Wow. Ten Hawks playing in the Olympics. I am glad Sharp made it. He earned it.
- faustus1500

I'm happy for Sharp too, I thought he'd be left off for some bigger names.

I'm also happy for our Swedes that made their Olympic team - Hjalmarsson, Oduya and Kruger. Krugs is a guy I'd like to see more of. The 4th line is one of the best in the league, but I think he's capable of more. Heck, I'd even give the guy a shot in the shoutout given how bad the rest of the team has been.

No Kyle Beach on team Canada....he got jobbed!
- UnnamedSource

He did for sure....and having a great year since being traded to NYR. Beach BUST is ripping it up with Hartford (AHL)...with 1 helper in 11 games.

Nash can really dominate when he is on his game, but injuries have really taken their toll. I'm shocked at Thornton. I'm torn on Carter. He has that really long reach and can be effective. Most are still shocked at no Martin st. Louis
- tomcat24

I feel bad for St. Louis, more than I am shocked. If you're him, you've gotta be thinking what else can you do to be named to the Olympic Roster? Didn't he win the Ross last year?

I wonder who will get the first call for their respective countries if/when injuries arise. The US injury adds would be the most interesting, given all the poop that came out from those meetings.

This is a fine opinion and to a certain extent I share it. But I would like to say that great players, and more to the point, players who have potential to be great are more easily raised toward their potentials when playing with... great players! One advantage the Blackhawks have beyond their rich farm system is that stepping into the NHL on a line with Toews or Hossa, or both (Saad) can allow a more rapid development into a higher level.

I would think that the kid TT might be able to shine a little brighter, a little more easily, because of the strength in the Blackhawks top 6. That is all.
- DirkGraham

That is well said, Dirk. It is like the ongoing debate about the rookie #1 QB starting (or not) on a bad team. If a guy has the talent and mental makeup to be a great player, I don't think pushing him is a bad thing at all. Some guys aren't like that, though, and aren't ready either physically, mentally, or (often overlooked) emotionally for a trial by fire. If there is a real weakness (meaning less than NHL quality) in one of those areas, a guy should be in Rockford until all three boxes are checked. Those three are these - being physically capable of playing in the NHL, knowing how to think the game the way the NHL coach wants it, and can handle getting beat sometimes and going through bad stretches without destroying confidence.

He did for sure....and having a great year since being traded to NYR. Beach BUST is ripping it up with Hartford (AHL)...with 1 helper in 11 games.
- philco28

Maybe we have all sold Beach short. Scoring at that clip, he might turn into the next John Scott.

Nash can really dominate when he is on his game, but injuries have really taken their toll. I'm shocked at Thornton. I'm torn on Carter. He has that really long reach and can be effective. Most are still shocked at no Martin st. Louis
- tomcat24

I hate the Olympics enough to not really care about Team USA, so to pretend I give a flying (frank) about Team Canada would be disingenuous of me, but I don't see any major flaws with who was selected. Hamhuis is the only slightly questionable selection IMO.

Maybe we have all sold Beach short. Scoring at that clip, he might turn into the next John Scott.
- NewToHockey

Only if he grows 6 inches and gains 50 pounds!!

I feel bad for St. Louis, more than I am shocked. If you're him, you've gotta be thinking what else can you do to be named to the Olympic Roster? Didn't he win the Ross last year?

I wonder who will get the first call for their respective countries if/when injuries arise. The US injury adds would be the most interesting, given all the poop that came out from those meetings.
- eburgio

I thught I read Saad would be the 1st replacement. Of course with all the uproar over Ryan maybe he gets it. I guess it depends on position. St. Louis on wing? Thornton at center? Giroux in there?

I hate the Olympics enough to not really care about Team USA, so to pretend I give a flying (frank) about Team Canada would be disingenuous of me, but I don't see any major flaws with who was selected. Hamhuis is the only slightly questionable selection IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

Still stuck in Buffalo? There are so many great players available to Canada that it is impossible to avoid snubs. At the same time, there are so many great players available to Canada that it is damn hard to come up with a bad team.

This is a fine opinion and to a certain extent I share it. But I would like to say that great players, and more to the point, players who have potential to be great are more easily raised toward their potentials when playing with... great players! One advantage the Blackhawks have beyond their rich farm system is that stepping into the NHL on a line with Toews or Hossa, or both (Saad) can allow a more rapid development into a higher level.

I would think that the kid TT might be able to shine a little brighter, a little more easily, because of the strength in the Blackhawks top 6. That is all.
- DirkGraham

Could be but also could be said for players like Handzus who play with Kane and who hasn't been on the ice for one of his goals.

My point was that one tourney against players of the same age is just one tourney.

My guess is TT could have a bright future...

Beach injured him in a fight during training camp. I think Olimb was out for the first couple of months of the season after that.
- EKolb13

Typical phuckface Beach...going after a timid Swede (i believe twice) and messing up the kid's arm or something...for what ??????? What a BUST that jagoff IS.

I hate the Olympics enough to not really care about Team USA, so to pretend I give a flying (frank) about Team Canada would be disingenuous of me, but I don't see any major flaws with who was selected. Hamhuis is the only slightly questionable selection IMO.
- Ogilthorpe2

I agree. It is still a stacked team. Wonder on what they have planned for lines? You figure with their chemistry they leave Sharp and toews together. On most rosters I have seen toews is on line 2 and Sharp on line 4. I wold leave them together. Sharp and Carter had chemistry years ago with the Ahl Phantoms

Typical phuckface Beach...going after a timid Swede (i believe twice) and messing up the kid's arm or something...for what ??????? What a BUST that jagoff IS.
- philco28

Hi Phil. Sounds like maybe he was a bust BECAUSE he was such a jagoff.

Can we even refer to him as a "prospect?" I was thinking he's more of an experiment that didn't pan out.
- EKolb13

I'm trying to be polite you snarky bastage

Still stuck in Buffalo? There are so many great players available to Canada that it is impossible to avoid snubs. At the same time, there are so many great players available to Canada that it is damn hard to come up with a bad team.
- mohel

Still stuck in Buffalo. Sounds like tomorrow evening at the earliest now. Wind gusts up to 40 MPH, visibility less than 1/8 mi, snow, sub zero temps, Niagra river flooding...pretty ugly. Worst storm since '77 supposedly.

Isn't he the guy the aforementioned Kyle Beach scared away from North America.
- Ogilthorpe2

Broke his jaw or something when Beach fought the 5'6 Norwegian.

This is a fine opinion and to a certain extent I share it. But I would like to say that great players, and more to the point, players who have potential to be great are more easily raised toward their potentials when playing with... great players! One advantage the Blackhawks have beyond their rich farm system is that stepping into the NHL on a line with Toews or Hossa, or both (Saad) can allow a more rapid development into a higher level.

I would think that the kid TT might be able to shine a little brighter, a little more easily, because of the strength in the Blackhawks top 6. That is all.
- DirkGraham

Deemed not ready to play for Finland - probably not ready to play for Chicago.

I'm trying to be polite you snarky bastage
- UnnamedSource

OT, US. Too cold outside lately for the Akita? Back when I had mine, it never got too cold out for her. One night it was about 0, and I saw her and my Husky laying on the snow and frozen water in the wading pool I'd forgotten to empty before it got cold. Needless to say, they enjoyed winter more than summer!!

I'm trying to be polite you snarky bastage
- UnnamedSource

Who, me? Snarky?

Still stuck in Buffalo. Sounds like tomorrow evening at the earliest now. Wind gusts up to 40 MPH, visibility less than 1/8 mi, snow, sub zero temps, Niagra river flooding...pretty ugly. Worst storm since '77 supposedly.
- Ogilthorpe2

See if you can find Kaner's cousin for a little fun.

So a quick count: 10 players for both the Hawks and Blues. 7 for anaheim and 6 for LA
- tomcat24

And how many from the Eastern Conference?

OT, US. Too cold outside lately for the Akita? Back when I had mine, it never got too cold out for her. One night it was about 0, and I saw her and my Husky laying on the snow and frozen water in the wading pool I'd forgotten to empty before it got cold. Needless to say, they enjoyed winter more than summer!!
- mohel

Hey MO! Nope, he loves being out there.....my other dog "Animal" is a Collie/Black Lab he hates the cold....barks at me when he has to go out.

See if you can find Kaner's cousin for a little fun.
- mohel

He can flag down a cab like no other....

Hey MO! Nope, he loves being out there.....my other dog "Animal" is a Collie/Black Lab he hates the cold....barks at me when he has to go out.
- UnnamedSource

I'm a guy who like the cold way better than the heat (I know I'm in a minority there), so I have a special fondness for the Northern Breeds. Of course, I am a fan of all dogs....

I'm trying to be polite you snarky bastage
- UnnamedSource