this team, but it's an extremely, extremely remote chance.

Look...

Keith Weber
J-Bo Doughty
Letang Pietrangelo


A hypothetical top 6, and if you look at those names, they're in a different class than Hamhuis. I know being a Vancouver fan you want to be represented, but don't let a patriotic sense for your team blind you to the greater cause, Gold for Canada.

So what happens if both Subban and Weber prefere to have LHD partners and prefer to play in their natural spot?

IMO, you have to be nuts to ignore that and just tell them you guys are the top two D in the league. make it work.
- IanEsplen

That's why you got Hamhuis or Staal as the 7D, in case you need to bring him in cause something isn't working. I get that you need some LHD in there, but hey, maybe some RHD don't mind playing the left side. Maybe 2 of Canadas top defence in the world who shoot the same way can play well together. Crazier things have happened. And whos to say my pairings are the ones that stick, those are just what I'd start with. Maybe Doughty-Subban or Peitrangelo-Weber play real well together. You cant just ignore the immense talent of a RHD just cause another guy whos not as good shoots left.

Locks: Keith, Doughty, Weber

J-Bo: Will have to play himself off the team. 2nd best LD option. He's a virtual lock.

Staal: Making the team will depend entirely on his eye, how he adjusts, and how he plays in the first half of the year. Without the injury he was almost a lock too. If it doesn't hamper his play he'll be on the team. 3rd best LD option (could be ahead of J-Bo, but eye makes him a question mark).

Subban: Is penciled in. He skates great, is great offensively and won the Norris. He'll have to have a good start to the season, but it would be shocking to see him not on the team. Don't forget this is a contract year for him.

Pietrangelo: Will need to play himself onto the team and he should. His coach being on the coaching staff will help, but his solid 2-way play should put him on the team.

Boyle / Hamhuis: I think the 8th spot will come down to these 2 (barring an injury to someone in the group and depending on how Staal deals with his eye injury). Will depend on their starts to the year and whether the management wants to risk going into the Olympics with 3 LD and 5 RD (that would only represent a problem if an LD gets injured). Boyle has the upper hand at the moment, but a great start to the season under a new coaching staff could propel Hamhuis onto the team. If Staal starts off slow or looks like he's having trouble with his eye then I think Hamhuis takes his spot as the 3rd LD and makes the team.

My point is that the best players make it. Everyone keeps making it out like these NHL defensemen can't play either side?! I mean come on... If a D can't play the opposite side, then he doesn't make it. I'm not saying a player makes it just because he is a "better player." Hamhuis is a notch below the the D there, the only other guy who is below him is Methot, but in my opinion they're even. Every other D has more to offer, produces more, and is just as good defensively. Hamhuis has a shot at this team, but it's an extremely, extremely remote chance.

Look...

Keith Weber
J-Bo Doughty
Letang Pietrangelo


A hypothetical top 6, and if you look at those names, they're in a different class than Hamhuis. I know being a Vancouver fan you want to be represented, but don't let a patriotic sense for your team blind you to the greater cause, Gold for Canada.
- Flyers_V88

8 D make the team. Hamhuis is the 4th best LD option (3rd best option if Staal has trouble dealing with his eye).

Yes, they can all play on the opposite side, but the question is, how effective are they on the opposite side and is Hamhuis a better option as a natural LD? Let's say he's battling Boyle for the 8th spot. As per Ian's example, let's say Boyle is 100% on RD, but loses 15% when switching to LD. Is Hamhuis at 100% better than Boyle at 85%?

IMO Hamhuis is the 4th best LD option and is right in the conversation for the 8th spot. As a Canucks fan it would be nice to see him get the recognition and the opportunity, but I'd prefer him to rest at home and get ready for the playoffs while someone else took the 8th spot.

My point is that the best players make it. Everyone keeps making it out like these NHL defensemen can't play either side?! I mean come on... If a D can't play the opposite side, then he doesn't make it. I'm not saying a player makes it just because he is a "better player." Hamhuis is a notch below the the D there, the only other guy who is below him is Methot, but in my opinion they're even. Every other D has more to offer, produces more, and is just as good defensively. Hamhuis has a shot at this team, but it's an extremely, extremely remote chance.

Look...

Keith Weber
J-Bo Doughty
Letang Pietrangelo


A hypothetical top 6, and if you look at those names, they're in a different class than Hamhuis. I know being a Vancouver fan you want to be represented, but don't let a patriotic sense for your team blind you to the greater cause, Gold for Canada.
- Flyers_V88

Really? J-Bo is better.

Having watched both of them play a lot over the past three years (we're talking at least 20-25 times per year) this is up there with some of the most crazy things I've heard on this site.

Locks: Keith, Doughty, Weber

J-Bo: Will have to play himself off the team. 2nd best LD option. He's a virtual lock.

Staal: Making the team will depend entirely on his eye, how he adjusts, and how he plays in the first half of the year. Without the injury he was almost a lock too. If it doesn't hamper his play he'll be on the team. 3rd best LD option (could be ahead of J-Bo, but eye makes him a question mark).

Subban: Is penciled in. He skates great, is great offensively and won the Norris. He'll have to have a good start to the season, but it would be shocking to see him not on the team. Don't forget this is a contract year for him.

Pietrangelo: Will need to play himself onto the team and he should. His coach being on the coaching staff will help, but his solid 2-way play should put him on the team.

Boyle / Hamhuis: I think the 8th spot will come down to these 2 (barring an injury to someone in the group and depending on how Staal deals with his eye injury). Will depend on their starts to the year and whether the management wants to risk going into the Olympics with 3 LD and 5 RD (that would only represent a problem if an LD gets injured). Boyle has the upper hand at the moment, but a great start to the season under a new coaching staff could propel Hamhuis onto the team. If Staal starts off slow or looks like he's having trouble with his eye then I think Hamhuis takes his spot as the 3rd LD and makes the team.
- KB3Point0

I don't see how Seabrook gets no consideration for the team. In fact I think he makes it, but we will see I suppose.

I don't see how Seabrook gets no consideration for the team. In fact I think he makes it, but we will see I suppose.
- TheLeafsInsider

Who said he isn't getting consideration? I just don't think he makes the team.

Who would you put him on the team instead of, and why?

Really? J-Bo is better.

Having watched both of them play a lot over the past three years (we're talking at least 20-25 times per year) this is up there with some of the most crazy things I've heard on this site.
- IanEsplen

What and how so? I'd like you to even try and make a case here, really... You're honestly kidding yourself if you think that Hamhuis is on par with that top 6 or top 8...

My opinion is I rather have Phaneuf over Hamhuis. I'm sure many here don't like that idea, but Dion won me over this year. Before this year, post 2008 Phaneuf was horrible.

One of your arguments for Hamhuis is that he would have chemistry with Weber. If chemistry is your argument then Seabrook will make the team over Hamhuis because he has better chemistry with Keith than Hamhuis has with Weber.

Will Seabrook make Team Canada? It's possible, but not likely in my opinion.

What and how so? I'd like you to even try and make a case here, really... You're honestly kidding yourself if you think that Hamhuis is on par with that top 6 or top 8...
- Flyers_V88

I know he's on par and likely above J-Bo.

I know he's on par and likely above J-Bo.
- IanEsplen

Oh... Well, I guess I'll respect your opinion. Personally, I don't think he is. J-Bo is a much better skater and passer, and has shown more offensive flair in his career while also maintaining lots of minutes and strong defensive play.

One of your arguments for Hamhuis is that he would have chemistry with Weber. If chemistry is your argument then Seabrook will make the team over Hamhuis because he has better chemistry with Keith than Hamhuis has with Weber.

Will Seabrook make Team Canada? It's possible, but not likely in my opinion.
- DarthKane

I'd likely take him as well

something like

Keith/Seabrook
Hamhuis/Weber
Doughty/Subban
Letang

My opinion is I rather have Phaneuf over Hamhuis. I'm sure many here don't like that idea, but Dion won me over this year. Before this year, post 2008 Phaneuf was horrible.
- mykokes

He won me over in the 3rd period of game 7 against the Bruins.

I know he's on par and likely above J-Bo.
- IanEsplen

Sorry, but this is just being a homer. JBo has been an Olympian once and on the reserve in 2010, an NHL All-Star, and a World-Championship All-Star + voted best defenseman. Hamhuis has been none of those. And the reason? Because JBo is better than Hamhuis.

My opinion is I rather have Phaneuf over Hamhuis. I'm sure many here don't like that idea, but Dion won me over this year. Before this year, post 2008 Phaneuf was horrible.
- mykokes

And pre 2008 phaneuf was super overrated. I'd much rather have a top pairing dman shutting down top lines and chipping in offensively where he can than a guy who plays softer minutes, is constantly out of position to make a big hit and is only thinking about offense.

Dont really want dion on the big ice however.

Sorry, but this is just being a homer. JBo has been an Olympian once and on the reserve in 2010, an NHL All-Star, and a World-Championship All-Star + voted best defenseman. Hamhuis has been none of those. And the reason? Because JBo is better than Hamhuis.
- Antilles

Thank you. Exactly what I stated in the posts prior. Hamhuis is good and I'd take him on the Flyers any day, but Team Canada is a different animal. J-Bo is just simply the better overall defencemen.

I'd likely take him as well

something like

Keith/Seabrook
Hamhuis/Weber
Doughty/Subban
Letang
- IanEsplen

What did STL ever do to you?

He won me over in the 3rd period of game 7 against the Bruins.
- dshiddy

You mean after he took a slapshot off his knee and Carlyle decided to run Grabo's line out there. If you blame Phaneuf for that collapse, you weren't watching.