Crosby and Iginla never played together in Pittsburgh. Iginla was put on line 2 and forced to play his off wing with Malkin and Neal. Line 1 remained untouched (Kunitz, Sid, Dupuis).

He was misused by Dan Bylsma and forced to play a new position. Chemistry with Crosby wasn't an issue. It was never even given a chance to develop. Can't blame them for not wanting to break up a very successful first line though.
- kmmc

Neal is a RW?

It's funny what the 'blinders' can do to people.

I have absolutely no love for the habs, nor even pk's attitude.
But i absolutely cannot deny how fantastic of a hockey player he is.

He's still not in my top 5. But he's knockin on the door
- hugefemale dog77

And I understand why some won't have him in the top 5, or even top 7. He does give the puck away more than the other DMen on this team, without question. But he makes many more intelligent and safe decisions than he did even as recently as last year. There is some "good with the bad" when talking about him, but the talent is undeniable, and his positive presence on this team will likely be felt at some point.

You mean he won an MVP award in an all star game? Is that what you mean?
- hscesq

I love the way you come down on people who don't agree with the blogger but them cut people down randomly. I wish I could have some power to abuse. Probably not use to this much traffic on your boards.

Neal is a RW?
- hscesq

Neal plays both wings, You are a ref, I thought you knew this already

You want Taylor Hall, and question Roberto Luongo? Now way.. Luongo is a proven pressure performer, from carrying the Canucks with 3SOs vs the Stars in 2007, to a Gold medal in Vancouver, and 2SOs against the Bs with a severely depleted team in the SCF. Luongo will be in the HHOF, what has Price proven other than a WJC on a stacked team? If Luo falters, then think about a change. As per Hall, the kid has 56pts in 53gms, but he's still -11? Keep him far away from Sochi.

I love the way you come down on people who don't agree with the blogger but them cut people down randomly. I wish I could have some power to abuse. Probably not use to this much traffic on your boards.
- gzatron

Who did I come down on? I gave my opinion that an all star game MVP doesn't really count for much.

As for traffic on my boards, yeah you're right. Nobody ever shows up on Engels' thread.

Neal is a RW?
- hscesq

Iginla came in.....was asked to switch sides and play LW. Malkin was C. Neal was RW.

something to remember is that Team Canada selections will always be scrutinized until the final result and then it will be deemed smart or stupid.
In 2010, Yzerman left Stamkos off of the roster. He scored 51 goals in the 09-10 season and at the beginning of the tournament, all the reporters would talk about was the omission of Stamkos. It became a REALLY big deal when we lost a game to the US in the round robin. Canada won gold and everyone has forgotten about it since.

Neal plays both wings, You are a ref, I thought you knew this already
- gzatron

If I knew, I wouldn't have asked. If he plays both, one would think that perhaps they would have moved him to LW, seeing as Iginla plays the right side.

Iginla came in.....was asked to switch sides and play LW. Malkin was C. Neal was RW.
- kmmc

Thanks for explaining.

It's always nice to see you.
- hscesq

Good to see you too, Howie.

You want Taylor Hall, and question Roberto Luongo? Now way.. Luongo is a proven pressure performer, from carrying the Canucks with 3SOs vs the Stars in 2007, to a Gold medal in Vancouver, and 2SOs against the Bs with a severely depleted team in the SCF. Luongo will be in the HHOF, what has Price proven other than a WJC on a stacked team? If Luo falters, then think about a change. As per Hall, the kid has 56pts in 53gms, but he's still -11? Keep him far away from Sochi.
- Mackenzie

John Tavares has 66 points in 59 games and is yet -6??? Keep him far away from Sochi!

Understand that fans of other teams despise PK because of the way he plays and how cocky he is. Heck, if I was a fan of another team, I would feel the same way. But there is no denying his talent. Those who are overly critical of his defensive game, simply haven't watched him enough to see how much he has improved. There is still a lot of room for him to grow in many facets of the game and he has shown a willingness to learn. Do I think he is "better" than Webber, Daughty, etc? I think he plays a very different game than they do, and I think the need for both types of DMen exists, especially in a tournament like this.
- hscesq

Yeah, sure. As I said, I think it's great to leave him on the bench for the majority of the game, and pull him out for PP. Awesome, he'll be fresh for the 6 to 8 minutes of PP per game. And I recognize that he's not bad defensively anymore, like I said earlier. He's just not as good as any one of those other guys. I guess I'd describe it as, at an NHL level, he's decent, not spectacular defensively. When compared to the likes of the other guys on the team, he doesn't measure up though. Which is fine, they'll all have their spots, and I don't see what the problem is maximizing his effectiveness at his specialty.

John Tavares has 66 points in 59 games and is yet -6??? Keep him far away from Sochi!




- Iggysbff

Ah, the +/- stat. Always a good one.

I love the way you come down on people who don't agree with the blogger but them cut people down randomly. I wish I could have some power to abuse. Probably not use to this much traffic on your boards.
- gzatron

Since when is a Yotes thread his board? I'd bet it's the first he's seen the inside of one in a while.

Yeah, sure. As I said, I think it's great to leave him on the bench for the majority of the game, and pull him out for PP. Awesome, he'll be fresh for the 6 to 8 minutes of PP per game. And I recognize that he's not bad defensively anymore, like I said earlier. He's just not as good as any one of those other guys. I guess I'd describe it as, at an NHL level, he's decent, not spectacular defensively. When compared to the likes of the other guys on the team, he doesn't measure up though. Which is fine, they'll all have their spots, and I don't see what the problem is maximizing his effectiveness at his specialty.
- prock

I can certainly agree with this assessment. Suffice it to say, that on this team, there are other options if you are up by a goal with five minutes to play. But if you are down by a goal with five minutes to play, he's on the ice.

Since when is a Yotes thread his board? I'd bet it's the first he's seen the inside of one in a while.
- prock

Wait - this is a Yotes' thread?

It is proven that Crosby and Kunitz work together. They have for a number of years. Would you, or anyone else take a chance in a short tournament that one of the leagues top pairs for the last few years would be better than one thrown together for a week?
- AncasterPens

Sometimes I think - even on the highest levels - that people get caught up in narratives that dont mean as much as they think. Whether its shots on goal, +/-, leadership, the coach, or chemistry, I hear people - like professional people and people who have played the game - make bigger deals about these things than in reality I think they deserve.

Now that doesn't mean they aren't important topics, just that they have a tendency to be overblown.

Kunitz is a great player and obviously has chemistry with Crosby.

But Tavares and Crosby are two of, if not the two best, players in the world. TO think that the difference in skill between Tavares and Kunitz can be made up by the so called chemistry and familiarity that Kunitz has with Crosby is, in my opinion, foolish.

John Tavares has 66 points in 59 games and is yet -6??? Keep him far away from Sochi!




- Iggysbff

thank you


logic seems to be a very uncommon commodity here on hb

The "who Canada should have sent / put on lines together" debate seems to be more interesting than the games themselves. That's kind of sad. Especially since it will be the same debate throughout the tournament unless Canada wins gold.

Sometimes I think - even on the highest levels - that people get caught up in narratives that done mean as much as they thing. Whether its shots on goal, +/-, leadership, the coach, or chemistry, I hear people - like professional people and people who have played the game - make bigger deals about these things than in reality I think they deserve.

Now that doesn't mean they aren't important topics, just that they have a tendency to be overblown.

Kunitz is a great player and obviously has chemistry with Crosby.

TO think that the difference in skill between Tavares and Kunitz can be made up by the so called chemistry and familiarity that Kunitz has with Crosby is, in my opinion, foolish.
- James_Tanner

i erased the Tavares top 2 players in the world comment, but other than that;
fantastic post!

I can certainly agree with this assessment. Suffice it to say, that on this team, there are other options if you are up by a goal with five minutes to play. But if you are down by a goal with five minutes to play, he's on the ice.
- hscesq

Sure, then you're probably playing two pairings involving Keith, Doughty, Subban, and Piet. Or something like that.

It's not like it's an insult to say he's not the best on the team defensively, when you're looking at that freakin group.

Wait - this is a Yotes' thread?
- hscesq

I thought so. Isn't it? I don't know. I've never noticed this blogger before.

Sure, then you're probably playing two pairings involving Keith, Doughty, Subban, and Piet. Or something like that.

It's not like it's an insult to say he's not the best on the team defensively, when you're looking at that freakin group.
- prock

I don't think you can find one person who would say he's the best defensive DMan on this team. If you do, bring him/her here.

You want Taylor Hall, and question Roberto Luongo? Now way.. Luongo is a proven pressure performer, from carrying the Canucks with 3SOs vs the Stars in 2007, to a Gold medal in Vancouver, and 2SOs against the Bs with a severely depleted team in the SCF. Luongo will be in the HHOF, what has Price proven other than a WJC on a stacked team? If Luo falters, then think about a change. As per Hall, the kid has 56pts in 53gms, but he's still -11? Keep him far away from Sochi.
- Mackenzie

Fair points, but I consider Taylor Hall's plus minus about as relevant as his astrological sign.