You'd rather have Nash and carter on RW over Giroux?
- PhillySportsGuy

Maybe if I'm looking for size and shooting on my wing. St. Louis is a bigger ommission Bc he plays on the wing and is one of the best at it. Giroux hasn't played there in awhile. It's clear what Canada was looking for

If G comes out flat, all mopey and poop, somebody needs to hit him with a 2x4.
- wolfhounds

I don't that would be "G like". In a sense, he's been told he's not good enough before, like when he went undrafted by the OHL on 2004 and 2005...seemed to motivate him all the more. I think if anything, this ends up being a positive for Giroux, at least in terms of motivation. We'll see.

Remains to be seen.
- hammarby31

i guess nothing is certain, but still. barring injury to either, i cant see it. he may have gotten snubbed here but i cant see him not becoming a fixture. if he didnt have such a slow start, his numbers would be to the point where they couldnt ignore him, like kunitz.

as much as it pains to say it, giroux is one of the 12 best canadian forwards in the game. easily.

You can make an argument that Giroux is better than, at least, half the forwards on CA.
- PhillySportsGuy

its definitely a fine line with so much talent on who gets to go. but still. marleau over giroux? i know people with say kunitz is an embarrassing inclusion (all bias aside, its not. nor would it have been a crime if he was left off). to me, carter being on is what is laughable.

Varlamov and Bobrovsky
- missingmike

I thought Bobrovsky was hurt? A lot of pressure on Russia playing on home ice. I don't think they will medal.

I'm going with

Gold- Sweden
Silver- Canada
Bronze- USA

Just Bryz.
- hammarby31

He wouldn't crack a North Korean roster. Word is Rodman can play G.

Maybe if I'm looking for size and shooting on my wing. St. Louis is a bigger ommission Bc he plays on the wing and is one of the best at it. Giroux hasn't played there in awhile. It's clear what Canada was looking for
- Just5

I think Canada got a little carried away with the 'larger ice means we need faster players' idea. Speed will play a part, but Giroux is just so much better than Nash, Carter and Kunitz. It's almost like you're cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Exactly.

I'll watch the games cause the NHL is on hiatus and, well, it's hockey, but I could care less who is on the Canadian team or if they sniff a medal.
- wolfhounds

It is because you are an American. If you ask Giroux and St Louis if they wanted to be on that team they would say absolutely yes. Giroux going would have been great for the team. St Louis has 10 people playing in the Olympics, don't hear much from their GM about not wanting them to play.

its definitely a fine line with so much talent on who gets to go. but still. marleau over giroux? i know people with say kunitz is an embarrassing inclusion (all bias aside, its not. nor would it have been a crime if he was left off). to me, carter being on is what is laughable.
- stayinthefnnet

It's not embarrassing, but it seems strange that they felt chemistry was important between Crosby and Kunitz, but not between Keith and Seabrook or St. Louis and Stamkos.

I think we all can agree that Kunitz would not be on this team if he were playing with just about any other center in hockey.

I thought Bobrovsky was hurt? A lot of pressure on Russia playing on home ice. I don't think they will medal.

I'm going with

Gold- Sweden
Silver- Canada
Bronze- USA
- PLindbergh31

Gold - Russia
Silver - Sweden
Bronze - Finland

North America shut out just like in World Juniors.

Gold - Russia
Silver - Sweden
Bronze - Finland

North America shut out just like in World Juniors.
- johndewar

I want Canada to be shut out. I may even cheer for Russia over Canada at this point. I want Nash to commit a huge blunder and the entire team to struggle with the PK

It is because you are an American. If you ask Giroux and St Louis if they wanted to be on that team they would say absolutely yes. Giroux going would have been great for the team. St Louis has 10 people playing in the Olympics, don't hear much from their GM about not wanting them to play.
- Daceroni

They are understandably disappointed as competitors.

As a ticket buying fan, I'm happy that my favorite player won't be exposed to possible injury while not playing for the Flyers.

It's not embarrassing, but it seems strange that they felt chemistry was important between Crosby and Kunitz, but not between Keith and Seabrook or St. Louis and Stamkos.

I think we all can agree that Kunitz would not be on this team if he were playing with just about any other center in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

I have a bit of a feeling that Sid pushed hard for Kunitz..

I want Canada to be shut out. I may even cheer for Russia over Canada at this point. I want Nash to commit a huge blunder and the entire team to struggle with the PK
- PhillySportsGuy

This!

I want Canada to be shut out. I may even cheer for Russia over Canada at this point. I want Nash to commit a huge blunder and the entire team to struggle with the PK
- PhillySportsGuy

MOTHER RUSSIA!

I have a bit of a feeling that Sid pushed hard for Kunitz..
- jak521

I doubt he had much input. I just don't understand why they felt the need to add Kunitz but chemistry between other players wasn't important. Crosby could turn any all-star winger into a 40-50 goal scorer.

It's not embarrassing, but it seems strange that they felt chemistry was important between Crosby and Kunitz, but not between Keith and Seabrook or St. Louis and Stamkos.

I think we all can agree that Kunitz would not be on this team if he were playing with just about any other center in hockey.
- PhillySportsGuy

thats not an egregious claim by any means. but be that as it may, his numbers are astounding with him. those who think kunitz would be putting up these point totals without crosby are just as delusional as those who think he would be a plug without him. sans crosby, he is still a quality first line winger in the NHL. olympian for the most stacked roster in the world, no not likely at all.

but still, when you add it all up, a quality player on his own right, who brings the sandpaper element that a lot of other guys dont, who is compiling top 5 numbers in the league. its not the travesty some are making it to be.

Gold - Russia
Silver - Sweden
Bronze - Finland

North America shut out just like in World Juniors.
- johndewar

I can see Finland in the mix for a medal. I think Russia will crack under the pressure.

I doubt he had much input. I just don't understand why they felt the need to add Kunitz but chemistry between other players wasn't important. Crosby could turn any all-star winger into a 40-50 goal scorer.
- PhillySportsGuy

yeah. like i said, you could make the case for any of these bubble guys. except carter, i just dont (frank)ing see it. but at least kunitz brings the banging element. he is one of the higher return on two way physicality guys that canada has.

thats not an egregious claim by any means. but be that as it may, his numbers are astounding with him. those who think kunitz would be putting up these point totals without crosby are just as delusional as those who think he would be a plug without him. sans crosby, he is still a quality first line winger in the NHL. olympian for the most stacked roster in the world, no not likely at all.

but still, when you add it all up, a quality player on his own right, who brings the sandpaper element that a lot of other guys dont, who is compiling top 5 numbers in the league. its not the travesty some are making it to be.
- stayinthefnnet

It's not a travesty. I see Kunitz offensive game similar to Matt Reads. They are both good shooters. Read is faster and better on defense. Kunitz is scrappier and adds his grind it out style to the line. Both are 20-25 goal, 40-50 points players on an average line. Read would certainly be over 30 if he played an entire season with Giroux and could push for over 40 goals if he played with Crosby.

The point I'm making is that there are several players in Kunitz category. His a nice player that every team would want, but no one will mistake him for an untouchable asset.

It's not a travesty. I see Kunitz offensive game similar to Matt Reads. They are both good shooters. Read is faster and better on defense. Kunitz is scrappier and adds his grind it out style to the line. Both are 20-25 goal, 40-50 points players on an average line. Read would certainly be over 30 if he played an entire season with Giroux and could push for over 40 goals if he played with Crosby.

The point I'm making is that there are several players in Kunitz category. His a nice player that every team would want, but no one will mistake him for an untouchable asset.
- PhillySportsGuy

im a huge read guy. kunitz is an overall better player between the two though. but yes, without a doubt crosby does add to the numbers. kunitz, as he is as a player right now is better than he was earlier in his career though. if you replaced crosby with center X, who isnt all world but isnt a scrub either, kunitz is still right around that 30 goal, 65 point margin. does that make him a quality first line winger, certainly. but olympian lock, not necessarily.

yeah. like i said, you could make the case for any of these bubble guys. except carter, i just dont (frank)ing see it. but at least kunitz brings the banging element. he is one of the higher return on two way physicality guys that canada has.
- stayinthefnnet

Carter is actually a good two-way player. He can play center or wing and has a lot of experience on the PK. He can also really skate and shoot the puck. He doesn't possess that 'it' factor that would make him one of the best players in the league. On a team of studs, he's not a bad guy to fit in. I'm still perplexed he made the roster though.

THe one who really bothers me is Nash. Giroux has accomplished 10 times more than him despite being in the league for half the amount of time (or less). He doesn't even deserve to be on the reserve list. I would rather have St. Louis, Giroux, Seguin, Thornton over him.

yeah. like i said, you could make the case for any of these bubble guys. except carter, i just dont (frank)ing see it. but at least kunitz brings the banging element. he is one of the higher return on two way physicality guys that canada has.
- stayinthefnnet

At least the glass man can be counted on to be hurt again, thereby leaving room for G to replace him.

I know. I just hate when teams close to the Flyers play each other and it becomes a 3 point game. It seems like it always happens.
- PhillySportsGuy

it seems that way because it is that way.

They are understandably disappointed as competitors.

As a ticket buying fan, I'm happy that my favorite player won't be exposed to possible injury while not playing for the Flyers.
- johndewar

His worst injuries have come at the hands of Crosby, who would not be breaking his wrists in faceoffs, and while not playing hockey. I think he's safer playing.