Ian Esplen: Why Dan Hamhuis has a shot Why Dan Hamhuis has a shot

All the reasons you list suggest JBo will be on the team before Hamhuis.


He's a left handed defenseman.

Past Success (He has suited up for Canada 8 times and brought back 7 medals, more than Hamhuis)

Lining up with Pietrangelo. (Actually playing together, and this year; as opposed to being on the same team but not the same pairing most of the time and it being 3 years ago)

All the reasons you list suggest JBo will be on the team before Hamhuis.


He's a left handed defenseman.

Past Success (He has suited up for Canada 8 times and brought back 7 medals, more than Hamhuis)

Lining up with Pietrangelo. (Actually playing together, and this year; as opposed to being on the same team but not the same pairing most of the time and it being 3 years ago)
- Antilles

You can also add that he has the coach in his pocket.


One thing though, Weber IS a lock

Pietro, not so much, IMO

All the reasons you list suggest JBo will be on the team before Hamhuis.


He's a left handed defenseman.

Past Success (He has suited up for Canada 8 times and brought back 7 medals, more than Hamhuis)

Lining up with Pietrangelo. (Actually playing together, and this year; as opposed to being on the same team but not the same pairing most of the time and it being 3 years ago)
- Antilles

yup Jbo > Hamhuis

A plus for Hamhuis is veteran leadership, which you can never have enough of.

Hamhuis will be in tough on this one, that said, he's a tremendous skater and he has great hockey sense! This will serve him well in his attempt to make the team.

You can also add that he has the coach in his pocket.


One thing though, Weber IS a lock

Pietro, not so much, IMO
- IanEsplen

I think, barring any injury or a disastrous start to the season, Petro is a lock to make the team, along with Weber and Keith.

I would love to see Hamuis get the call. Great skater, excellent hockey-sense, positioning, and some untapped offensive potential. What more can you ask for.

yup Jbo > Hamhuis
- Cape Breton Bruins

56 > 6

Personally, he's not on my team. Great defensemen, but there are other guys there who offer more overall. I also don't like this argument that there is a need for even left and right shots... Really? This is Team Canada, and ideally it would be nice, but the level of skill should easily off-set this predicament.

Probably not going to make the team. Maybe if he starts off lighting it up somehow or the Canucks are red hot he gets a spot.

Other than that I don't see it.

yup Jbo > Hamhuis
- Cape Breton Bruins

Banned for a week for this^

Personally, he's not on my team. Great defensemen, but there are other guys there who offer more overall. I also don't like this argument that there is a need for even left and right shots... Really? This is Team Canada, and ideally it would be nice, but the level of skill should easily off-set this predicament.
- Flyers_V88

guessing you've never played D. While they are all elite players and I'm sure they can play both sides, everyone one has a better side and that's generally related to if you're Left or Right-handed.

Think of it this way, Weber on the Right is a 100% player and on the left he's a 85% player. Now you have to figure out if weber at 85% is better than a left-handed D at 100%.

I'm not saying it won't work taking 6 Rights and a left, but I believe it works better having a bit more balance.

I think you could make a case for all the guys not named Weber, Keith, or Doughty.

IMO Weber and Hamhuis would be a solid pairing. I just don't think Hamhuis is flashy enough to make the team, even though I would rate him higher than some players who will. Hamhuis always makes the players he is partnered with look good and is steady dman.

I think you could make a case for all the guys not named Weber, Keith, or Doughty.
- Khlvalchuk

He's a tricky one for me.

On one hand, he has played very well anytime it matters

On the other hand, you watch him play during the regular season a lot of the time and it's not good.

guessing you've never played D. While they are all elite players and I'm sure they can play both sides, everyone one has a better side and that's generally related to if you're Left or Right-handed.

Think of it this way, Weber on the Right is a 100% player and on the left he's a 85% player. Now you have to figure out if weber at 85% is better than a left-handed D at 100%.

I'm not saying it won't work taking 6 Rights and a left, but I believe it works better having a bit more balance.
- IanEsplen

I have played D and played Junior A here in Ontario... I get the mechanics of the game. Yes, every D has their preferred side, but in NO WAY should you ever compromise the skill level and ability just to accommodate balanced pairings. The best players make the team. Only if there is glaring problem should where a D just literally can't play that side should a guy like Hamhuis make it.

I have played D and played Junior A here in Ontario... I get the mechanics of the game. Yes, every D has their preferred side, but in NO WAY should you ever compromise the skill level and ability just to accommodate balanced pairings. The best players make the team. Only if there is glaring problem should where a D just literally can't play that side should a guy like Hamhuis make it.
- Flyers_V88

So let's say Keith and Seabrook are a pair.

Keith gets hurt and Seabrook is so used to plying with a LHD partner now his game is off.

Now you have a team that has two D, who are pretty well useless.

I'm not saying it needs to be 50/50, but there needs to be another LHD.

If Canada takes 6 RHD they will not be bringing home a medal.

And another thing, the best players don't win gold medals. The best teams win gold medals.

He's a tricky one for me.

On one hand, he has played very well anytime it matters

On the other hand, you watch him play during the regular season a lot of the time and it's not good.
- IanEsplen

Doughty to me has to prove himself and should not be a lock for the team. Reminds me of Phaneuf last Olympics where everyone thought he was a lock and other players outplayed him and made the team instead (rightfully so). I am hoping the brass take a what have you done for me lately attitude. I would also look at all the players who have played on the big ice a lot and factor that into the decision making.

I do agree that Doughty was one of our better defensemen last time, but hope he does not have the attitude he is already on the team.

Doughty should not be on the team.

Keith Weber
Staal Pietrangelo
Hamhuis Subban
Letang

Doughty should not be on the team.

Keith Suter
Staal Pietrangelo
Hamhuis Subban
Letang
- dshiddy

Suter is American...

Doughty should not be on the team.

Keith Suter
Staal Pietrangelo
Hamhuis Subban
Letang
- dshiddy

no Weber and Suter...

Doughty should not be on the team.

Keith Suter
Staal Pietrangelo
Hamhuis Subban
Letang
- dshiddy

So many things wrong with this...

Suter is American...
- Flyers_V88

I meant Weber.

I would say Hamhuis making the team rests on how well Marc Staal is recovered from his eye injury. He's the wild card on the left hand side that would be there if he is playing at the top of his game, but can he after that injury? That said either one of them are only 6/7 on the team anyway. I see it ending up being...

Keith-Doughty
Subban-Weber
JayBo-Peitrangelo
Staal or Hamhuis-Seabrook or Letang

There's all this talk about needing a left handed D at every position, but I slot that talk with the Kunitz needing to be on the team for Crosby talk. Just something to talk about right now, but too much overwhelming talent from other people will kill that. Only 2 lefties will break the top 6. I put the 7/8 like that because I think those are the battles it comes down to. I give Hamhuis the edge because of the injury, and Seabrook the edge over Letang due to his success with Keith.

I would say Hamhuis making the team rests on how well Marc Staal is recovered from his eye injury. He's the wild card on the left hand side that would be there if he is playing at the top of his game, but can he after that injury? That said either one of them are only 6/7 on the team anyway. I see it ending up being...

Keith-Doughty
Subban-Weber
JayBo-Peitrangelo
Staal or Hamhuis-Seabrook or Letang

There's all this talk about needing a left handed D at every position, but I slot that talk with the Kunitz needing to be on the team for Crosby talk. Just something to talk about right now, but too much overwhelming talent from other people will kill that. Only 2 lefties will break the top 6. I put the 7/8 like that because I think those are the battles it comes down to. I give Hamhuis the edge because of the injury, and Seabrook the edge over Letang due to his success with Keith.
- Lytes9

So what happens if both Subban and Weber prefere to have LHD partners and prefer to play in their natural spot?

IMO, you have to be nuts to ignore that and just tell them you guys are the top two D in the league. make it work.