Ryan Wilson: Should Hockey Canada Consider Chris Kunitz As A Top Line Option For Crosby? Should Hockey Canada consider Chris Kunitz as a top line option?

No

No
- Symba007

amen

Big ice surface will expose Kunitz comparatively sub-standard skating... and how could you possibly put an Eric Staal or a Rick Nash player on a 2nd or 3rd line behind Kunitz. It will do nothing other than slow Crosby down.

Consider the Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley experiment in Vancouver. They were great/effective against lesser teams and invisible against better teams because they couldn't keep up - ON SMALL ICE.

This is the kind of stupid decision making Hockey Canada makes with the juniors repeatedly.

yeah sorry no as well, he plays well crosby but put him on any other line, who knows how he does. To leave another game breaker/potential star off the roster for Kunitz, it will lead to a distaster media attention if they dont win gold.

amen

Big ice surface will expose Kunitz comparatively sub-standard skating... and how could you possibly put an Eric Staal or a Rick Nash player on a 2nd or 3rd line behind Kunitz. It will do nothing other than slow Crosby down.

Consider the Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley experiment in Vancouver. They were great/effective against lesser teams and invisible against better teams because they couldn't keep up - ON SMALL ICE.

This is the kind of stupid decision making Hockey Canada makes with the juniors repeatedly.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Exactly, and based on TSN's roster selection (which was terrible) I would rather take Hall, Eberle, or Duchene over Kunitz who have all proved they can wheel and deal on the big ice

No
- Symba007

what he said

amen

Big ice surface will expose Kunitz comparatively sub-standard skating... and how could you possibly put an Eric Staal or a Rick Nash player on a 2nd or 3rd line behind Kunitz. It will do nothing other than slow Crosby down.

Consider the Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley experiment in Vancouver. They were great/effective against lesser teams and invisible against better teams because they couldn't keep up - ON SMALL ICE.

This is the kind of stupid decision making Hockey Canada makes with the juniors repeatedly.
- BorjeFan4Ever

Well I don't necessarily agree with that assessment. He is no Grabner but he is not a slug either. Kunitz's speed is fine.

Love Kuni but there is too much talent to choose from, he won't be there.

Sidney Crosby would have chemistry playing with anyone he plays with. Kunizt is a product of Sidney Crosby. Putting a better player alongside Crosby seems like a no brainer.I think Stamkos and St-Louis have a better chance at playing together.

If St. Louis has a good start to the season, why not put him on Crosby's LW, and Stamkos on Crosby's RW? I would worry more about pairing Stamkos with someone he is familiar with than Crosby.

Sidney Crosby would have chemistry playing with anyone he plays with. Kunizt is a product of Sidney Crosby. Putting a better player alongside Crosby seems like a no brainer.I think Stamkos and St-Louis have a better chance at playing together.
- Khlvalchuk

Beat me to it...

Exactly, and based on TSN's roster selection (which was terrible) I would rather take Hall, Eberle, or Duchene over Kunitz who have all proved they can wheel and deal on the big ice
- DDM-Coga

Thank God!! The selection on TSN was ABSOLUTELY TERRRRRIBLE LMFAO!!!! I was in shock listening to some of their picks and reasoning haha.


I'm sorry, but Kunitz is NOT a natual all-star. He doesn't have dangles. He doesn't offer ANYTHING that one of the other players can offer better. His numbers this year were ONLY because of Sid. Any other team and lineup and his numbers would be back to normal.

Beat me to it...
- Cimo

Well said! My thoughts EXACTLY.

Love Kuni but there is too much talent to choose from, he won't be there.
- canadianpenfan

Kudos to admitting that. As a Flyers fan, I respect Pens' fans who have a sense of reality about their players. It would essentially be like trying to argue that Hartnell should be on the team lol.

It's silly that we would need to take a mediocre player (in terms of world class players) in order for the greatest player in the world to succeed. Crosby can play with anyone. I think the TSN panel is getting too worked up over chemistry. Which is odd because they ended up not taking Seabrook to play with Keith, which worked quite well in Vancouver and in the Hawks 2 cup runs....

Plenty of other players Canada can take instead of Kunitz.

Thank God!! The selection on TSN was ABSOLUTELY TERRRRRIBLE LMFAO!!!! I was in shock listening to some of their picks and reasoning haha.


I'm sorry, but Kunitz is NOT a natual all-star. He doesn't have dangles. He doesn't offer ANYTHING that one of the other players can offer better. His numbers this year were ONLY because of Sid. Any other team and lineup and his numbers would be back to normal.
- Flyers_V88

If we're looking for a straight line player with speed to burn to put on Crosby's wing, I honestly think that Taylor Hall is a player to consider. If he gets off to start that is similar to how he finished last season, where he was the 6th highest scoring Canadian behind St. Louis, Stamkos, Crosby, E. Staal and Kunitz he has to be looked at for this spot.

Thank God!! The selection on TSN was ABSOLUTELY TERRRRRIBLE LMFAO!!!! I was in shock listening to some of their picks and reasoning haha.


I'm sorry, but Kunitz is NOT a natual all-star. He doesn't have dangles. He doesn't offer ANYTHING that one of the other players can offer better. His numbers this year were ONLY because of Sid. Any other team and lineup and his numbers would be back to normal.
- Flyers_V88

I know they could have at least tried in their selections,
Carter, Couture, and Kunitz over Bergeron? St Louis should be riding shotgun with Crosby instead. I like Couture but I would not select him over Eberle Hall or Duchene, all 4 of them should be going fighting for 4th line extra forward duty. To put Couture on the 3rd line is crazy

He doesn't have dangles.
- Flyers_V88

I don't think that dangles really matter. If they did then Omark would be a lock for Team Sweden.

no too.

based on history, i would put e.staal there on 1st left wing. otherwise take a peek at hall, ladd, or if lucic. need that straight line player that is willing to bulldoze and skate. some analyst says lucic is working hard on skating and loosing weight to be quicker this upcoming season.

- Cptmjl

LOL, sorry if that was unclear, but my characterization of "no dangles" is referring to a broad range of skills such as speed, puck-skills, hands, free-wheeling ability, all things needed on the bigger ice.

I don't think that dangles really matter. If they did then Omark would be a lock for Team Sweden.
- Ben37

You know who are my worst players at the high school level I coach? The kids who think they have "dangles", think they need "dangles", or even use the term "dangles".

I know they could have at least tried in their selections,
Carter, Couture, and Kunitz over Bergeron? St Louis should be riding shotgun with Crosby instead. I like Couture but I would not select him over Eberle Hall or Duchene, all 4 of them should be going fighting for 4th line extra forward duty. To put Couture on the 3rd line is crazy
- DDM-Coga

For sure, agreed.

I really hope not. The chemistry argument in this case is stupid. Crosby makes any player around him better. On this logic, we should invite dupuis to round out that top line. But Sid with stamkos and st louis would be crazy good. I would also love to see Hall on a line with crosby, think that would be insane.

The best LW option team Canada has is Taylor Hall.

That guy drives play like crazy, on a really bad Oilers team.

Taylor Hall was 9th in scoring and 2nd in the West last year.

ON THE OILERS

Take Taylor Hall, not Chris Kuntiz