If Yandle didn't make it I can't imagine Nick was close
- rollpards19

Savvy's telepathic Leddy rabbit ears are burning

Crow is back between the pipes Thursday.
- faustus1500

Thumbs up, I see. We'll se how it goes...

I wonder about what will happen with the Hawks that don't make it. How will it affect them? Will they be sad and depressed or pissed off and come out really motivated? The rest definitely helps the team, plus no risk of injury. I wonder about Sweden and Hammer and Oduya?
- tomcat24

The only Hawks who would be surprised NOT to make it would be Sharp and (perhaps) Seabrook. I would think they would handle it.

I would think Saad and Leddy would understand how young and (relatively) inexperienced they are - second year and third year NHLers.

Crawford seems like he would take it in stride.

EDIT to add: I don't see how Hammer doesn't make the Swedish team.

Yeah really how could they not pick Yandle or Ryan? Especially Ryan I'm sure there's some politics involved with these decisions. Sad to see, though
- tomcat24

Politics always plays more into it than anything else. Especially in hockey. Leddy was never in consideration because he turned down an offer to play in Ann Arbor with the national developmental junior team. No matter he could blow the doors off the rest of them on the larger ice. The womens team blew off the best skating defenseman who led the Vancouver team in TOI and +/-. Not sure who Tessa Bonhomme pissed off in Canada but I'm sure it was someone who had imput so she got cut too.

The only Hawks who would be surprised NOT to make it would be Sharp and (perhaps) Seabrook. I would think they would handle it.

I would think Saad and Leddy would understand how young and (relatively) inexperienced they are - second year and third year NHLers.

Crawford seems like he would take it in stride.
- StLBravesFan

Crawford has the injury as an excuse. Leddy I'm sure like all of us thought it was a longshot, but I really thought Saad had a good chance. I'm sure you are right about seabrook. I don't think he will make it. Sharp would be a huge surprise to us AND him

Politics always plays more into it than anything else. Especially in hockey. Leddy was never in consideration because he turned down an offer to play in Ann Arbor with the national developmental junior team. No matter he could blow the doors off the rest of them on the larger ice. The womens team blew off the best skating defenseman who led the Vancouver team in TOI and +/-. Not sure who Tessa Bonhomme pissed off in Canada but I'm sure it was someone who had imput so she got cut too.
- 6628

Yeah I'm sure it does play a big role. I'm still shocked about Ryan, though

Politics always plays more into it than anything else. Especially in hockey. Leddy was never in consideration because he turned down an offer to play in Ann Arbor with the national developmental junior team. No matter he could blow the doors off the rest of them on the larger ice. The womens team blew off the best skating defenseman who led the Vancouver team in TOI and +/-. Not sure who Tessa Bonhomme pissed off in Canada but I'm sure it was someone who had imput so she got cut too.
- 6628

Think about all of the criticism of Leddy on this board - criticism saying his only value now is as a skater, weak along the boards, weak in his own zone, Q often protects him by hiding him on the bench....

Are you sure politics?

Crawford has the injury as an excuse. Leddy I'm sure like all of us thought it was a longshot, but I really thought Saad had a good chance. I'm sure you are right about seabrook. I don't think he will make it. Sharp would be a huge surprise to us AND him
- tomcat24

????????

If he does not make it, it will be a surprise.

Think about all of the criticism of Leddy on this board - criticism saying his only value now is as a skater, weak along the boards, weak in his own zone, Q often protects him by hiding him on the bench....

Are you sure politics?
- StLBravesFan

Actually, that does not really protect him. Hurts him...keeps him from growing. Like riding his horses and have them give up leads at the end of games....Its not Leddy on the ice...

Politics always plays more into it than anything else. Especially in hockey. Leddy was never in consideration because he turned down an offer to play in Ann Arbor with the national developmental junior team. No matter he could blow the doors off the rest of them on the larger ice. The womens team blew off the best skating defenseman who led the Vancouver team in TOI and +/-. Not sure who Tessa Bonhomme pissed off in Canada but I'm sure it was someone who had imput so she got cut too.
- 6628

6628 always bringing QUALITY insights....Happy New Year Bro

Hmmm. not too sure about this team. Too many rangers for one. Stepan isn't really that good of a skater. Plus. Not really playing all that well this season. Bobby Ryan would have been a good player to play with Kane, IMO. Yandle is better than any D man except maybe McDonagh. Blake Wheeler?

Savvy's telepathic Leddy rabbit ears are burning

- philco28

You know it baby!

Hi Phil, Happy New Year (and to the rest of you HB catz).

Never really expected Leddy to make the squad (except as a suprise). Leddy would have definitely helped that squad, would skate the pants off of everyone and certainly those selected on D. Pretty much guaranteed he would have been pretty damn good on the big ice.

But like all teams, it's more than 1 individual or even a few. If all those guys work together, maybe they will surprise us. However, I don't see them as being a strong challenger to the Canada squad.

Actually, that does not really protect him. Hurts him...keeps him from growing. Like riding his horses and have them give up leads at the end of games....Its not Leddy on the ice...
- TrueGrit

Point is - he is (a) 5th defensemen, albeit on a deep defensive than, but (2) why should we think he'd be higher on any good defensive team, and (III) Q doesn't fully trust him on the ice in important situations.

Why should we think he should /would have made the O-team if politics weren't involved?

Think about all of the criticism of Leddy on this board - criticism saying his only value now is as a skater, weak along the boards, weak in his own zone, Q often protects him by hiding him on the bench....

Are you sure politics?
- StLBravesFan

StL, that's Q's CHOICE -- I don't think every other coach thinks the same or would do the same. Q does it because he can (and because he's bullheaded/stubborn -- oh man, you guys are going to get me going, not just about Leddy but about Q in general). Well, I'll leave the Q topic for another day.

I don't think Leddy's play along the boards is greatly different than many of the rest, it seems to be more a question of whether he's ENGAGED mentally at any particular point or game. When he is engaged, his play is solid, you guys have to agree with that. He had a very solid game and almost 17 min TOI against LA, didn't shy away from contact, did some nice wall work.

You know it baby!

Hi Phil, Happy New Year (and to the rest of you HB catz).

Never really expected Leddy to make the squad (except as a suprise). Leddy would have definitely helped that squad, would skate the pants off of everyone and certainly those selected on D. Pretty much guaranteed he would have been pretty damn good on the big ice.

But like all teams, it's more than 1 individual or even a few. If all those guys work together, maybe they will surprise us. However, I don't see them as being a strong challenger to the Canada squad.
- savvyone-1

There he is....ALWAYS...omnipresent....Happy New Year Savvy and as well to all the brothers on HB.

Leddy's speed would would have been fun to see on the big ice...and ditto Saad.

I'll be shocked if this U.S. team gets a bronze.

StL, that's Q's CHOICE -- I don't think every other coach thinks the same or would do the same. Q does it because he can (and because he's bullheaded/stubborn -- oh man, you guys are going to get me going, not just about Leddy but about Q in general). Well, I'll leave the Q topic for another day.

I don't think Leddy's play along the boards is greatly different than many of the rest, it seems to be more a question of whether he's ENGAGED mentally at any particular point or game. When he is engaged, his play is solid, you guys have to agree with that. He had a very solid game and almost 17 min TOI against LA, didn't shy away from contact, did some nice wall work.
- savvyone-1

I'm just trying to oppose 6628's theory that politics kept him off the team: there is enough "evidence" that there are sufficient deficiencies in his game - which have long been commented on here- and his lack of experience that have earned him a long February rest.

There he is....ALWAYS...omnipresent....Happy New Year Savvy and as well to all the brothers on HB.

Leddy's speed would would have been fun to see on the big ice...and ditto Saad.

I'll be shocked if this U.S. team gets a bronze.
- philco28

Agreed Phil. I think its Sweden v Canada for the gold this year. The Swede's defense is just insane

I'm just trying to oppose 6628's theory that politics kept him off the team: there is enough "evidence" that there are sufficient deficiencies in his game - which have long been commented on here- and his lack of experience that have earned him a long February rest.
- StLBravesFan

Leddy choose to stay home rather than accept an offer to play in Ann Arbor for the US national junior developmental team not that long ago. So he had no chance to be picked for the olympic team. I'm not saying he's an all star waiting to happen, but logic says to have a guy who can wheel like him on an olympic ice surface might be a good option. But Leddy made his bed when he told USA Hockey no a few years ago. Politics rules and always will.

StL, that's Q's CHOICE -- I don't think every other coach thinks the same or would do the same. Q does it because he can (and because he's bullheaded/stubborn -- oh man, you guys are going to get me going, not just about Leddy but about Q in general). Well, I'll leave the Q topic for another day.

I don't think Leddy's play along the boards is greatly different than many of the rest, it seems to be more a question of whether he's ENGAGED mentally at any particular point or game. When he is engaged, his play is solid, you guys have to agree with that. He had a very solid game and almost 17 min TOI against LA, didn't shy away from contact, did some nice wall work.
- savvyone-1

Why on Earth would they want a guy like this on the Olympic team? If you have to wonder whether a player is going to show up or not, you are better off just assuming he won't.

A lot of the guys on here are begging for Leddy over Keith for the PP. Try to imagine what a guy who can skate like him could do with 15 more feet to work with. I'd love to see it. I'd love to drive a Ferrari, too.

A lot of the guys on here are begging for Leddy over Keith for the PP. Try to imagine what a guy who can skate like him could do with 15 more feet to work with. I'd love to see it. I'd love to drive a Ferrari, too.
- 6628

From the article that was linked above, the US is planning to play a forward at point on the PP. That doomed any shot Leddy might have had.

A lot of the guys on here are begging for Leddy over Keith for the PP. Try to imagine what a guy who can skate like him could do with 15 more feet to work with. I'd love to see it. I'd love to drive a Ferrari, too.
- 6628

To the bolded:

6628, that IS what I was imagining. I knew full well he would have been a long shot but like you, would have loved to see his talent on the larger surface.

I just don't think most of the guys here get it (Leddy's skating and puck moving abilities). Unless you've put on a pair of blades and played against other good players (and I think we'd all admit that except for the freaks like the John Scotts of the NHL that make it on other than skills), you just don't realize how rare that is. Not talking just about speed but lateral movement -- haven't seen anyone else like that up close.

I see little bits almost every game where Leddy is taking a step forward. I just want to remind everyone that he came almost right out of high school, is only 22 and has made great strides in his game from his 1st season. Seabrook is 28, Keith is 30. I'd say Leddy is ahead of both of them at the same age.

I saw True Grit's post too -- I think you're spot on -- there's no replacement for learning OTJ. Some times that means getting burned and learning lessons the hard way. I also agree with Rollie's comments about points and Q not wanting to leave any on the table. There's the rub. Leddy truly isn't going to learn unless he learns by fire. It's facing those situations and sometimes losing the battles where you learn the most, not from the ones where you walk away the winner.

Nothing good ever comes easy IMO.

From the article that was linked above, the US is planning to play a forward at point on the PP. That doomed any shot Leddy might have had.
- NewToHockey

And (with or without Leddy), likely a failed strategy before it is even employed.

To the bolded:

6628, that IS what I was imagining. I knew full well he would have been a long shot but like you, would have loved to see his talent on the larger surface.

I just don't think most of the guys here get it (Leddy's skating and puck moving abilities). Unless you've put on a pair of blades and played against other good players (and I think we'd all admit that except for the freaks like the John Scotts of the NHL that make it on other than skills), you just don't realize how rare that is. Not talking just about speed but lateral movement -- haven't seen anyone else like that up close.

I see little bits almost every game where Leddy is taking a step forward. I just want to remind everyone that he came almost right out of high school, is only 22 and has made great strides in his game from his 1st season. Seabrook is 28, Keith is 30. I'd say Leddy is ahead of both of them at the same age.

I saw True Grit's post too -- I think you're spot on -- there's no replacement for learning OTJ. Some times that means getting burned and learning lessons the hard way. I also agree with Rollie's comments about points and Q not wanting to leave any on the table. There's the rub. Leddy truly isn't going to learn unless he learns by fire. It's facing those situations and sometimes losing the battles where you learn the most, not from the ones where you walk away the winner.

Nothing good ever comes easy IMO.
- savvyone-1

You're making a good case for why the Hawks should not give up on Leddy (not that they are thinking of it): little bits of steps forward, great strides from his first season, needs OJT, needs to learn by fire.

No argument.

But you're not making a case that he should have made the Olympic team as one of the CURRENT best in the world.

As much as us Hawks fans wanna talk about Saad getting snubbed, and i agree that he did, that doesnt come close to what happened to Yandle. An absolute travesty to not have him on this team. Can someone plz explain what the hell is up with that? I mean, off the top of my head when i think US defenseman he's like the 2nd or 3rd guy that comes to mind every time....