Olympics Update
February 1st, 2010 by Jason ChenHmm, it looks like my Canucks blog has become more of an Olympics blog… fine by me!!! For those wishing to check out more recent Canucks posts, check out forums.canucks.com. It’s hard keeping up two blogs at once so for now we’ll stick to the Olympic stuff but I’ll throw in some Canucks stuff from time to time. This is a Canucks blog, after all.
As BCapp pointed out, Paul Martin’s out of the tournament, and if Mike Komisarek can’t make it back in time, so will he. The replacement for Paul Martin’s easy - for me it’s Zach Bogosian. He wasn’t on the original invite list but I did pick him for my Olympic squad. I think his play this year has been solid and since Brian Burke went with Jon Quick over Craig Anderson because of age, here’s another opportunity to add another youngster. If not, it’s Ron Hainsey, another Atlanta Thrasher. As for Komisarek, it’ll be either Hainsey or Rob Scuderi. Maybe Ryan Whitney if they want more offense. I felt the league’s ice-time leading should’ve gotten a nod.
For the Swedes, it looks less and likely that MoDo forward Peter Forsberg and Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom will make the trip. I imagine Johan Frazen will get a good look when he returns, but if he can’t return in time I’ll have to stick with two guys from my original picks, either Fredrik Sjostrom, now of the Leafs, or Johan Davidsson of HV71 in the SEL. Davdisson is the current captain of that team and has led that team in scoring for the past 2 seasons, but hasn’t appeared for the Tre Kroner since the 2007 World Championships. I thought his name was a glaring omission, considering that the lone forward taken from the European leagues was Mattias Weinhandl.
Russia’s third string Semyon Varlamov has been out since early December with a groin injury, and while most reports indicate that he’s ready to go, it seems rather unlikely. In his place will probably be Alexander Eremenko, the fourth goalie at camp. Either way, with Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov in front, the third string will be unlikely to see any sort of ice-time.
The Czechs may be without Patrik Elias, and that’s one that will have an impact. But the good thing about the Czechs is that they have some quality forwards. First, there’s the young Jiri Hudler, who bolted to greener pastures this year and is enjoying a good season in the KHL. If the Czechs wish to replace Elias’ versatility instead, it’s probably Vaclav Prospal, who like Elias can play the left wing or centre. I think the ideal choice, however, to replace Elias’ production and leadership is adding Milan Hejduk, who I felt was curiously left off the roster this year.
For Canada, there has been some concern over Martin Brodeur’s recent play and Scott Niedermayer’s season long play. The first reaction is question whether these two should be given some rest, but I think the best option here is to wait and see. The Olympics aren’t far away, but keep in mind that for many of these players and their employers, NHL hockey comes first. If the night before Canada’s first game Jacques Lemaire deems it necessary to play Brodeur against a weak team, say, Carolina, because the division title lead is on the line, he will do so. If Randy Carlyle deems it necessary to play Niedermayer 30 minutes against San Jose, he will do so. The arguments are valid, and I really think for a lot of players and coaches Olympic commitments have been brought into the discussion, but they’re not the priority. I do agree that Brodeur might have to sit for a game or two and that Niedermayer’s play even after the selection has been average at best.
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20 Responses to “Olympics Update”
By BCapp on Feb 2, 2010
You are right. From a fan who has zero loyalty/hatred (as neutral as possible) to NJ, but my heart devoted to Canada, I want Brodeur rested. But the bottom line is the NHL comes first. He has a CONTRACT and it is his JOB to play for Devils.
Honestly Brodeur’s play hasn’t scared me THAT much b/c I like all 3 guys on the team, and I think Babcock is a great coach.
Nieds on the other hand I have said from day one should not have made the team.
In regards to the Americans, I didn’t realize Bogosian didn’t make the team. With Komi, I think he should make it back, but with the addition of Phaneuf thye’ll let him heal right. The leafs just completely imploded their team for a rebuild so the rest of the season is a ‘try out’. We don’t need to rush him back.
By john bennett on Feb 2, 2010
Feb 2, 2010
Most of the US D-Men that I mentioned are
left hand shots, as is Paul Martin. Komisarek
on the other hand shoots right,which fits with Bogosian, a great young talent, in spite
of his poor minus number. Perhaps, too much
is made of left shots playing the left side and right shots playing the right but it still helps. The old Soviet powerhouses were
nearly all left shots and they managed to get by OK and a guy named Ovechkin shoots right but plays LW. Marty St Louis does just the oposite, shoots left but plays RW, . . ,
it helps their shooting angles. On defence,
though, it’s much easier for a left shooter to play the left side. I don’t think Team USA will have any problem finding 2 capable
replacements on their “D”.
When BCapp mentions the word “rebuild” and
“Leafs” in the same sentence, I’ve almost got to gag. Hell, that team has been trying
to “rebuld” for 43 years and counting, . . .
one of the big reasons I’m a passionate Team
Canada advocate. At least, there’s hope !!
By BCapp on Feb 2, 2010
Unless you say any year not winning the cup is a rebuild, the leafs have NOT been trying to rebuild for 43 years.
They made it to the conference finals TWICE in the late 90s early 2000s, lead their division TWICE and had something like 8 straight years in the playoffs. They had legitimate Stanley cup threats there.
In the post Quinn years it has been 3 or 4 years of denying we need a rebuild, and finally it looks like the right directoion.
But this is not the right blog for this discussion lol.
By BCapp on Feb 2, 2010
John:
Danis is getting the start tonight. A break for Marty (probably b/c it is an assumed win either way, lol!)
By Jason Chen on Feb 2, 2010
I’m not so sure the rest of the year will be a ‘try out’ for the Leafs. In a sense it is because Bozak and co. will have plenty of opportunities to show what they can do. But after all the flurry of moves, I think the Leafs have gotten better and although they need to string some win streaks together anything can happen in the East. They’re still a very long shot to make the playoffs but I wouldn’t exactly give up hope yet.
By john bennett on Feb 2, 2010
Feb 2, 2010
Sorry, Jason but I have given up on Leafs some time ago. They have the tendency to
so often, toss out little flickers of hope, only to fade when it really matters. I’ve see that scenario, play out time after time after time. They have more money, more hockey fan interest, and, as a result, more opportunity, than almost any other place on earth, yet they continue to bottom feed. The
largely corporate fan base never insists on a winner like say, Hab fans do. Leafs play
to sellout crowds regardless of the product
that skates out on to the ice. As a result, I choose to support Canadian born players
wherever they ply their talents and, in particular, in this Olympic year, on our Canadian soil, I am “the” total Canadian fan. Full support for our players whatever the result.
Heh, BCapp, I did see that Danis got the start over Marty B. Finally Lemaire sits him down,. . .,although the new ‘powerhouse’Leafs
crushed the Devils,[sans Brodeur], 3-0. In spite of the loss, I hope Jacques L rests
Marty even more. We all know that won’t happen, don’t we ?
By Jason Chen on Feb 3, 2010
I have to disagree with your assessment here, john, because since Sundin’s departure Phaneuf and Kessel are the most talented players the Leafs have had in their fold in awhile.
I think it’s a good time for a Leaf fan to get excited about something substantial. This isn’t the Leafs landing Lee Stempniak or signing Jeff Finger. This is the Leafs landing two very young all-star players.
By john bennett on Feb 3, 2010
Feb 3, 2010
Phaneuf and Kessel are both A level players
for sure and it’s a start but the ‘Buds’ IMO
still have a long, long way to go before they will become truly competitive. I’m
talking about challenging for the “Cup.” In the recent past each of Tampa Bay, Carolina and the Pens have come out of nowhere to grab Lord Stanley’s mug but the 43 year drought in TO leaves me a tad doubtful that they’ll be turning a corner anytime soon.
Leafs GM Brian B also did it with the Ducks
in Anaheim recently and he could exercise his
magic in Toronto. Nonetheless, I remain
unconvinced that anything of significance will occur in Leafland for quite a long while
yet. Love to be wrong on this.
By BCapp on Feb 3, 2010
Komi’s out for the season and will miss the olympics (on a Belarussian note Grabovski will miss the olympics too).
By john bennett on Feb 4, 2010
Feb 4, 2004
I keep checking on our Dan Boyle, . . . . ,
repeatedly says upper body injury and little else. He’s missed quite a few games and I know he’s dying to be there because he was an
extra in Turin in ‘06, so he never got to play a single game. If he cannot go who do you think replaces him, Mike Green, . . . ,
both Boyle and Green are right hand shots ?
More than likely J Bouwmeester (L), don’t you think ? Wouldn’t 6′ 8″ Tyler Myers look
great back there and he’s a right hand shot?
I suppose it’s felt he’s to young and doesn’t
have enough international experience but love
this rookies “great” first year stats. He
already logs more ice time than anyone on the
Sabres and at this moment he’s the odds on favouite to capture the Calder Trophy.
By BCapp on Feb 4, 2010
Green is also DTD right now, but they keep saying its minor and he’ll be ready to go when his suspension is up. I think Green would be the best bet to replace Boyle, as they are the same style player.
It would be a shame if Boyle didn’t make it and you nailed it right on, because of his age and extra-status at Turin.
It really sucks for these guys (Boyle/Komi/Martin) but they are doing the right thing for their country/teams and putting their contracts and whats best for their country ahead of whats best for themselves. Its very respectful and makes me all the sadder for them.
I hope they get mentioned if their teams win medals by the players themselves.
In regards to Myers I’d pass on him. He is just too young. But man he is having a great season. I hear/see a lot of Chara in him. He puts some more bulk on his frame (not too much though, b/c he doesn’t wanna mess with his leg speed) and he can easily be in that upper echelon in the league for years to come…
By john bennett on Feb 4, 2010
Feb 4, 2010
Agree with everything you say above,. . . ,
Green is much closer to Boyle in style than is Bouwmeester and the first 2 both shoot
right whereas Jay B shoots left. Also Green
leads all NHL D-Men in both goals and assists
I still believe that the “brass” would select
Jay if it comes to that, . . . . , because he
is a safe stay at home type with superb wheels and his 6′ 4″ size is a plus. Let’s
hope that Boyle is able to return in plenty
of time to get a few more games behind him.
He’s already earned the right to be there and
he does have that Cup winning eperience from
his good work in Tampa Bay.
Tyler Myers does have some major upside, doesn’t he ? Just a big (rookie) kid but already a main cog in Buffalo’s excellent overall defence.
By Jason Chen on Feb 4, 2010
If Boyle can’t make it, it would be an absolute shame. He’s such an underrated defenseman. He’s not as aggressive as Green in the offensive zone and he’s definitely more responsible in his own so in that sense they don’t necessarily play the same style… I’d say a more comparable to Green is Ed Jovanovski… that being said Green would be my replacement for Boyle. Bouwmeester has been rather ordinary.
It’s expected that Ryan Whitney and Tim Gleason will be USA’s replacements for Komisarek and Martin. I still would’ve liked to see Zach Bogosian there.
By BCapp on Feb 4, 2010
While I was hoping to see Bogosian too, he really slowed down post mid-November. If NHLers are playing 2014 he’ll be there.
While I agree Boyle is underrated (except in San Jose itself), Gleason is the epitomy of underrated. I basically barely knew he was before he got on the American team radar…
By john bennett on Feb 4, 2010
Feb 4, 2010
If we want pure offense, how can you look past Green, . . . , 52 points in 52 games,
this year ? Tops in NHL in both points and in goals and a very healthy above 20 plus, although you’d never think of MG as a defensive player. Still he’s got to be doing
something right. Last season 30 goals, a NHL
best and a great total for a forward let alone a D-Man. Bouwmeester, by comparison has
a much more modest 21 points and a plus 11.
Green’s high numbers are due, in large part
to Caps high octane offense with their big 3
up front Ovie, Semin and Backstrom. Hard to
contain those guys, so Green can get himself
into the open effectively. Team Canada’s
supporting cast won’t exactly be shabby either. Also, Canada should have enough
shut down type D with Pronger, Weber and
Seabrook big studs that make the enemy pay.
In addition, Mike Babcock seems to want to run a very quick, puck possesion offence with attacks coming front the back side and that suits Green, as well. I still hope Dan Boyle will be there though.
I did see that Team USA will be adding Whitney and Gleason in place of Martin and
Komisarek. The first 2 are both big rugged
guys who will be hard to play against. I’m
quite certain Burke and company has had this
thought through for a long time now. Martin,
in paticular, has always been a longshot with his severe injury. While Bogosian is a pure young talent, he’s still only 19 years old. Canada’s Drew Doughty IMO, is much
further along at roughly the same age.
By john bennett on Feb 4, 2010
Feb 4, 2010
Looks like Atlanta has finally moved Ilya Kovalchuk. Off to Devils along with Finnish
D-Man, A Salmela for Nic Bergfors, J Oduya,
Canadian Junior Captain, [now suspended for the year], Patrice Cormier and a first round entry pick. I hope Ilya doesn’t get too much of a book on Canada’s Martin Brodeur because IK will play for the Russians in Vancouver in 11 days. Oduya laces them up
for the Swedes. If the team that receives the
best player dominates any trade, then NJD’s
win. Kovalchuk is a real horse and will be a handful for every opponent in BC.
By john bennett on Feb 6, 2010
Feb 6, 2010
Wow, Lunqvist and his NYR beat Brodeur and the Devils 3-1 ! Another loss for Marty !!
Lunqvist, (Sweden’s starter in net), stops
41 out of 42. Brodeur Canada’s starter ??
He stops only 22 of 25. Interesting, all 3 NYR scorers Gaborik, (Slovakia),Callahan,(US)
and Drury, (US) will play against Marty in the Olympics. The 3 Stars of the contest are
#1. Lundqvist, #2. Callahan, #3 Gaborik.
Last night in Jersey the Devils fall behind
the pathetic Leafs but rally with 3 straight
goals in the 3′rd period while outshooting
Toronto 10-5. Again, Marty falls behind 3-1,
before the Devils big push. Too many games,
too many early goals allowed of late and too
many losses when playing head to head against
other Olympic tenders. Sabres (Miller) beat Marty &co. recently,.., a possible re-match on Feb 21 when Canada faces the US. BIG GAME!
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Buffalo loses 4-0 but
Ryan Miller, at least gets a helpful night off.
Devils have 4 more games before the Olympic break,…, Feb 8, 10, 12, 13. Not impressed
with the way Brodeur has been playing as we
approach the Vancouver Games. I hope the ‘brain trust’ have been watching closely, as well. He’ll almost certainly get to start but he really doesn’t deserve it, IMO.
Great to see Dan Boyle back in action for the
Sharks tonight. Now just stay healthy Danny
Boy !!
By john bennett on Feb 8, 2010
Feb 8, 2010
Tonight in Philly, Flyers -3 Devils- 2 with
Jersey and Brodeur giving up aother 2-0 lead.
It all began to unravel at 18:24 and 19:36 of
the second period. Brodeur actually played
well for most of the game but these late in the period collapses seem to be more habitual
with Martin B., now. After Feb 15, there’s no room for an off night.
By john bennett on Feb 9, 2010
Feb 9, 2010
Steve Yzerman must stay awake in a cold sweat
these nights,. . . ,Feb 15 can’t arrive soon
enough. Last night one of his nightmares did
in fact, occur. Ryan Getzlaf, one of Team
Canada’s great centers was on crutches following Ducks 4-2 win over the LA Kings. The early word is an ankle sprain, the X-Rays were negative and a further assessment
goes today. Exactly one week tonight Canada
plays its first game against Norway, so what to do ? Hope like hell that this is a very
minor setback and RG is back in action, in a
hurry. Sprains can often be more nagging and
dragged out than a bone break. Let’s hope
that there’s a very quick recovery for Ryan and he’s right back at it. It’s such a delicate tightrope you walk when a guy is hurt so close to the start of a big contest
like the ‘Olympic Games.’ Ducks have 3 games
remaining before their rest day on Feb 15.
Do you play him or rest him,…, grey hairs
for Steve Y ?
If he can’t go, [and what a disappointment],
who fills in there ? Getzlaf is a right hand
shooting center. The spot would likely go to
Jeff Carter (R), who has put up decent totals
of late and he was at the pre-camp last Aug.
My personal choice would be Steven Stamkos(R)
with his fabulous 32 goals and 61 points. His
goal output has him tied for 5′th overall in the NHL. Carter has a plus 3 rating, SS has a
zero rating. Fingers crossed for Getzlaf !
By Jason Chen on Feb 9, 2010
All great, great points, john. Expect me to write a new blog post about the Olympics soon.