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.
- 6628

Leddy is not ready yet nor is Saad. They will be considerations down the road. If Yandle or Ryan are overlooked the two Hawks should not be upset at all at this stage of their careers.

And (with or without Leddy), likely a failed strategy before it is even employed.
- savvyone-1

Totally disagree. Pavelski is a stud on the point on the PP.

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.
- StLBravesFan

I will never get this. The Hawks need and want to win every game, Leddy is the fifth best defenseman and plays accordingly. Can't sacrifice points to discover potential when your cup window is open

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.
- StLBravesFan

I don't necessarily think he SHOULD have made the Olympic squad, only that his talents on that big ice surface would be a clear ++++ for the US team. Never said and not saying he's better than guys like Ryan Suter et al. However, from a pure skating standpoint, yes, he is. Better than all of them.

However, you and I know they don't select Olympic team members based on one or two skills only. I was simply hoping as a long-shot he might make it because on the big ice, it could be a difference maker.

Let me just say, no tears being shed here about it. Total long shot and no surprise.

>Team USA selection recap reminded me of the poor results that happen in the business world when too many people have input into something important
>Way too many people involved = recipe for failure
>Team USA coaches didn't want Saad, Poile didn't want Saad, Burke appeared not to want Saad
>Really don't like the Team USA coaching staff -- AT ALL
>Wonder if Brandon will circle the Pens, Preds, and Flames games for the next year or so -- I sure would
>No one on the committee had the stones to champion Big Buff -- who would thrive on the big ice and on the PP -- and is a big game player
>The poor-skating Pavelski on the the point on the PP? Good luck with that -- that is a shortie waiting to happen
>Overall, Team USA is very weak down the middle and lacks speed on D and at center (other than Kesler)
>Wider ice will make for a very different tournament and style of play -- think the USA will spend most of the tournament chasing to get possession of the puck -- unless Kane has a super-human tourney
>Teams that figure out how to create prime scoring chances on the PP with the wider ice should do well -- I would expect lots of "sagging" by the defending team -- allowing the team on the PP to possess the puck on the perimeter
>Teams that can excel at rebound retrieval -- at even strength, on the PP, and the PK -- will also do well
>Doubt Team USA even gets to the medal round -- but will be delighted if they do

I will never get this. The Hawks need and want to win every game, Leddy is the fifth best defenseman and plays accordingly. Can't sacrifice points to discover potential when your cup window is open
- rollpards19

Rollie, I don't think StL or I would dispute that and in fact I noted it in one of my posts. I get it. We all get it. We see the standings.

However, the point being made is -- without the OJT -- Leddy will NOT (ever -- and never is a long time) make the strides we think are possible. So long as Q and Stanley know this (and I think they do) and don't give up on Leddy, I don't have any issue(s) with Q's strategy. It's simply going to take Nick longer that we hoped to make the leap(s) necessary to move up in the slotting and be counted on the way Q does now with Oduya.

>
>The poor-skating Pavelski on the the point on the PP? Good luck with that -- that is a shortie waiting to happen
>Overall, Team USA is very weak down the middle and lacks speed on D and at center (other than Kesler)

- SnapitUpstairs

Nice post SiU,
Let me know if you need a referee debating the Pavelski point. I pointed it out earlier but you were much more direct.

The bolded parts are what troubled me about the selections and why I was hoping that in a long-shot, Leddy might make the squad. Would have been a great choice for running the PP and his speed on D on the wider/bigger ice surface would clearly help Team USA's game immensely.

Nice post SiU,
Let me know if you need a referee debating the Pavelski point. I pointed it out earlier but you were much more direct.

The bolded parts are what troubled me about the selections and why I was hoping that in a long-shot, Leddy might make the squad. Would have been a great choice for running the PP and his speed on D on the wider/bigger ice surface would clearly help Team USA's game immensely.
- savvyone-1

>I once played in a men's league on the East Coast where the ice rink had both an Olympic-sized surface and a NHL surface
>Played half the schedule on each rink and was astounded at the impact the 15 foot width difference made
>Team USA is very lacking in the explosive skaters needed on the bigger surface

>I once played in a men's league on the East Coast where the ice rink had both an Olympic-sized surface and a NHL surface
>Played half the schedule on each rink and was astounded at the impact the 15 foot width difference made
>Team USA is very lacking in the explosive skaters needed on the bigger surface
- SnapitUpstairs

Could not agree more. Smaller ice surface tends to minimize guys with the best skating skills. More room + top skating ability = difficulty for other teams to neutralize the best player and opens up more scoring options.

This will become evident very quickly when less talented but better skating teams end up skating the USA squad off the rink. Would be very surprised to see them in the medal round.

Could not agree more. Smaller ice surface tends to minimize guys with the best skating skills. More room + top skating ability = difficulty for other teams to neutralize the best player and opens up more scoring options.

This will become evident very quickly when less talented but better skating teams end up skating the USA squad off the rink. Would be very surprised to see them in the medal round.
- savvyone-1

>Yep -- totally agree
>Other than Kesler, there is no speed at center -- good players but no speed
>Thinking Team USA's only chance will be to play some sort of team D in which a fast wing will often have to backcheck for the center position
>And Team USA goalies are lights-out and Kane is tourney MVP

the Olympic size rink allows the better and faster skater to have more of an impact without possessing the stick handling skills to get around defensemen. In my opinion the big ice surface only requires that the puck be bounced off the boards behind the defenseman or the skater just going wide on the defenseman without having to actually make a move to get around a player

It should be fun watching the play and seeing who is exposed for their lack of skating ability and watching teams go after that player

I cant wait to watch kane on the large surface with his ability. Kane is playing great now I cant imagine how much better he will be on the larger surface it should be entertaining

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.
- StLBravesFan

I agree St Lou.....every one loves a conspiracy. The bottom line is Leddy hasn't shown enough to be considered a top 6/7 for the USA olympic team. It's not because of something he did as a teenager....yes he can skate like the wind but the game is more than skating....his decision making is still questionable.....

One other thought....if Leddy was paired with Hammer and was having a stellar year a decision he made to "blow off" something as a teenager would not keep him off the team....that theory is pretty funny though

Can Leddy, Saad, or anyone else be sent down to RFD during the Olympics?.....similar to the lock out last year?

Personally I think Saad got snubbed but it seemed from Burnside's article that he was the last cut and will probably be one of the first guys to get called up if there are any injuries. As for Bobby Ryan and Yandle, I agree that those guys got snubbed as well especially since they can score and the US doesn't have too many scorers.

IMO the US went with the grindy/meathead type of team that will get housed right out of this tournament. If they had a stronger defensive core I'd give them more of a chance but they don't. If this team were an NHL team they'd remind me of the Kings or Blues with a pooptier defense. I will root for them but I'm not expecting much.

>Team USA selection recap reminded me of the poor results that happen in the business world when too many people have input into something important
>Way too many people involved = recipe for failure
>Team USA coaches didn't want Saad, Poile didn't want Saad, Burke appeared not to want Saad
>Really don't like the Team USA coaching staff -- AT ALL
>Wonder if Brandon will circle the Pens, Preds, and Flames games for the next year or so -- I sure would
>No one on the committee had the stones to champion Big Buff -- who would thrive on the big ice and on the PP -- and is a big game player
>The poor-skating Pavelski on the the point on the PP? Good luck with that -- that is a shortie waiting to happen
>Overall, Team USA is very weak down the middle and lacks speed on D and at center (other than Kesler)
>Wider ice will make for a very different tournament and style of play -- think the USA will spend most of the tournament chasing to get possession of the puck -- unless Kane has a super-human tourney
>Teams that figure out how to create prime scoring chances on the PP with the wider ice should do well -- I would expect lots of "sagging" by the defending team -- allowing the team on the PP to possess the puck on the perimeter
>Teams that can excel at rebound retrieval -- at even strength, on the PP, and the PK -- will also do well
>Doubt Team USA even gets to the medal round -- but will be delighted if they do
- SnapitUpstairs

Rarely disagree with you snap, but some of the points here I do. Pavelski plays the point for the Sharks and that PP is deadly. Sharp isn't exactly a defensive ace but the PP does alright with him back there. Obviously its all about risk vs. reward for defensemen, and Buff is pretty much the riskiest player this side of Karlsson. Buff isn't slow when he gets moving, but quickness is obviously an issue and with more room behind the net and in the corners on Olympic ice you're begging for players like Crosby, Toews, Zetterberg to just abuse him below the goal line. If you need a PP player you take Yandle who's a wizard back there. Anyway I really don't like the roster either. Have a feeling I'll be cheering for Johnny and Duncs to add some hardware come medal round.

Good piece on how Team USA was selected

http://espn.go.com/nhl/st...-sochi-olympics-was-named
- philco28

Interesting read... Fairly convoluted process.

ESPN: Lovie Smith to coach Tampa Bay.

ESPN: Lovie Smith to coach Tampa Bay.
- StLBravesFan

you don't see that often..head coach hired before the GM.

Rarely disagree with you snap, but some of the points here I do. Pavelski plays the point for the Sharks and that PP is deadly. Sharp isn't exactly a defensive ace but the PP does alright with him back there. Obviously its all about risk vs. reward for defensemen, and Buff is pretty much the riskiest player this side of Karlsson. Buff isn't slow when he gets moving, but quickness is obviously an issue and with more room behind the net and in the corners on Olympic ice you're begging for players like Crosby, Toews, Zetterberg to just abuse him below the goal line. If you need a PP player you take Yandle who's a wizard back there. Anyway I really don't like the roster either. Have a feeling I'll be cheering for Johnny and Duncs to add some hardware come medal round.
- rollpards19

>The PP point issue is the 15 foot extra width -- not whether Pavelski can play the PP point on a NHL sized rink -- he doesn't skate well enough to defend a "chip and chase" move by a PK forward after a shot block -- or an explosive cut to the middle by a PK forward after a shot block
>Decisions by a committee that LARGE rarely go well -- my point about Buff was that a committee NEVER picks a high-risk, high-reward type player -- I like Buff and think he would have had a solid tournament -- though your concerns are valid -- I just think Buff would have raised his game
>Scotty Bowman just tweeted his disappointed about the Saad snub -- couldn't agree more

Can someone tell me what dustin brown has done this season to earn a spot on the olympic team?

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

Happy New year Savvy, just like to add my two cents worth if you don't mind. I think Leddy has huge potential but to suggest he should be given more pp time than Keith because of his potential, I do not agree with. If that were the case we should be playing Raanta over Crawford because of the upside. These youngsters have to bide their time and continue to develop and wait for the opportunity to one day take over from the Keiths or Crawfords. Leddy has made huge strides since the Wild gave up on him after drafting him in the first round but I can not see him taking any time away from Keith anytime soon.

Can someone tell me what dustin brown has done this season to earn a spot on the olympic team?
- molly2522

>The GM of his team -- the Kings -- was part of the selection committee
>So, he was a lock to be selected since he is captain of the Kings

Nice post SiU,
Let me know if you need a referee debating the Pavelski point. I pointed it out earlier but you were much more direct.

The bolded parts are what troubled me about the selections and why I was hoping that in a long-shot, Leddy might make the squad. Would have been a great choice for running the PP and his speed on D on the wider/bigger ice surface would clearly help Team USA's game immensely.
- savvyone-1

Whenever Brian Burke is involved in selections you know he picks favourites and shuns some very worthy players. His decisions are quite often questioned but he does have a knack of getting a pretty balanced team. On paper the US team looks weak to me and would have been stronger with say Bishop over Howard, Bobby Ryan is hard to imagine not on the team, Yandle over Oprik is a no brainer on the big ice, but who are we to make these calls? We may be right but we have no say, lol. Still not sure why you are so upset about Leddy, he is young and if he keeps getting stronger and smarter he will get his chance.