I'd likely take him as well

something like

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

There has been a lot of discussion coming out of the camp that on the big ice the defencemen need to be more patient, more positionally sound, and more reliable defensively. There is also talk that they would want at least 3 LD. They also get to invite 8 D I believe...

IMO Letang's on the outside. Seabrook too.

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.
- pbrsimps

That's the one drawback I would see. When Dion wants to play defense though coupled with all the skaters we could potentially have on this team it might work. But yeah, even Chris Pronger looked slow on the big ice, and of course so did McCabe.

That's the one drawback I would see. When Dion wants to play defense though coupled with all the skaters we could potentially have on this team it might work. But yeah, even Chris Pronger looked slow on the big ice, and of course so did McCabe.
- mykokes

Man, I hope they don't play any players with broken feet at this Olympics!

There has been a lot of discussion coming out of the camp that on the big ice the defencemen need to be more patient, more positionally sound, and more reliable defensively. There is also talk that they would want at least 3 LD. They also get to invite 8 D I believe...

IMO Letang's on the outside. Seabrook too.
- KB3Point0

When we got our asses handed to us in 2006 on the big ice, it was a lack of mobility that did us in. On that big ice, Doughty would have a field day, and so would Keith. I rather the d be filled with skaters.

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

I don't think Dion's as bad as a lot of people are saying, but I'd much rather have Hamhuis on the team. He's a much better fit for what the team needs than Dion. They have enough PP quarterbacks that Dion won't be relied on for his shot. They need a great skating guy who's solid defensively and can be relied to play against any line the other countries throw against them. That's Hamhuis, not Phaneuf.

Yost has a good take on this same discussion. Apparently Babcock is leaning in favour of chemistry/history/consistency while the other coaches are more in favour of best 8 players. Either way, both Hamhuis and Bouwmeester are in tough to make this team IMO.

When we got our asses handed to us in 2006 on the big ice, it was a lack of mobility that did us in. On that big ice, Doughty would have a field day, and so would Keith. I rather the d be filled with skaters.
- mykokes

Absolutely. That was a given so I didn't mention it in that post. They need skaters, but not skaters who are going to be liabilities:

Keith, Doughty, Weber, J-Bo, Staal, Subban, Pietrangelo, Boyle, Hamhuis are all great skaters. Letang might be a better skater than a few of them, but he's also much riskier defensively than each of these guys. The team will generate enough offense that they won't rely on the high risk / high reward play of Letang. I don't see him making the team without an injury or two. I don't think Seabrook's skating is as good as any of the guys listed.

I don't think Dion's as bad as a lot of people are saying, but I'd much rather have Hamhuis on the team. He's a much better fit for what the team needs than Dion. They have enough PP quarterbacks that Dion won't be relied on for his shot. They need a great skating guy who's solid defensively and can be relied to play against any line the other countries throw against them. That's Hamhuis, not Phaneuf.
- KB3Point0

Thats a pretty fair assessment, though i dont think hamhuis makes this team either.

On NA ice though, I would like phanuef on the team, with a strong skating dman.

Yost has a good take on this same discussion. Apparently Babcock is leaning in favour of chemistry/history/consistency while the other coaches are more in favour of best 8 players. Either way, both Hamhuis and Bouwmeester are in tough to make this team IMO.
- 1970vintage

Bouwmeester has chemistry/history/consistency and is one of the best LD available. He could play himself off the team if he struggles at the start of the season, but I have a hard time thinking the team will only take 1 or 2 LD. If they take 3 LD I don't see how he isn't in the group.

Thats a pretty fair assessment, though i dont think hamhuis makes this team either.

On NA ice though, I would like phanuef on the team, with a strong skating dman.
- pbrsimps

I think Hamhuis is on the bubble. Likely out. The only way he makes it is if they want 4 LD and 4 RD or one of the top 3 LD (Keith, J-Bo, Staal) gets hurt.

Bouwmeester has chemistry/history/consistency and is one of the best LD available. He could play himself off the team if he struggles at the start of the season, but I have a hard time thinking the team will only take 1 or 2 LD. If they take 3 LD I don't see how he isn't in the group.
- KB3Point0

Just saying that if they take the best 8 dmen, Bouwmeester probably isn't on the list, but if they take pairs maybe he makes it. But if they take pairs and half the pair gets injured is he the best choice (which was Yost's point about Kunitz and Bouwmeester).

Just saying that if they take the best 8 dmen, Bouwmeester probably isn't on the list, but if they take pairs maybe he makes it. But if they take pairs and half the pair gets injured is he the best choice (which was Yost's point about Kunitz and Bouwmeester).
- 1970vintage

If they just take the 8 best guys and don't take into consideration which side they play, then no, Bouwmeester might not make it. IMO that would be a mistake though as that could possibly leave the team with only 2LD and 6RD (give or take 1LD).

If they just take the 8 best guys and don't take into consideration which side they play, then no, Bouwmeester might not make it. IMO that would be a mistake though as that could possibly leave the team with only 2LD and 6RD (give or take 1LD).
- KB3Point0

Yeah, no idea what the coaching staff is thinking, just reiterating what Yost pointed out, which was why would team Canada leave a guy like Hall off the roster just because Kunitz and Crosby have "chemistry". What if Crosby gets hurt, does Kunitz sill look as good on the top line?

Do you think Henrik and Daniel will make the Swedish team?

OFF TOPIC QUESTION:


Does anyone know is NHL 14 will have the new kids Bo and Hunter in the game?

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

I don't think Dion's as bad as a lot of people are saying, but I'd much rather have Hamhuis on the team. He's a much better fit for what the team needs than Dion. They have enough PP quarterbacks that Dion won't be relied on for his shot. They need a great skating guy who's solid defensively and can be relied to play against any line the other countries throw against them. That's Hamhuis, not Phaneuf.
- KB3Point0

This may surprise you, but I'm actually am not fond of Phaneuf on the Leafs PP, it's on the PK where he does his best work for us. If you're an advanced stats guy, Dion is actually one of the better performers and faces the toughest competition, I'm not making this poop up. It's too bad he spent half the season with our minor league d-men (holzer and kostka), or the number that +/- number might actually have looked good for him and shown what the advanced stats showed.

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

Anyone want to take a stab at how that Olympic team did?

Yost has a good take on this same discussion. Apparently Babcock is leaning in favour of chemistry/history/consistency while the other coaches are more in favour of best 8 players. Either way, both Hamhuis and Bouwmeester are in tough to make this team IMO.
- 1970vintage

I could really care less about what the other coaches think. If Babcock thinks the best move is to take chemistry/history/consistency I back him all the way.

Yeah, no idea what the coaching staff is thinking, just reiterating what Yost pointed out, which was why would team Canada leave a guy like Hall off the roster just because Kunitz and Crosby have "chemistry". What if Crosby gets hurt, does Kunitz sill look as good on the top line?
- 1970vintage

No kidding. And seriously, it's Crosby, if he makes Kunitz look that good, how good could he make Hall look?

Anyone want to take a stab at how that Olympic team did?
- IanEsplen

And... what does that have to do with my point that JBo is a better defenseman and my pointing out his resume/accolades to back up my point?

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.
- Flyers_V88

Go back and look at who's had more offensive flair the past 3 years.


Question, Chara make Canada's team?

If the answer is yes it's kind of funny Hamhuis is a longshot when he's been statistically close to Chara for the past three years now.

Not saying he's there, but he's not as far back as the people out east think.

I could really care less about what the other coaches think. If Babcock thinks the best move is to take chemistry/history/consistency I back him all the way.
- IanEsplen

So you have faith in Babcock, but leave Pietrangelo off your suggested olympic roster after Babcock's commented "It looks like he's [Petro] been touched by a wand by God"?

Hmm.

And... what does that have to do with my point that JBo is a better defenseman and my pointing out his resume/accolades to back up my point?
- Antilles

The guy had to be traded at the deadline to make it to the playoffs. The only Olympic team he's was on was one of the worst showings in history for Canada. His all-star appearances were mainly because the Panthers had to send someone. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for him.

The guy is right there with Dion Phaneuf as the most over-rated player in the NHL. There is a reason he was moved from the Flames for next to nothing. That reason is because he's isn't an elite D.

No kidding. And seriously, it's Crosby, if he makes Kunitz look that good, how good could he make Hall look?
- KB3Point0

pretty F'ing good I bet.

Hall - Crosby - Stamkos