The NHL on City TV is going to be...well...weird.
- buffalofan19

Ed the Sock >> Jim Hughson

I would be seriously surprised if Subban is not taken. He is an offensive giant and although you do need someone defensively minded, it is also important to score more goals than the other teams. Some teams put out an extra forward or two on the Power Play and most of those guys don't have the points that Subban has. He is not without defensive ability but his strength is offense. Russia isn't passing on Kovi because he doesn't play the PK.

As for Vlasiac. I would be surprised if he got the nod. Amazing start this year but on a good team. Now I believe he has 1 assist in 10 or 11 games. There are guys like Letang, Boyle, Staal... all trying out. Still I think the 7th spot will go to Hamhuis. Rumor is that he is well liked by Lowe and the Olympic management. He is a defensive right handed shot that can balance out the lines when offensive giants like Doughty and Subban are out there. Although Boyle might get a shot as well due to his veteran ability. The only thing for certain, I wish we had this sort of problem with goal tending. We are cutting better dmen than some teams first pairing.

Either way Edmonton has time to tinker as Pool B, is looking like the place to be. Austria, Norway and Finland is about the best Canada could have got. I feel bad for Slovakia, who somehow got ranked 7th and USA 8th. They play US and Russia. I don't care much for rankings, that is a tough division.

I would be seriously surprised if Subban is not taken. He is an offensive giant and although you do need someone defensively minded, it is also important to score more goals than the other teams. Some teams put out an extra forward or two on the Power Play and most of those guys don't have the points that Subban has. He is not without defensive ability but his strength is offense. Russia isn't passing on Kovi because he doesn't play the PK.

As for Vlasiac. I would be surprised if he got the nod. Amazing start this year but on a good team. Now I believe he has 1 assist in 10 or 11 games. There are guys like Letang, Boyle, Staal... all trying out. Still I think the 7th spot will go to Hamhuis. Rumor is that he is well liked by Lowe and the Olympic management. He is a defensive right handed shot that can balance out the lines when offensive giants like Doughty and Subban are out there. Although Boyle might get a shot as well due to his veteran ability. The only thing for certain, I wish we had this sort of problem with goal tending. We are cutting better dmen than some teams first pairing.

Either way Edmonton has time to tinker as Pool B, is looking like the place to be. Austria, Norway and Finland is about the best Canada could have got. I feel bad for Slovakia, who somehow got ranked 7th and USA 8th. They play US and Russia. I don't care much for rankings, that is a tough division.
- Hall Fan

This is where our opinion differs- I think Yzerman should be opting for the best defensive d-men available to bolster our D and insulate our goaltending- which I would classify as suspect, compared to other teams. I imagine the tandem of Luongo/Price is a no-brainer with either Holtby or Crawford being #3.

Our offense is stacked. It's better and deeper than any of the other teams in the tournament- I'd have a hard time believing we'll struggle putting pucks in the net.

The thing about offensive d-men (and this isn't a Subban thing- look at Karlsson, Letang, Green, Doughty, etc) is that their defensive abilities are often overshadowed by their point production. Things like "he's no longer a defensive liability" are seen as positives because they produce so many points. They often try to go on the offensive and make the difficult play as opposed to making the smart play. It's fine on a team where you need the offense, but I don't think Canada is going to need that much help. Also keep in mind- it's not like the other guys are slouches offensively.

In my mind, I'm taking a guy who is a "defensive beast" over someone who is "not a defensive liability". Vs. teams like Russia, Sweden, Czechs- if you fumble the puck trying to be on the offense, with questionable goaltending, the pucks in the back of the net.

I'd be taking:

Weber-Doughty
Peitrangelo - Bouwmeester
Keith- Vlasic
Staal- Boyle

This is where our opinion differs- I think Yzerman should be opting for the best defensive d-men available to bolster our D and insulate our goaltending- which I would classify as suspect, compared to other teams. I imagine the tandem of Luongo/Price is a no-brainer with either Holtby or Crawford being #3.

Our offense is stacked. It's better and deeper than any of the other teams in the tournament- I'd have a hard time believing we'll struggle putting pucks in the net.

The thing about offensive d-men (and this isn't a Subban thing- look at Karlsson, Letang, Green, Doughty, etc) is that their defensive abilities are often overshadowed by their point production. Things like "he's no longer a defensive liability" are seen as positives because they produce so many points. They often try to go on the offensive and make the difficult play as opposed to making the smart play. It's fine on a team where you need the offense, but I don't think Canada is going to need that much help. Also keep in mind- it's not like the other guys are slouches offensively.

In my mind, I'm taking a guy who is a "defensive beast" over someone who is "not a defensive liability". Vs. teams like Russia, Sweden, Czechs- if you fumble the puck trying to be on the offense, with questionable goaltending, the pucks in the back of the net.

I'd be taking:

Weber-Doughty
Peitrangelo - Bouwmeester
Keith- Vlasic
Staal- Boyle
- Jordo

Yea, Price sure has needed insulation this year. Luckily, he's had some scrub Dman in front of him to boost his numbers to phenomenal heights. .935 and 2.05 I think. Imagine where they'd be if he didn't have to cover for Subban!!!!!

Why the hell do people keep thinking goaltending is our Achilles Heel? Just because we don't have a guaranteed starter as we did in years past doesn't mean we don't have 4 of the top starters in the world to choose from.

Well if you are the best "defensemen" I would hope you are out on the ice in defensive situations like the penalty kill or the end of the game. Subban is an excellent player but it was a joke that he won the Norris over guys like Weber, Suter, even Keith. Those guys play in every situation, always against the top competition.
- sbroads24

Subban was as deserving of it than any of these guys.

Quit your whining and move on.

Subban was as deserving of it than any of these guys.

Quit your whining and move on.
- Scabeh

Nah, not even close. Suter was dominant last season.

Connolly went back to junior the year after he was drafted.
- LeftCoaster

He was drafted in 2010. NHL stats accumulated in 2011...68 games 4G 11A

Nah, not even close. Suter was dominant last season.
- sbroads24

Less TSN will be good for ya

Nah, not even close. Suter was dominant last season.
- sbroads24

Well that settles it. Who can possibly argue with the subjective opinion of some small town rube with a chip on his shoulder?

6) Sens: "They're losing big-time in a very tight race at the top of the Atlantic Division.
"

Ok, 2 points off a playoffs spot we are "losing BIG-TIME"! Wow!
Not necessarily a change of players is needed as the Sens keeps beating all the big EASTERN teams like Boston, Detroit x2, Caps, (even the Habs - although not considered a top conference team ) etc...
Keep in mind too that they have already faced the tough western teams like the Ducksx2, San Josex2, Kings, Wild, etc, and everyone knows how the east teams struggle vs the west... Schedule is and will be better as the season goes along...

They are also one of the youngest team in the league (if not the youngest!?) and they just need to mature up and get an attitude adjustment that they have to show up for EVERY game even if the oppenent is usually a supposably "crappy" team! They have the firepower no question there, they have the goalies no question there (if not Andy, then Lehner), the work has to be done on the D and the forwards also playing better D...

6) Sens: "They're losing big-time in a very tight race at the top of the Atlantic Division.
"

Ok, 2 points off a playoffs spot we are "losing BIG-TIME"! Wow!
- Raven33

re-read the quote from EE. Now, re-read your response.

re-read the quote from EE. Now, re-read your response.
- muffin_man

i refuse