It means that yes, he does the things mentioned well. Nowhere near the best in the world. I thought it was pretty straightforward. What part didn't you understand?
- prock

my bad. u got off this off before I saw.

ill allow you to speak for yourself

What does this mean???? Is this not just pure arrogance and elitism?
- Brianandr1

No it's a fact he is not of the same skill level of the Olympic hockey players for any of the big gun countries. He was brought along because of his chemistry with Sid (which is never been argued) if he didn't play with Crosby he would not have been even consider for the team.

From Hockeybuzz's very own:

Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
For all of the handwringing about Canada's scoring problems, has anyone noted they've given up just two goals, one a fluke?

Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
Like, yeah, their scoring's probably a bit below _expected. But, uh, they basically concede a chance or two against a period. It's nuts.

It means that yes, he does the things mentioned well. Nowhere near the best in the world. I thought it was pretty straightforward. What part didn't you understand?
- prock

The part that he's been in the top 10 in every offensive category for 2 seasons and deserved to be there! If its a mistake, then its a mistake... but I don't buy it. If one of the shots he took went in would we be having this conversation??? The Canadian media/fan is looking to blame someone and kunitz is their man!! (not Sharp, Tavares, St. Loius, Duchene all of whom have been as comparably bad) Bottomline is the Canadian expectation of how good there team is in relation to other nations is greatly exaggerated, replacing Kunitz with Hall or Giroux would not make much difference. Norway and Finland played up to the level of their competition... Time to learn some humility... Canada is having a national crisis because their team only outscored the opposition 12 2 instead of 30 0 ... Sorry but times have changed since the 92 dream team... as good as the 2010 team was they were only one goal better then USA... You guys have become obsessed with names instead of how they fit together... again its not an all star game.

From Hockeybuzz's very own:

Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
For all of the handwringing about Canada's scoring problems, has anyone noted they've given up just two goals, one a fluke?

Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
Like, yeah, their scoring's probably a bit below _expected. But, uh, they basically concede a chance or two against a period. It's nuts.
- BulliesPhan87

our strength certainly lies in our defensive group, but the forwards have been especially strong defensively as well.

but I believe we're gonna need to be better offensively as well.
Crosby, toews, getzlaf etc are gonna have to step up

The part that he's been in the top 10 in every offensive category for 2 seasons and deserved to be there! If its a mistake, then its a mistake... but I don't buy it. If one of the shots he took went in would we be having this conversation??? The Canadian media/fan is looking to blame someone and kunitz is their man!! (not Sharp, Tavares, St. Loius, Duchene all of whom have been as comparably bad) Bottomline is the Canadian expectation of how good there team is in relation to other nations is greatly exaggerated, replacing Kunitz with Hall or Giroux would not make much difference. Norway and Finland played up to the level of their competition... Time to learn some humility...
- Brianandr1

no they haven't.

no they haven't.
- prock

Yeah I feel as though the inclusion of Duchene there is especially egregious as he's both worked well with linemates and created stuff on his own.

no they haven't.
- prock

right... please tell us again how they had a few good shifts and now emphasize how kunitz can't keep up with the big boys... JUST WRONG!!! Two time cup winner who has had no issue in his career keeping up with and complementing Crosby, Malkin, Getz and Perry to name a few. He suddenly over matched and out of his league in Socchi??? BS!!!!!!!! Bounce of the puck here or there and its a very different conversation.

Yeah I feel as though the inclusion of Duchene there is especially egregious as he's both worked well with linemates and created stuff on his own.
- Morris

St Louis hasn't gotten the same ice yet, obviously, and hasn't been bad at all.

Sharp has been pretty good at what he's being asked to do.

Yeah I feel as though the inclusion of Duchene there is especially egregious as he's both worked well with linemates and created stuff on his own.
- Morris

agreed. Duchene does not belong on that list.
neither does Tavares. who maybe hasn't been all world like we know he can be, but certainly far more of a factor than kunitz has.

id feel comfortable with matt on any line.
I think he's worked himself from pressbox to earning a shot on the top line with Crosby next game while throwing benn with getz and perry

St Louis hasn't gotten the same ice yet, obviously, and hasn't been bad at all.

Sharp has been pretty good at what he's being asked to do.
- prock

Which is what??? Play solid in his own end and score!!! Exactly what Kunitz has done and not done.

right... please tell us again how they had a few good shifts and now emphasize how kunitz can't keep up with the big boys... JUST WRONG!!! Two time cup winner who has had no issue in his career keeping up with and complementing Crosby, Malkin, Getz and Perry to name a few. He suddenly over matched and out of his league in Socchi??? BS!!!!!!!!
- Brianandr1

No not too sudden. He's always been out of his league in this group and most have been pointing it out since the team was announced. Why you say sudden?

my lineup vs swiss

Duchene, Crosby, Tavares
benn, getzlaf, perry
carter, toews, marleau
nash, Bergeron, st.louis
sharp


kunitz draws in on the 4th line if we play the states in the semis

Which is what??? Play solid in his own end and score!!! Exactly what Kunitz has done and not done.
- Brianandr1

Comparing a 1st line vs a 3rd line. 1st line is supposed to score 3 rd line is a defensive line.

No not too sudden. He's always been out of his league in this group and most have been pointing it out since the team was announced. Why you say sudden?
- prock

Because he's not "out of his league"!!!! Other then Doughty, Weber and a handful of others the whole team has not lived up to expectations... which for some of you is Canada 10 0 every game... Ludicrous... and even more ludicrous to blame Kunitz who has never been out of his league in the biggest situations a hockey player can be in... sorry I don't buy it!!!

Comparing a 1st line vs a 3rd line. 1st line is supposed to score 3 rd line is a defensive line.
- Yeti1181

4th line???? With John Tavares at center!!! wow... this is not the NHL and we re not talking about Joe Vitale or Max Talbot!!! There is no 4th line!!! There is no checking line!!!

No not too sudden. He's always been out of his league in this group and most have been pointing it out since the team was announced. Why you say sudden?
- prock

I really find this topic interesting. I think that in a way it made sense to bring to select him, however in a way it's also moronic to select him over guys like Hall, Giroux, St. Louis, Cotoure etc.

Kunitz has always been a solid player, but if you take him for a specific reason like expecting Crosby and him to produce, and he doesn't....while Canada has trouble scoring and Claude Giroux and others are sitting home.... It becomes a huge storyline.

my lineup vs swiss

Duchene, Crosby, Tavares
benn, getzlaf, perry
carter, toews, marleau
nash, Bergeron, st.louis
sharp


kunitz draws in on the 4th line if we play the states in the semis
- hugefemale dog77

get the (frank) out of my head. I was envisioning that exact lineup except I'd flipped the wings on the Toews Line and called it Line 2.

Because he's not "out of his league"!!!! Other then Doughty, Weber and a handful of others the whole team has not lived up to expectations... which for some of you is Canada 10 0 every game... Ludicrous... and even more ludicrous to blame Kunitz who has never been out of his league in the biggest situations a hockey player can be in... sorry I don't buy it!!!
- Brianandr1

you keep saying "blaming. why?

our team is good enough to overcome one wrong selection. he will not be the reason if we lose. I just hope he gets sat against any of the European squads we may yet face

Because he's not "out of his league"!!!! Other then Doughty, Weber and a handful of others the whole team has not lived up to expectations... which for some of you is Canada 10 0 every game... Ludicrous... and even more ludicrous to blame Kunitz who has never been out of his league in the biggest situations a hockey player can be in... sorry I don't buy it!!!
- Brianandr1

In your opinion. The rest of the world sees it differently.

get the (frank) out of my head. I was envisioning that exact lineup except I'd flipped the wings on the Toews Line and called it Line 2.
- Morris

great minds bro.

and your toews line 2 might actually make abit more sense as he was probably our best forward against finland.
either way, im sure the minutes played between the 2nd and 3rd would be very close

I really find this topic interesting. I think that in a way it made sense to bring to select him, however in a way it's also moronic to select him over guys like Hall, Giroux, St. Louis, Cotoure etc.

Kunitz has always been a solid player, but if you take him for a specific reason like expecting Crosby and him to produce, and he doesn't....while Canada has trouble scoring and Claude Giroux and others are sitting home.... It becomes a huge storyline.
- sbroads24

I've got a lot of time for Kunitz.

But the assertion that it would be a slight to leave him off is getting ridiculous.

I even thought it was a bit ridiculous when St Louis pouted that he should have been on the team all along.

It's just a very very hard roster to make.

If Taylor Hall never in his career makes team Canada, I'd feel the same way. I'll be disappointed, and my opinion will obviously differ from Hockey Canada's, but it won't be a slight.

I want benn to start wrecking shop

Kunitz won't be the reason the team loses, but as a corollary, just because the team is winning doesn't mean he was the right choice.

4th line???? With John Tavares at center!!! wow... this is not the NHL and we re not talking about Joe Vitale or Max Talbot!!! There is no 4th line!!! There is no checking line!!!
- Brianandr1

I didn't say fourth line

Yes they are still used the same way as in every game in hockey, not every line is offence. You think they just go out and try and score an nobody plays defence. Just because it's the Olympics doesn't mean the theories and game plans are just thrown out the (frank)ing window nd they just do whatever thy want.