Buds Board Keepers League

SuperMario wroteCOLON

KapG wroteCOLONI didn't even bring up age.

I just said he is losing it a bit and isn't the same player he was. Works for me though, I think canada should be able to take advantage of his lack of foot speed.

'
This is the other thing. Not trying to pick at everything you're saying btw lol. You just said two things in a row I disagree with that's all.

I think Bruyns pointed this out earlier..the ice isn't THAT much bigger. People are amplifying the "slower" players.

At some point in time, the americans will have to play defence in their own end that isn't "off the rush" -> which is where "getting beat" due to foot speed usually happens. I feel like people imagine an open ended game when they are forecasting players on this big ice. I'd actually go the opposite. Majority of goals will be generated 1) off the cycle 2) on the PP. In both those instances, a player like Orpik has infinite value. Off the rush, not as much but he can easily be paired with a more offensive guy and be the guy that falls back on the pairing to cover for his speed/open ice.

The american team scares me the most out of any team. No team has as much talent as team Canada. So all they can do is either ice whoever they have (e.g. Czech's who will just complete their roster) or bring a toolbox team like the americans/swedes will for sure. Each player of theirs will have an exact role of what to do, an exact line/slot they play on and an exact assignment in every scenario. We on the other hand will be juggling lines for 90% of the tournament trying to "find" the optimal unit.

These are all world class players. When CHI plays STL, I don't think OMFG, one team has Toews Sharp Kane, the other has Backes Oshie Steen...Backes can be the best player on the ice in any given game. As can Patrick Kane, Kessel etc. But a toolbox team like the americans will not have the downside of constantly juggling lines.

This rationale is also why I hope Canada picks more "pure wingers". If MSL is left off the team, I will blow a gasket. If we take like 10 Cs and 2 Ws to compete in a tournament and then try to find Crosby's linemate for 4 games, that is not good. Put him with MSL and Stammer, put an end to it. Or bring Kunitz and put Stammer and MSl on another line. Keep Perry and Getzlaf together. Bring Duchene since he can play LW. Bring Sharp. Fuck Eric Staal. Fuck any elite player having a bad year. No time for that. We will get eaten alive by Sweden/US if we pick the "18 best skaters" team which has 10 Cs.

Nick wroteCOLONYou over value chemistry compared to skill, IMO. I doubt Sweden builds a team like USA just did, they'll have their 23 best players there, thats how they won previously, and it's the only way they'll contend with the lineups that Russia and we are bringing

Better players, are better more often. Yes knowing how Kunitz will turn is a major help, but it won't take Stamkos long to know where Sid is going. The idea of the two of them together is awesome.


I believe handedness is very important to keep square, especially on D, but at some point even there skill surpass ideal.

blues wroteCOLONI would take St. Louis and Sharp 10x over before I'd take Staal at this point.

There are way too many elite players having elite seasons in the hunt to make Team Canada to take an elite player having a good year. Especially at a position that we're already likely going to be taking way too many.

Fair Deals Steve wroteCOLON

blues wroteCOLONI would take St. Louis and Sharp 10x over before I'd take Staal at this point.

There are way too many elite players having elite seasons in the hunt to make Team Canada to take an elite player having a good year. Especially at a position that we're already likely going to be taking way too many.

I agree

Staal sucks now anyways imo, he lost a step a few years back.

gooker wroteCOLONGreat opinions guys, keep em comin, it matters a lot on how the team will form

gooker wroteCOLONlol dont wry bro I'm just being a totalitarian like tony said

Mike wroteCOLONi'd say his team's probably better than norway

Fair Deals Steve wroteCOLONI also think Canada should go with players and chemistry. I've read above and it seems to be a pretty big debate.

As a hockey nation, we have the most skilled players in the world to pick/choose from. If we paired Crosby with Kunitz I think it would be far more productive than pairing Crosby with Staal, Iggy or someone who is knows as a 'superior player' to Kunitz.

Crosby is a rare player, and as we've all seen from other world championships (team Canada's) he's not an easy player to pair with others. I'd go with what works and put kunitz on the team. USA did it with Kessel and JVR, Canada should do it with Crosby and Kunitz

blues wroteCOLONWhat would your roster be? I'm curious to see all the snubs on your team if you have Kunitz. Thornton? Giroux? Bergeron?

I was all for him, then I started seeing who I'd be leaving off.

I'd take Seguin+Benn as chemistry over Kunitz in a heartbeat.