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

the thing that gets me, is that the whole oh gets to play with this center argument shouldnt be exclusively aimed at kunitz. i think ive been pretty up front that him either being on or off isnt exactly a laugher either way. but still. wingers as a whole are pretty heavily tied to their centers ability. its hard for them to generate offense on their own. people will look at OV's down stretch and point to many things of his own doing, but a lot forget that it largely coincided with backstrom being out.

the best wingers are able to help tilt the ice to enable their center to provide them with opportunities, and then cash in on them.

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.
- stayinthefnnet

I think that's high considering he's never reached those totals. He will this year and would have last if they played an entire season. He played with some decent players in Anaheim and managed around 50-60 points and 20-25 goals.

He and Crosby have great chemistry. That's why he's on the roster.

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

i would like the same. i expect an epic fail for USA because they are historically bad away from north america. sweden and finland are always my other teams in international competition.

the thing that gets me, is that the whole oh gets to play with this center argument shouldnt be exclusively aimed at kunitz. i think ive been pretty up front that him either being on or off isnt exactly a laugher either way. but still. wingers as a whole are pretty heavily tied to their centers ability. its hard for them to generate offense on their own. people will look at OV's down stretch and point to many things of his own doing, but a lot forget that it largely coincided with backstrom being out.

the best wingers are able to help tilt the ice to enable their center to provide them with opportunities, and then cash in on them.
- stayinthefnnet

I agree. Kunitz is completely maxed out right now. He will never produce more than he is right now. He has chemistry with the best player in the world. He's pretty much cashing in on the olympics at the perfect time.

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.
- PhillySportsGuy

oh i know carter has all of the tools. except vision, i never really saw that in him. but he has size, defensive awareness, and a rocket shot. however, i really never saw him use them for much, regardless of stats. decent NHL player based on talent alone, but he would have been the easiest leave off for me.

nash is in the kunitz either on or off is a meh to me. the talent is obviously there, and he has a lot of international pedigree. he was pretty good at puck possession last olympics too. but he hasnt done squat lately. and if kunitz is going to get a bump because his numbers have been astounding lately, one would figure nash should get a minus because of how off he has been of late.

I agree. Kunitz is completely maxed out right now. He will never produce more than he is right now. He has chemistry with the best player in the world. He's pretty much cashing in on the olympics at the perfect time.
- PhillySportsGuy

thats where i think it really gets him in. the whole what have you done for me lately kind of deal. if both him and crosby finish the year healthy. he will be at that 40 goal, ppg pace. PPG is very rare for a winger.

So Flyer Olympians are

Voracek- Czech
Streit- Swiss
Raffl- Austria
Timonen- Finland
Meszaros - Slovakia

i would like the same. i expect an epic fail for USA because they are historically bad away from north america. sweden and finland are always my other teams in international competition.
- hammarby31

Traditionally, I root for the best teams, because I want to see the great match ups in the semi-finals and finals. I really want to see Canada lay an egg now.

So Flyer Olympians are

Voracek- Czech
Streit- Swiss
Raffl- Austria
Timonen- Finland
Meszaros - Slovakia
- PLindbergh31

Lauridson for Phantoms. Did Noebels get on team Germany?

I think that's high considering he's never reached those totals. He will this year and would have last if they played an entire season. He played with some decent players in Anaheim and managed around 50-60 points and 20-25 goals.

He and Crosby have great chemistry. That's why he's on the roster.
- PhillySportsGuy

i just think the numbers being they are what they are have a huge impact on it. granted, those numbers themselves may be a little inflated due to crosby. but i think him currently being top 5 in scoring had a big influence in the process. same with sharp.

crosby and toews may have a hand in getting those numbers to where they are, but in a hypothetical world where crosby and toews play for latvia, i still think kunitz and sharp both (justifiably or not) garner a lot of consideration for the team based solely on their numbers

thats where i think it really gets him in. the whole what have you done for me lately kind of deal. if both him and crosby finish the year healthy. he will be at that 40 goal, ppg pace. PPG is very rare for a winger.
- stayinthefnnet

I don't really have a problem with Kunitz. He and Crosby have such good chemistry it's easy to set them together. I just don't understand Nash or Carter over Giroux. Giroux's overall play should supersede the speed and shooting element that both of them will bring.

So Flyer Olympians are

Voracek- Czech
Streit- Swiss
Raffl- Austria
Timonen- Finland
Meszaros - Slovakia
- PLindbergh31

a bit shocking. former flyers sharp and wides on canada, and jvr on usa.

Lauridson for Phantoms. Did Noebels get on team Germany?
- PhillySportsGuy

I didn't even realize Denmark qualified.

a bit shocking. former flyers sharp and wides on canada, and jvr on usa.
- hammarby31

Sharp and JVR are no brainers. I don't think Carter should have made it.

i just think the numbers being they are what they are have a huge impact on it. granted, those numbers themselves may be a little inflated due to crosby. but i think him currently being top 5 in scoring had a big influence in the process. same with sharp.

crosby and toews may have a hand in getting those numbers to where they are, but in a hypothetical world where crosby and toews play for latvia, i still think kunitz and sharp both (justifiably or not) garner a lot of consideration for the team based solely on their numbers
- stayinthefnnet

I don't think Kunitz makes the team if Crosby is Latvian. I think Neal makes the team if Malkin is Canadian. It can't be about points because Giroux is first in points among all Canadian born players over the last 3 seasons. Thornton is first in assists this season.

Traditionally, I root for the best teams, because I want to see the great match ups in the semi-finals and finals. I really want to see Canada lay an egg now.
- PhillySportsGuy

In the Semis, I would like to see:
USA vs Sweden
would be a great game, my heart would be with the US, but my money would be on Sweden
and
Finland vs Russia
First off, these two teams (and countries) hate each other, and that makes for a great game. I think the Fins pull the upset here, they have better goaltending and ALL the pressure would be on Russia

That would leave us with the USA vs Russia for the Bronze and Sweden vs Finland (in a World Junior rematch!) for the Gold. Sweet!

Traditionally, I root for the best teams, because I want to see the great match ups in the semi-finals and finals. I really want to see Canada lay an egg now.
- PhillySportsGuy

it all comes down to usa, canada, sweden, finland and russia anyway in every tournament...the rest, generally speaking, are filler teams.

I don't really have a problem with Kunitz. He and Crosby have such good chemistry it's easy to set them together. I just don't understand Nash or Carter over Giroux. Giroux's overall play should supersede the speed and shooting element that both of them will bring.
- PhillySportsGuy

giroux should have been a priority over either kunitz, nash, or carter. the numbers speak for themselves, he has wing experience, and is one of the best passer/playmakers in the league. especially since they left of thornton, giroux's passing would have been a good asset.

I didn't even realize Denmark qualified.
- PLindbergh31

Yea. I believe they barely got in. It was a final win in their last IIHF game last summer. Lauridson played a significant role on their team.

I don't think Kunitz makes the team if Crosby is Latvian. I think Neal makes the team if Malkin is Canadian. It can't be about points because Giroux is first in points among all Canadian born players over the last 3 seasons. Thornton is first in assists this season.
- PhillySportsGuy

love neal, but he is way too one dimensional for me to consider. although i guess if you are going for a specific sniper role, he is one of the best in the biz. i know there will be a wealth of playmakers out there, but neal cant create much for himself.

giroux should have been a priority over either kunitz, nash, or carter. the numbers speak for themselves, he has wing experience, and is one of the best passer/playmakers in the league. especially since they left of thornton, giroux's passing would have been a good asset.
- stayinthefnnet

Good points.
Kunitz does have chemistry with Crosby and in a short tournament that can be very important, but there is NO way I would have Carter over Giroux.

Yea. I believe they barely got in. It was a final win in their last IIHF game last summer. Lauridson played a significant role on their team.
- PhillySportsGuy

To answer your question about Noebels, Germany didn't qualify.

I don't think Kunitz makes the team if Crosby is Latvian. I think Neal makes the team if Malkin is Canadian. It can't be about points because Giroux is first in points among all Canadian born players over the last 3 seasons. Thornton is first in assists this season.
- PhillySportsGuy

yeah, i think giroux's slow start was what hurt him. i'm honestly very surprised they left thornton off.

So they left the highest scoring Canadian since Vancouver's games off the team....

Go head. Someone say YEAH BUT IF CROSBY DIDN'T GET HURT!!!

So what then he'd be second, behind only Crosby.


And he gets snubbed

USA vs Sweden
would be a great game, my heart would be with the US, but my money would be on Sweden
and
Finland vs Russia
First off, these two teams (and countries) hate each other, and that makes for a great game. I think the Fins pull the upset here, they have better goaltending and ALL the pressure would be on Russia

This would require quite the stinker of a first round by Canada.....
considering they are in the weakest preliminary division due to their suckage at the WC.... seems very unlikely. They should have a pretty weak quarter final.