Marleau is killing it this year. I dont see any issue with him making the team. Carter has played well too, between him and Giroux its a toss, depending on team needs. But Nash is having a down year, never did well overseas... No reason he should make the team over Giroux or St.Louis.
- youarewrong

carter is just so one dimensional. he never struck me as a playmaker. yeah a good wrist shot and i guess thats what theyre looking at. figure they have enough guys who can set him up where he can just fire away. id have given his spot to giroux.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you've never played competitive hockey at higher than rec. league level.
- jmatchett383

Take it from a former pro, if you won't take it from me:

http://sports.yahoo.com/n...-penalties?urn=nhl,wp9741


"The problem is, any team that hopes to have real success needs to be able to kill penalties, which means that somebody has to do it. And anywhere there's a way to get a foot in the door with a hockey team (or become more important to the team they're on), guys will come kicking.

That fact has created this special group of apparently-oxygen-deprived players who consider themselves "penalty killing specialists." On the scale from brain surgeon to people-who-choose-to-become-goalies, they're far closer to the crease."

"Penalty killing is thankless work if you're not one of the "specialists."
Most teams will have at least three pairings of forwards they use to kill penalties, and no team would ever employ six PK specialists. That means four or five of those guys that are forced to do it are doing it because, well, somebody has to, and apparently coach wants to rest the other guys."

Marleau also has the league leader in assists (who didn't make the team) feeding him.
- jmatchett383

I think they were just afraid of the international incident that could occur if Joe Thornton scored 4 goals.

Ah, Didnt realize Brown was American.. Must have forgot. Put Jordan Staal in there then.
- youarewrong

Is he a good PKer because he skates hard in short spurts and likes to get hit by pucks?

carter is just so one dimensional. he never struck me as a playmaker. yeah a good wrist shot and i guess thats what theyre looking at. figure they have enough guys who can set him up where he can just fire away. id have given his spot to giroux.
- stayinthefnnet

Looks like Team Canada was going for size on the wing.

I think it's going to be hilarious when they don't medal.

I think they were just afraid of the international incident that could occur if Joe Thornton scored 4 goals.
- johndewar

I'm now genuinely excited to root against Canada if this goes down.
- johndewar

yip.

Looks like Team Canada was going for size on the wing.

I think it's going to be hilarious when they don't medal.
- johndewar

regardless of their selections, with the talent they have they still have as good a shot as any. i realize there are always gonna be exclusions. but still. giroux's ability to shift to the wing without a dropoff would have gotten him a spot in my book. id have placed him above carter and marleau (who i wouldnt have chosen) and kunitz and nash (who i would have, but not at the expense of giroux)

Take it from a former pro, if you won't take it from me:

http://sports.yahoo.com/n...-penalties?urn=nhl,wp9741


"The problem is, any team that hopes to have real success needs to be able to kill penalties, which means that somebody has to do it. And anywhere there's a way to get a foot in the door with a hockey team (or become more important to the team they're on), guys will come kicking.
- Tomahawk

No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."

That fact has created this special group of apparently-oxygen-deprived players who consider themselves "penalty killing specialists." On the scale from brain surgeon to people-who-choose-to-become-goalies, they're far closer to the crease."
- Tomahawk

No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."

"Penalty killing is thankless work if you're not one of the "specialists."
Most teams will have at least three pairings of forwards they use to kill penalties, and no team would ever employ six PK specialists. That means four or five of those guys that are forced to do it are doing it because, well, somebody has to, and apparently coach wants to rest the other guys."
- Tomahawk

No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."

And you know what? We're done here because, on this subject, and as someone who played at about the highest levels available (against guys who were NHL drafted), you're clueless.

Wow. Hamhuis > Seabrook? Damn.
- jmatchett383

wtf

No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."



No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."



No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."
- jmatchett383

Stranger to reading between the lines?

The bigger joke in this tournament.

Group A: Russia, Slovakia, United States, Slovenia
Group B: Finland, Canada, Norway, Austria
Group C: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia

Group A has a lot tougher competition than the others.

Chris Kunitz. How laughable. It's sad that even the Pens bias made it to the Olympic decision process. I have zero reason to watch the Olympics that was already on the edge for me. Team USA sucks and Canada is full of names that haven't been any good for sometime.... yeah that's you Rick Nash.

GO USA!!!!!!

Or the opposite. He said he wouldn't be able to sleep the night before rosters were announced. I bet he's already started sipping a cocktail
- PhillySportsGuy

he said that?

GO USA!!!!!!
- mayorofangrytown

No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."



No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."



No where in there does it say, "All you need to do to be good on the PK is to skate hard and get hit with pucks."

And you know what? We're done here because, on this subject, and as someone who played at about the highest levels available (against guys who were NHL drafted), you're clueless.
- jmatchett383

im far from an expert, but i do believe that while energy and hustle certainly do help (you cant necessarily teach the willing desire to just lay down and eat a slapshot) the best PKers combine that hustle and determination with a keen ability to read the play and see lanes develop so that they can better take them away. all of that speed and hustle to get somewhere fast can actually be detrimental if you over pursue someone with the puck and in turn create a gaping lane and prime scoring chance. if anything, you need as much patience and anticipation as you do speed.

i'm glad giroux is out. doesn't need the wear/tear distraction. and it might motivate him even further.

GO USA!!!!!!
- mayorofangrytown

yes please

i'm glad giroux is out. doesn't need the wear/tear distraction. and it might motivate him even further.
- hammarby31

Im on the other side of thinking.

I would rather he just get to play without all of the pressure on "his" shoulders, and have a realistic chance at winning.

I think it could be more valuable to him in the long term, gaining such an experience, and being surrounded by other great leaders instead of losing year after year in Philadelphia. Just me.

im far from an expert, but i do believe that while energy and hustle certainly do help (you cant necessarily teach the willing desire to just lay down and eat a slapshot) the best PKers combine that hustle and determination with a keen ability to read the play and see lanes develop so that they can better take them away. all of that speed and hustle to get somewhere fast can actually be detrimental if you over pursue someone with the puck and in turn create a gaping lane and prime scoring chance. if anything, you need as much patience and anticipation as you do speed.
- stayinthefnnet

Being a great defensive player to begin with certainly doesn't hurt... but there are a lot of above-average PK'ers across the league that you'd have a hard time categorizing as great defensive players.

Anyway, the genesis of this debate was the notion that Team Canada will suffer for not loading up on PK mavens, with a Selke-winner like Toews strangely being characterized as a "bad" PK'er.

My point is that virtually everybody on that team is capable of doing the task, and doing it well.

The downside being Timonen will be ground into pulp.

Im on the other side of thinking.

I would rather he just get to play without all of the pressure on "his" shoulders, and have a realistic chance at winning.

I think it could be more valuable to him in the long term, gaining such an experience, and being surrounded by other great leaders instead of losing year after year in Philadelphia. Just me.
- flyer_nutter

I think they've only missed the playoffs once since Giroux's been in the league, no?

The downside being Timonen will be ground into pulp.
- flyer_nutter

I think the Olympics is likely the reason why Timonen even bothered to come back this year.

I don't doubt he wants another shot at a Cup, but Europeans love them some Olympics.

I think they've only missed the playoffs once since Giroux's been in the league, no?
- johndewar

Correct, but I was more so talking about winning it all (the cup).

Giroux being rested is good for the Flyers and may help them stay in a playoff spot. Lets get real though. This team is winning jack poop this year.

I would rather he gain the experience being surrounded by other great leaders, be able to play without all of the spotlight on him, and have a realistic chance at winning the gold medal. Instead of more drama and questions thrown his way as to why he was left off the team.

Im no psychic, but lets ask the former greats what was more beneficial to their growth/development as a player/leader. Playing in these kind of tournaments or sitting on their ass at home watching on tv.