Pietrangelo is a step ahead of him and he's about even with how Bouwmeester and Seabrook have played.
- MaximumBone

I would say offensively I give the edge to pietrangelo, a lough mcdonagh has been improving every year and college defenseman usually develop their offense later. Defensively I'd rather have mcdonagh but I'm just a biased ranger fan.

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

Um, 1A is sub or secondary to 1. I think you're confused.

He's better than bouwmeester pietrangelo and seabrook.
- mjh609

I certainly don't think he is really but whatever, your entitled to your own opinion but I do think you may be overating your own players - which is alright, I mean we all do it.

While most would agree that McDonagh is a top d man in the league, I'm thinking you'll have a tough time finding someone who rates him as a better player than Pieterangelo.

It's really a pointless argument anyway as top pairing means that the two defensemen work well with each other. Who's to say that he'd play better/worse than Kieth with Seabrook or Boumeester with Pieterangelo?

I would say offensively I give the edge to pietrangelo, a lough mcdonagh has been improving every year and college defenseman usually develop their offense later. Defensively I'd rather have mcdonagh but I'm just a biased ranger fan.
- mjh609

Pietrangelo's defense is nothing to scoff at. In fact, I'd go as far as to say his defense is just as good as great as his offense.

"...Canada is a very loyal team."

Now that's funny. Ask Brodeur how loyal he thinks Canada is. Babcock let it be known pretty much from the beginning that he didn't want Marty playing. Many of us think Babcocj was still pissed, irritated, angry--whatever word you want to use--that Brodeur beat his Ducks for the Cup. Anyway, Babcock and Team Canada didn't seem too loyal to Marty last time.

Besides, I find it interesting that a number of people conveniently forget that Team Canada won the Gold Medal in spite of Luongo, not because of him. Not just my opinion, many professional pundits have written extensively about this.
- okings5

It's hard to assess McDonagh's talent and potential. He is absolutely great. Logs top minutes and shuts down top players around the league. But most of the elite defensemen are in the West and he has not hit his offensive peak production yet. All I am going to say is that he is capable of playing with any player in the league

North Americans can't handle the big ice. Sweden-Russia finals, book it now.

Gold: Sweden
Silver: Russia
Bronze: USA
- TheJerseyDevil1

It's hard to assess McDonagh's talent and potential. He is absolutely great. Logs top minutes and shuts down top players around the league. But most of the elite defensemen are in the West and he has not hit his offensive peak production yet. All I am going to say is that he is capable of playing with any player in the league
- PrustandGlory

Agreed. And while the best defenseman are considered to be in the west, they don't have to play against the 4 best players in the world every night. Since they're all in the east.

Edit: I could argue top 5

"...Canada is a very loyal team."

Now that's funny. Ask Brodeur how loyal he thinks Canada is. Babcock let it be known pretty much from the beginning that he didn't want Marty playing. Many of us think Babcocj was still pissed, irritated, angry--whatever word you want to use--that Brodeur beat his Ducks for the Cup. Anyway, Babcock and Team Canada didn't seem too loyal to Marty last time.

Besides, I find it interesting that a number of people conveniently forget that Team Canada won the Gold Medal in spite of Luongo, not because of him. Not just my opinion, many professional pundits have written extensively about this.
- okings5

Sooooooo

Did you just skip the game where Brodeur poop the bed against the Americans? Or was that meltdown just excluded for the sake of your argument?

confused about the Hartnell update on rumor chart. He has a no trade clause in his contract. He loves Philly, i doubt he would waive it.

Agreed. And while the best defenseman are considered to be in the west, they don't have to play against the 4 best players in the world every night. Since they're all in the east.
- mjh609

Yeah they just get to face Chicago, St. Louis, San Jose, LA, and Anaheim on a regular basis. What a breeze!

McDonough is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential. Only 228 games of NHL experience. Being brought along & developed very well.

We shouldn't be debating his abilities. He's a stud now & only going to get better. Right up there with the best of the best at this early point in his devolpment. By the middle of next season he will be a norris trophy candidate.

Sooooooo

Did you just skip the game where Brodeur poop the bed against the Americans? Or was that meltdown just excluded for the sake of your argument?
- FinAddict

Loyalty only gets you there & gives you a chance. The job was Brodeur's to lose & he opened the door for Luongo & lost the job.

▸Eklund: It is relatively clear the most talented defense is playing for Team USA.◂

lol even better than last year's Norris trophy winner (PK Subban)?

And the Drew Doughty, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Dan Hamhuis and Marc-Edouard Vlasic is nothing to sneeze at either.

Mind you, he Americans Defense with John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan Suter are very talented but defense is only factor out of many in the game. Its alright to look at the stats on paper which we all do, but the game is played on the ice.

▸Eklund: I personally believe it will be Price when all is said and done, but Luongo has shown the ability to do this before and team Canada is a very loyal team.◂

Oh really? Perhaps some fans memories are short, but Luongo has a solid reputation with Vancouver fans and other fans, who say he isn’t a big game goalie because he chokes up goals against. During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Luongo let in many soft goals.

▸Eklund: Price has yet to show at the NHL level he can do this. Remember, the one playoff run Price's NHL team had was led by another olympic goalie on our list.◂

Wow! Respectfully Eklund, I disagree.

Luongo played with a .917 % save average and played 42 games so far in the current 2013-14 season. Price played 48 games with a .925 % save average.

Both goalies look similar on paper, but Price wont choke. Price will conquer the rest of Canada with his brilliant saves. Like i mentioned before, its ok to look and compare stats, but stats is only 1 factor amongst others. Give Price an efficient defense and He will win the game for you. ; )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8thzfCqdPrg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGFzg_6LsoQ

How do you think the US D is the best...its baffling to me.

Not saying Canada will win, but they have the best team.

If I had to pick

Gold will be:
Sweden v Canada

Bronze:

USA v Russia


Either way, you need to stick to rumours, because your analysis is Horri-awful. My 10 year old cousin knows more.

Any team in the NHL would love to have McDonagh. Except for Montreal apparently. Boy did sather rape Gainey on that 1.

This is a beauty:

"It is relatively clear the most talented defense is playing for America.
(although Canada is 1A in my opinion)"

Orpik
Fowler
Carlson
Shattenkirk
McDonagh
Suter
Faulk
Martin

Is better than

Weber
Doughty
Keith
Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester
Subban
Hamhuis
Vlasic

Almost as good - a team with Rask, Lehtonen, Niemi in net is #6!?
- 1979AD

Well i think thats a fair assesment if you exclude Norris contenders.

USA
Orpik
Fowler
Carlson
Shattenkirk
McDonagh
Faulk
Martin

Canada
Bouwmeester
Hamhuis
Vlasic

In fact i'd say the Americans are way better than the Canadians in that scenario.

Loyalty only gets you there & gives you a chance. The job was Brodeur's to lose & he opened the door for Luongo & lost the job.
- striker777

Exactly. The ball was his to run with and he fumbled. Not sure how that is disloyalty. I'm sure Brodeur would even say the same thing

Exactly. The ball was his to run with and he fumbled. Not sure how that is disloyalty. I'm sure Brodeur would even say the same thing
- FinAddict

Absolutely & he did at the time.

It's a good thing nothing Eklund says EVER happens so these ridiculous opinions of his mean absolutely nothing.

Whose D is better... that will be decided on the ice. Not even going to get into a "who is better on paper" argument, both sets of D for U.S. and Canada I think are the best in the Olympics, With Canada being #1 on paper, but I will let the games do the final assessment...

I hope to hell it's Canada and the U.S. in the medal round. that was soo much fun last time around!!


and I just gotta put Milbury on blast... MIKE MILBURY.... ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? OF COURSE YOU START QUICK OVER MILLER, HANDS DOWN ANY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAY... CASE CLOSED, BYLSMA GOT IT RIGHT AND THANK GOD YOU ARE NOT IN HIS EAR OR HAVING ANYTING TO DO WITH TEAM U.S.A.

Eklund thinks Canada will be in the bronze game..

You're losing your marbles lately with crap pouring out. Anything for hits I guess.

The Americans are coming fast to challenge Canada as the best in the world at developing world class hockey players. The NHL is currently 50% Canadian & in decline. The US is now at 25% & growing fast.

All you need do is extrapolate the #'s. The # of kids in the US that are now choosing hockey over conventional sports in the US like, baseball, football & basketball is staggering. The sport is growing rapidly & the population base is a significant factor in them starting to take over as the wrold power house.

We can female dog about NHL expansion into the sunbelt of the US but many of these cities, Dallas, Nashville, SJ, Anh, etc have spent large sums of money building rinks developing their own fan base & those effots are starting to pay huge didvidends for USA Hockey. The US National Development program is 1 of the best in the world & as we can see from U17, U18 & U20 the Americans are coming fast & it's only a matter of time before they dominate like in most other sports.

Canada won't lose it's status as a power house but our dominance over the US is over. I spend at least a week a month in Texas on business & the # of rinks built & being built is amazing.

USA isn't close to the best defense. I think Sweden has the #1 defense and Canada has the 1B.

Wow, I think people need to relax. Too much pissing and moaning on HB now days. Piss and moan if Ek gives his opinion... piss and moan if Ek doesn't give his opinion... piss and moan if Ek writes something factual... piss and moan if Ek writes something ficticious... or just piss and moan for the sake of pissing and moaning no matter what Ek does.

Still have never understood why so many pissers and moaners still frequent a blog that they clearly hold so much disdain for.


GO USA!