Apparently reading comprehension is beyond your ken. Do you know what the term dark horse means?
- Elbows15

Finland is my dark horse too, for the very reason you listed.

The Czech Repulic could take gold, you can't discount the Fro-factor.
- DarthKane

I sense one these with #67 on the back is in your future.

Who are these people?
- Elbows15

More importantly, are they house broken?

More importantly, are they house broken?
- Beaver-Warrior

I am going to go with a No on that.

- Ogilthorpe2

Pretty much is my guess.

I am going to go with a No on that.
- Elbows15

We're in luck. I haven't recycled the newspapers yet.

Kane on the 3rd line? With Bylsma coaching I make the US a darkhorse for a medal.
- Elbows15

When they're 0-2 its going to be hysterical. As an American I wish there weren't so many phucking jagoffs on the team, kind of want to see them fail. Canada - Sweden - Slovakia. Lots of Hawks medals

Apparently reading comprehension is beyond your ken. Do you know what the term dark horse means?
- Elbows15

ill try and explain this in a very detailed manner, cause I just don't think you'd be able to grasp it if I kept it succinct.

it wasn't a retort to the blog, it was a response to posters' reasoning of why he thinks finland will win gold. which he attempted to explain to those who questioned his logic. but with a ton of contradiction.
dark horse finishers weren't involved.

did you bother to read the preceding posts and get some background info??

I could educate you on the differences between picking a dark horse and who we actually think wins gold for favourite reasoning if you'd like?
or do you think all this crazy sports jargon might be too much to understand??

reading comprehension??
those of you living in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.

wtf do they teach you guys in your 'murican schools?

what a douche

Who are these people?
- Elbows15

Yeah - they sound like us.

Dead people.
- Elbows15

Maybe I need a hobby, too if I am seriously asking aboutb two failed Blackhawk prospects on Olympic rosters. Could they have improved much since their recent stint at Rockford? Not too much IMHO. But Eli you see probably as much Icehogs as anyone. You saw Olimb and Kontiola, both skill guys. Kontiola actually got into a couple NHL games. I heard some things about both as to why they didn't progress in North America. But I cannot substantiate what heard....just off the record remarks. I will say that Mike Peck, Icehogs guru, did comment that Olimb had fences to hurdle. Unsure what that meant. Olimb played 2nd unit point on pp. Perhaps you could shed some light on whether they dress for games. As far as latest information goes they remain on respective team's roster.

A European respondant did check in on a similar query made a couple JJ columns back. So maybe he can give input as well
- jhawk59

Size (lack thereof) was the issue for Olimb. He was a low risk investment and had it panned out, it would have been a big win for the Hawks. I don't think anyone was really expecting Olimb to really succeed.

Olympics
- Ogilthorpe2

No.

It's the Ogie-lympics.

Olimb was way too small for the North American game. He didn't exactly deal well with the physical game against him, and wasn't able to fight for pucks. Also, there were some questions as to playing defense.

Really, size was an issue for Olimb. He was a low risk investment and had it panned out, it would have been a big win for the Hawks. I don't think anyone was really expecting Olimb to really succeed.
- EKolb13

Olimb was the best player on the ice at camp a few years ago until Beach jumped him. I know a team would have trouble carrying a one trick pony on a roster these days, but I would have loved to see Olimb on the power play. That power play would have had movement for sure. Guy looked like a water bug out there. But he sure was small.

I sense one these with #67 on the back is in your future.


- Beaver-Warrior

But is he going to go full bore and grow out the thick furrow eye brows to go along with the jersey? If you want to go authentic...that is the way to go...

Hi JJ. I've seen many people predict Slovakia as coming dead last, behind Latvia, Slovenia and Norway. You have them winning a bronze? What do you see that everyone else doesn't?
- Scooby_Doo

I've seen many people jumping off bridges and buying expired lottery tickets, too.

I wonder if those people who are picking Slovakia for last place realize that this is essentially the same team that almost medalled in 2010. Oh, right.

Halak, Chara, Hossa. Especially Chara.

When they're 0-2 its going to be hysterical. As an American I wish there weren't so many phucking jagoffs on the team, kind of want to see them fail. Canada - Sweden - Slovakia. Lots of Hawks medals
- rollpards19

Bylsma is not generally popular among pens fans which is pretty amazing considering they have won a cup with him and are one of the top teams.
Reasons:
1) lineups that make zero sense ( Kane on the third line, kobesew playing on crosbys wing)
2) mishandling of young players like despres and bortozzo who are banished to the press box or the minors for no reason
3) he does not match lines, even against the better teams

Bylsma is not generally popular among pens fans which is pretty amazing considering they have won a cup with him and are one of the top teams.
Reasons:
1) lineups that make zero sense ( Kane on the third line, kobesew playing on crosbys wing)
2) mishandling of young players like despres and bortozzo who are banished to the press box or the minors for no reason
3) he does not match lines, even against the better teams
- Brianandr1

Except for your #3, sounds like some complaints here about Q - and he's brought us TWO Cups.

I've seen many people jumping off bridges and buying expired lottery tickets, too.

I wonder if those people who are picking Slovakia for last place realize that this is essentially the same team that almost medalled in 2010. Oh, right.

Halak, Chara, Hossa. Especially Chara.
- John Jaeckel

Wingspan should be a big help to Chara on the big ice.

Olimb was the best player on the ice at camp a few years ago until Beach jumped him. I know a team would have trouble carrying a one trick pony on a roster these days, but I would have loved to see Olimb on the power play. That power play would have had movement for sure. Guy looked like a water bug out there. But he sure was small.
- 6628

Yes he did - a water bug is a good comparison. Size was the main issue there. Like I previously posted, he was a low risk investment that would have been a real win if he would have been able to make it.

I've seen many people jumping off bridges and buying expired lottery tickets, too.
- John Jaeckel

I've seen many people jumping off bridges and buying expired lottery tickets, too.

I wonder if those people who are picking Slovakia for last place realize that this is essentially the same team that almost medalled in 2010. Oh, right.

Halak, Chara, Hossa. Especially Chara.
- John Jaeckel

No Gaborik though. He is hurt and won't play.

Wingspan should be a big help to Chara on the big ice.
- 6628

Big ice would hurt Chara - he needs to be able to hit skaters - more ice means more space to get around him, wingspan or not.

But is he going to go full bore and grow out the thick furrow eye brows to go along with the jersey? If you want to go authentic...that is the way to go...
- TrueGrit

Doesn't Frolik have a Jagr-like mullet? Darth would have to grow one of those too.

Bylsma is not generally popular among pens fans which is pretty amazing considering they have won a cup with him and are one of the top teams.
Reasons:
1) lineups that make zero sense ( Kane on the third line, kobesew playing on crosbys wing)
2) mishandling of young players like despres and bortozzo who are banished to the press box or the minors for no reason
3) he does not match lines, even against the better teams
- Brianandr1

Haven't the Pens had injury problems, especially at wing and defense? Could that be why Kobesew has been skating with Crosby?

Also, you bring up that Bylsma doesn't like to play the prospects, but it seems that Olli Maatta is getting plenty of playing time.

Does Bortozzo really have any upside?

Big ice would hurt Chara - he needs to be able to hit skaters - more ice means more space to get around him, wingspan or not.
- StLBravesFan

When making a hit on an olympic surface a player risks taking himself out of the play even more so than on an NHL surface. But Chara has league permission to use a stick that's much longer than the league specs allow obviously because of his size. I'm pretty sure that carries over to the Olympics. He doesn't have to hit that much. With that wingspan he can reach a lot more than everyone else. I understand your point and if Chara feels the need to run everyone that comes his way then you are going to be more right than me. An opposing strategy might be for a puck carrier to take Chara wide and take a hit to make a play as there's going to be a lot more room if done well.