He is if Dee is the voice of the Islanders.
- ImThatGuy

Well played . Her thread has just been locked.

This. Miller will be in the last game the U.S. plays.
- haymac

Agreed.

I think the loss of Filppula & Koivu with what appears to be a pretty weak defesne has to be a serious concern. The Finns may have the best trio of goalies but only 1 can play at anytime. You know they will play a sound dedicated defensive system & try to shut down the high flying teams. They as well as the Czechs & Swiss due to goaltending primarily have to be wild cards that could steal a game, maybe even 2 killing the hopes of other nations.
- striker777

Yep, and Selanne is too old to carry them.
With the blue line being 6 feet closer to the net than in nhl rinks, point shots will be even more important in this tourney.
!-Can;
2-Swe;
3-Rus

USA has a better defensive unit than Canada (or Sweden for that matter) that's hilarious!!
- Fanman

Yea you can stop after OEL and Karlsson. There's no way the USA wins gold, let alone medal at all.

Well played . Her thread has just been locked.
- Cptmjl

Went to read the comments

Error - Thread does not exist.

WHAT DID YOU DO?!?

Ek is again smoking some weird stuff. Yes he is a homer but delusional and the Penguins have absolutely no interest in Ollie Jokinen You can take that to the bank Ek needs to go to rehab to get the monkey off his back Wow what an idiot

First, I love how everyone on these comments always loves to rip Eklund a new one. What's funny about it is that every single one of you come here to his rumor website, sign up for an account on his website, and early follow what he has to say.

Second, he clearly states that his opinion is that Canada's D corps is 1A. Meaning that in his opinion, Canada has the most talented defense, NOT the USA. You also have to keep in mind that Canada's defense is chock full of puck movers. That's great on the big ice surface, however, aside from Weber and Bouwmeester there aren't really any shutdown type defenders. They all move very well and can move the puck very well, but when it comes to clearing the porch...not so much. Team USA has a great balance of shutdown defenders and puck movers. Justin Faulk has been an absolute monster this year playing on a mediocre D corps.

In my opinion, Canada is the most talented in terms of offensive firepower and sheer talent. However, I have USA as the most balanced and suited to take on the firepower other teams have up front, especially in their own end.

Ek is again smoking some weird stuff. Yes he is a homer but delusional and the Penguins have absolutely no interest in Ollie Jokinen You can take that to the bank Ek needs to go to rehab to get the monkey off his back Wow what an idiot
- holeinone

That word. "Idiot". Got me banned for 48 hours when it was directed at Garth.

First, I love how everyone on these comments always loves to rip Eklund a new one. What's funny about it is that every single one of you come here to his rumor website, sign up for an account on his website, and early follow what he has to say.

Second, he clearly states that his opinion is that Canada's D corps is 1A. Meaning that in his opinion, Canada has the most talented defense, NOT the USA. You also have to keep in mind that Canada's defense is chock full of puck movers. That's great on the big ice surface, however, aside from Weber and Bouwmeester there aren't really any shutdown type defenders. They all move very well and can move the puck very well, but when it comes to clearing the porch...not so much. Team USA has a great balance of shutdown defenders and puck movers. Justin Faulk has been an absolute monster this year playing on a mediocre D corps.

In my opinion, Canada is the most talented in terms of offensive firepower and sheer talent. However, I have USA as the most balanced and suited to take on the firepower other teams have up front, especially in their own end.
- PucksOnPucks

Yea let us know how this balance works out for you on the big ice... What you just said would be exactly like me saying yea ohsie and backes are great two way players along with most of team usa their scoring abilitly is terrible and the only thing they will be trying to do all tournament is keep goals from going in instead of trying to score any. Kieth is a horrible defensemen and is all offense what was anyone thinking.

First, I love how everyone on these comments always loves to rip Eklund a new one. What's funny about it is that every single one of you come here to his rumor website, sign up for an account on his website, and early follow what he has to say.

Second, he clearly states that his opinion is that Canada's D corps is 1A. Meaning that in his opinion, Canada has the most talented defense, NOT the USA. You also have to keep in mind that Canada's defense is chock full of puck movers. That's great on the big ice surface, however, aside from Weber and Bouwmeester there aren't really any shutdown type defenders. They all move very well and can move the puck very well, but when it comes to clearing the porch...not so much. Team USA has a great balance of shutdown defenders and puck movers. Justin Faulk has been an absolute monster this year playing on a mediocre D corps.

In my opinion, Canada is the most talented in terms of offensive firepower and sheer talent. However, I have USA as the most balanced and suited to take on the firepower other teams have up front, especially in their own end.
- PucksOnPucks

We all love rumours & there are some very good writers on the site, including Ek. Like all of his he blows a little smoke now & again. You can't always be perfect. Life, alcohol, kids what have you, have us all stick our heads up our a-- now & again.

ruutuu and a 1st for Gaborik
- Barx

Gaborik? Carolina needs a #3 center so Letestu would be more like it and JR is trying to shed contract $ not acquire more.

ek,
please write something else.

i accidentally posted in your thread.

ty.

Yea you can stop after OEL and Karlsson. There's no way the USA wins gold, let alone medal at all.
- The_Universe

I don't think Sweden's D is that much better than the US. Ranking by talent I'd say CAN, SWE, USA, and put the US a lot closer to Sweden than I'd put Sweden to Canada, but that would change if they had actually chosen Hedman. That said, unless Quick steals some games I see the US finishing behind Canada, Sweden, Russia, and possibly Finland.

Anyone of Russia, Sweden, Canada, the US, the Swiss, Czechs & Finn's could steal this tournament. That's the beauty of the format. It comes down to a sudden death 1 game to advance scenario & in that scenario anything can happen.

The interesting thing about Canda's top 6 D is that none are truely 1 dimensional. Keith, Weber, Boumeester, Pietrangelo, Doughty & Vlasic. Weber, Keith & Doughty are 3 of the best 2 way Dman in the game & can punish players when they are so inclined physically, yet other than, Weber none are monsters really. They just share a mean streak that appears in meaningful games.

Doughty was truely amazing in the 2010 Olympics for Canada. For me he was their best Dman & he had to earn his way into the starting line up at 20.

Yes those 4 kids the US has are all solid young up & coming Dman. Fowler, Faulk, Shattenkirk & Carlsson & are already #1 Dman for their respective NHL teams or close. The exception being Shattenkirk but when you play for what is arguably the best D in the NHL on StL behind Pietrangelo & Bouwmeester; That's 2 Canadian Dman, Ha-ha!, it's pretty hard to get #1 minutes.

Canada has 11 players with over 50 pts this year. All of them have international experience, and many played on the Gold medal team in 2010. Most of them also played on the international ice during the lockout so they are familiar with the larger ice surface, not to mention incredibly skilled and fast, not to mention in the prime of their careers. Canada should take this fairly easy.

Not sure how I feel about your life decisions Ek.

On the one hand you make money hand over fist from being an idiot.

On the other hand you pretty much sell your soul to do so, making yourself a laughing stock to the internet masses every day.

That is unless you actually believe your own bullpoop, in which case I feel bad for you.

Moulson for Horvat, Gaunce, Shinkaruk
~Garth
- ImThatGuy

haha...Gillis mortgaging the future for a UFA when the team clearly needs more than 1 player to compete day in and day out.

Here's my E5 - The Canucks will be getting rid of a few players, not taking on rentals. They're likely not going to make the playoffs or at best, slid into the 8th seed.

Moulson isn't going to Vancouver, and it sure as hell isn't for their top prospects as the Canucks will have next to nothing left.

There is no way that the US d core is better than Canada's (on paper). I haven't heard a single analyst indicate otherwise.

If only the swedes had taken Victor Hedman, imo, they would have had the second best d core. I was at the T-Bay/Leafs game last week and he played extremely well. It's a glaring omission that doesn't make the headlines as much as Bobby Ryan or Giroux.

Canada will always be the favorite in Hockey. Teams will catch up and games will be more and more competitive every year, but Canada minus gold in mens hockey is always going to be a failure in most people eyes.
- ImThatGuy

Coming from an American, I find this hilarious. But worldly opinion aside, have you seen the medal standings recently?

Gaborik? Carolina needs a #3 center so Letestu would be more like it and JR is trying to shed contract $ not acquire more.
- elaeskimos

Unless Carolina eats 1/2 of Ruutu's 4.75 million deal for this & the remaining 2 years; 5 million in real dollars, no 1 is touching Ruutu. Even then I can't see a team taking him at 2.375; 2.5 real dollars, for 2+ more seasons, unless JR sweetened the pot with a solid pick to dump that deal. The most over paid player in the NHL.

The only way JR gets that contract off the books is 2 use 1 of his 2 remaining compliance buyouts.

JR has Kevin Lowe disease. He throws money around like a drunken solder. Skinner 5.75 for 6, Semin 7 for 5, J. Staal 6 for 10, Ruutu 4.75 for 4 & Ward 6.3 for 6. That money was given to Skinner after not 1; serious, but 2 concussions. Ward 1 great playoff run to the cup.

Those deals are coming back to bite JR in the ass money wise. After the top 2 lines Carolina can't ice 6 more NHL calibre players. He also went out & got Liles at 2 more years at 3.875. That's terrible cap management. For a team with limited revenue streams it doesn't make sense.

Can anyone explain to me how Sweden passed over Victor Hedman on team Sweden? 6'6" 233 lbs. 8th in scoring for Dman in the NHL having only played 51 games. That's 2 less points & 3 more goals than Subban; who's 5th, in 7 less games! 6th for goals.
- striker777

I agree, but Sweden has a veritable cornucopia of dmen to go with. He'll be there next time without question.

Which makes Eks stance even more laughable than usual. US doesn't even have the 2nd best D in the tourney. Toss up between Tre Kronor and Canada imo.

Who hijacked Dee Karl's thought provoking thread about how well girls could make the jump to the NHL????

Who hijacked Dee Karl's thought provoking thread about how well girls could make the jump to the NHL????
- bcallaway

Know what I like?

Meat lovers pizza. mmmmmm.

Coming from an American, I find this hilarious. But worldly opinion aside, have you seen the medal standings recently?
- Fanman

I have to ask, why is my statement hilarious.

If I see a time when Canada does not win gold, world juniors, olympics, wourld tounrnaments, I see these dissapointment articles all over the place.

I dont know what me being American has to do with it either?

Gold: Canada
Silver: USA
Bronze: Sweden
4th: Russia

I just took a look at all of these teams and Canada is by far the most stacked. Doesn't mean they will win every game but wow. Price has been given the nod to start in goal first.

USA, even though they don't have the best D they do have some solid fire power and Miller is a great goalie on a very bad team. If you put even an average team in front of him the team will have a chance to play for Gold.

Sweden is lacking depth in offense compared to Canada and the USA. Berglund, Jimmie Ericsson, Hagelin, Kruger, Nyquist, Silfverberg, Johansson, these are good players but not compared to Carter, Been, Duchese, St Louis, Nash on Canada or Pacioretty, Stepan, Wheeler, Kesler, Callahan, Brown on the USA team. I can't comment much on Russia's depth as they have lots from the JHL that I'm unsure of.

Russia is lacking in defense what Sweden is lacking in offense. Belov, Emelin, Nikitin, Tyutin, Voynov (NHL players) are nothing compared to Canada's D, Subban, Vlasic, Hamhuis, Bouwmeester, Pietrangelo, or Swedens Edler, Ericsson, Kronwall, Oduya, Hjalmarsson. The USA even has better D than the Russian team with Faulk, Martin, McDonagh, Carlson, Orpik. At least some of these guys have won something.

I did not compare the best to the best as they can sometimes cancel each other out but depth is something a lot of teams are lacking except for Canada.

Whatever the outcome, lets all enjoy as this could be the last Olympics that we get to see this kind of talent at.

haha...Gillis mortgaging the future for a UFA when the team clearly needs more than 1 player to compete day in and day out.

Here's my E5 - The Canucks will be getting rid of a few players, not taking on rentals. They're likely not going to make the playoffs or at best, slid into the 8th seed.

Moulson isn't going to Vancouver, and it sure as hell isn't for their top prospects as the Canucks will have next to nothing left.

There is no way that the US d core is better than Canada's (on paper). I haven't heard a single analyst indicate otherwise.

If only the swedes had taken Victor Hedman, imo, they would have had the second best d core. I was at the T-Bay/Leafs game last week and he played extremely well. It's a glaring omission that doesn't make the headlines as much as Bobby Ryan or Giroux.
- Canuckleafer

Gillis isn't moving Horvat or Shinkaruk. Prior to the 2013 draft the prospect cupboard in Vancouver was almost empty. Gaunce, Jansen & Eriksson will all play in the NHL eventually but Gaunce & Jansen will be 3rd liners. Eriksson is a very intriguing prospect as it allows for Lack or possibly even Luongo to be moved eventually. Thinking late in 2014-15 or later.

I see Gillis taking a stab at Moulson if it's a trade & sign scenario. He can be snuck in under the cap at the deadline but something would be going back off the current roster not just a pick or prospect but can't fathom who that might be.

Vancouver is in serious trouble. I still can't believe they might miss the playoff's but if Burrow's doesn't wake up & if Edler doesn't stop looking lost out there defensively thier doomed. Everyone else should be who they are. The top 4 D is almost as good as any in the league except for possibly StL.

The majority of this debockle has to fall on Torts & there by Gillis for having hired him. His style of play, his system & personality has drerailed this team & their window has the potential to close quickly if Gillis can't retool on the fly. The lack of scoring depth is brutal. Thankfully Booth will be bought out.

Wouldn't a 3rd line fo Hodgson centering Grabner at LW & Raymond at RW have helped?