well

if i was st louis id tell yzerman to go (frank) himself and id walk out and not come back.
- big_dion

of maybe st louis asked for the break?

kuli made team russia

Team Canada has a vast pool concerning some of the best defenseman on earth, well Dion is obviously the best Leaf's defender he does not automatically qualify to represent his country, pure and simple. There are too many better options, get over it.

And again, would you seriously enjoy watching Dion attempt to confine the likes of Ovi, Malkin, the Sedins etc etc etc on the big international ice? Please
- Whiskey-Tango

I don't think anyone is saying Dion should be on this team, its more the Dion sucks that people are challenging.

of maybe st louis asked for the break?

kuli made team russia
- Dozzer

I'm thinking this may be the case, he's never been one to hide his feelings and he's going in front of the mic shortly.

of maybe st louis asked for the break?

kuli made team russia
- Dozzer

nope, he wanted on, badly.

hes apparently not pleased.

Godlike?

He broke 70 points once in his career...

Guy was one of the most overrated players in the league and still is.

He's a good player, but the hype was ridiculous.
- Fosco

1: its not all about points.. the type of game he plays is important.. he creates huge amounts of space for his linemates

2: a ton of big ice experience

3: stop using NHL stats.. its about the type of game they play.. not the stats.. they mean nothing when it comes to world play on the big ice.. nothing at all.

nope, he wanted on, badly.

hes apparently not pleased.
- big_dion

Hard to blame him.

nope, he wanted on, badly.

hes apparently not pleased.
- big_dion

who said that?

here it is, released yesterday

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678658

OH, you mean st louis

meh

He has to be defended because he makes world class money. Its a defense of the club itself as much as anything.
- aminnes

I get that, but individual team bias aside we are all Canadian and ought to be rooting for the best assembled team possible. Well having Dion represent Canada may be considered "fun" for many leafs fans the fact remains that if he was selected it would represent a poor quality pick and would ultimately be counter-productive to Canada's pursuit of Gold.

Furthermore, let's say he was hypothetically picked, what would happen to the self esteem of both him and Leaf's nation if he was severely exposed during the Olympics?

Should Ashton be recalled again? 15 pts in 14 games, has 10 goals. Id like to see the leafs give Mckegg a go as well

He has to be defended because he makes world class money. Its a defense of the club itself as much as anything.
- aminnes

phaneuf is overpaid by about 2 million per

nope, he wanted on, badly.

hes apparently not pleased.
- big_dion

And Yzerman is his GM.

phaneuf is overpaid by about 2 million per half season.
- Dozzer

Dozzer!

phaneuf is overpaid by about 2 million per
- Dozzer

why are you mad

I don't think anyone is saying Dion should be on this team, its more the Dion sucks that people are challenging.
- mykokes

Who cares

And Yzerman is his GM.
- Pecafan Fan

It's all a set up. Stamkos won't be ready and St. Louis will be in.

Agreed, i think Dion would be utterly humiliated on the big ice, ultimately that's the reason Hamhuis was chosen. He is the definition of a sound defenseman and plays a sick transition game, not that he will be played all that much but at-least he creates some safe depth in terms of injuries.
- Whiskey-Tango

Dion in reality (against what some crazy leafers think) lacks a high quality defensive game. For a dman that is suppose to be top 10 in the league, he wasnt even in top 12 consideration for team Canada.
But yes, on the big ice surface, Dion would get SCHOOLED!

However, this is not the final roster, they have up until 2hrs before the first olympic hockey game to make changes.

phaneuf is overpaid by about 2 million per
- Dozzer

Yup!
and played out of position.

One does have to wonder, if he really is this good why he isn't on the team. Maybe because he underachieves outside of contract years?
- aminnes

What I wonder is how someone who has been called overrated so many times in his career byt so many people, can be succeeding where the entire rest of the team is failing.

I love people who use stats when it suits them, and the discard stats when they prefer to argue with their anecdotal evidence.

Toughest competition in the league, 25 minutes a night, among the best D in +/-

... and frankly, playing with Kessel is not all the time, and Kessel's line, especially when Kadri was on it, was NOT good in their own end at all.

I am not a Phaneuf fan, but the criticism against him is really tough to support.

If I went and made the same comment about Edler on a Canucks thread, I would probably be banned for a year.

Clarkson and Gunner not playing tonight:

Addition by subtraction??

think things through guys

st louis is 38.. you really think yzerman wants to have him playt an extra 6 or 7 games this year? it would wear him out.

also, nobody can stop nash once he gets going.. he isnt a checker (which some believe is what makes PF) but he is a big skilled guy who cant be stopped once he's rolling.

too much small skill already on team canada.. need some big bodies there.
- Dozzer

please tell me you don't actually believe this to be a reason for him not being selected.

Hard to blame him.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

He should be p*ssed.

I get that, but individual team bias aside we are all Canadian and ought to be rooting for the best assembled team possible. Well having Dion represent Canada may be considered "fun" for many leafs fans the fact remains that if he was selected it would represent a poor quality pick and would ultimately be counter-productive to Canada's pursuit of Gold.

Furthermore, let's say he was hypothetically picked, what would happen to the self esteem of both him and Leaf's nation if he was severely exposed during the Olympics?
- Whiskey-Tango

Yup.

But he often gets exposed during leaf games....so we'd be use to it.

What I wonder is how someone who has been called overrated so many times in his career byt so many people, can be succeeding where the entire rest of the team is failing.

I love people who use stats when it suits them, and the discard stats when they prefer to argue with their anecdotal evidence.

Toughest competition in the league, 25 minutes a night, among the best D in +/-

... and frankly, playing with Kessel is not all the time, and Kessel's line, especially when Kadri was on it, was NOT good in their own end at all.

I am not a Phaneuf fan, but the criticism against him is really tough to support.

If I went and made the same comment about Edler on a Canucks thread, I would probably be banned for a year.
- Aetherial

The stats are great, but when you watch him, he gets beat outside by speed, makes stupid ass defensive blunders, and basically lost you guys game 7 last year with less than 2 minutes left.

Clarkson and Gunner not playing tonight:

Addition by subtraction??
- Hockey_Reverend

We had Franger, now what...Clarknner?

I get that, but individual team bias aside we are all Canadian and ought to be rooting for the best assembled team possible. Well having Dion represent Canada may be considered "fun" for many leafs fans the fact remains that if he was selected it would represent a poor quality pick and would ultimately be counter-productive to Canada's pursuit of Gold.

Furthermore, let's say he was hypothetically picked, what would happen to the self esteem of both him and Leaf's nation if he was severely exposed during the Olympics?
- Whiskey-Tango

Thanks for that purely unbiased statistically-supported arguement.

Seriously, why are you here?