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2014 Olympics Thread (2/12-2/23)

db2011

db2011

Registered User
Oct 10, 2011
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bizzz said:
So, no one can prove that JJ was speaking about Richards (and MB proved that he didn't even have a reason to do so), but a bunch of people who probably consider themselves a "real men" blame him for questioning selections, whining and taking a shot at his head coach. They're acting like Russians, cause in the US you're innocent till proved guilty.
It always looks funny when some internet warriors incriminate an NHL player in not being a man. JJ is blaming himself as well. He admits that he played poorly. Also watching last night game I thought that Wiz looked as a better candidate for a spot on the US team roster.
And I'm not a Russian nationalist by any means, it's completely opposite. I just try to balance opinions on the countries sometimes, in fact I consider Russia as an evil empire in relation to my country, even though I have a lot of friends over there.
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Wait, I still don't get why it matters who he's talking about. When he says he "needed the belief and trust, I didn't get it, and I didn't get it when it counted from numerous people"...well what did he "need" it for? To make the team? He needed to play better to make the team. Basta.

There's a disconnect in your argument up there. He can be whiny about not making the team without implicating his coach. I don't really think that's the case, I think he is thinking of his coach in that group of "numerous people" he mentions. But regardless of what I think, you can take Todd Richards out of his target sights and he still comes off in some of his quotes as saying he didn't make the team because of other people letting him down and not him letting other people down.
 
Nordique

Nordique

Add smoked meat, and we have a deal.
Aug 11, 2005
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davidbklyn said:
Wait, I still don't get why it matters who he's talking about. When he says he "needed the belief and trust, I didn't get it, and I didn't get it when it counted from numerous people"...well what did he "need" it for? To make the team? He needed to play better to make the team. Basta.

There's a disconnect in your argument up there. He can be whiny about not making the team without implicating his coach. I don't really think that's the case, I think he is thinking of his coach in that group of "numerous people" he mentions. But regardless of what I think, you can take Todd Richards out of his target sights and he still comes off in some of his quotes as saying he didn't make the team because of other people letting him down and not him letting other people down.
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I think his point was that he should not be evaluated solely on the prior 3 months of NHL hockey, when he has 8 years of solid international play for them to look back on. I guess he expected someone to go for bat for him in the decision room.

I see his point, and I see guys on that list I'd not want over JJ. Orpik for one.
 
NotWendell

NotWendell

Has also never won the lottery.
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Oct 31, 2005
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Let's cut to the chase. If Jack Johnson hadn't have sucked most of the year for Columbus, he would have had all the support he needed to make the team.
 

bizzz*

Guest
davidbklyn said:
Wait, I still don't get why it matters who he's talking about. When he says he "needed the belief and trust, I didn't get it, and I didn't get it when it counted from numerous people"...well what did he "need" it for? To make the team? He needed to play better to make the team. Basta.

There's a disconnect in your argument up there. He can be whiny about not making the team without implicating his coach. I don't really think that's the case, I think he is thinking of his coach in that group of "numerous people" he mentions. But regardless of what I think, you can take Todd Richards out of his target sights and he still comes off in some of his quotes as saying he didn't make the team because of other people letting him down and not him letting other people down.
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Nordique made a good point why he could expect some support. Callahan also sucks this season and he has never been a captain of the national team, he was injured at the moment of voting, but for some reason he got that support. In terms of defense that support was given to injured Martin and Orpik. Have they ever played on the big ice? JJ did well all the time. I'd take Johnson even over Shattenkirk, who plays sheltered minutes in the weakest division in hockey.
Also players don't keep the same high level of shape all year long. Everyone has ups and downs. For Bob the best time is 2nd half of the year. It's possible that JJ intentionally was trying to get to the pick of his shape closer to Olympics. And he's playing better recently. He needed trust that he will be in his best conditions at the Olympics. Just a half year ago he was the #1 defenseman on the team that finished 19-5-5. Shattenkirk has never been a #2 defenseman.
 
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Iron Balls McGinty

Iron Balls McGinty

Registered User
Aug 5, 2005
9,163
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Slava Malamud ‏@SlavaMalamud 2m
Sergei Bobrovsky just told me he'll wear his #CBJ number 72 in Sochi. This is a first for Soviet/Russian Olympians.
 
SuperGenius

SuperGenius

For Duty & Humanity!
Mar 18, 2008
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leesmith said:
Let's cut to the chase. If Jack Johnson hadn't have sucked most of the year for Columbus, he would have had all the support he needed to make the team.
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This
I've not seen it mentioned, but perhaps a reason that Richards left him off his list (if he did) is as motivation. JMFJ didn't earn his spot, and while it is tempting to give it to him out of some perceived obligation, I think any coach would recognize that the only way to make JMFJ better is to NOT just give him the spot. He has to go out and earn it...he has to find out how to get more out of himself as a player. This Olympic snub will likely turn out to be the turning point of his career. From this point forward, he'll either finally become the player he can be or stay the player he is. Everyone seems to think there's more there...and we've seen it - after the trade and over the last few games - now he just has to figure out how to be that player consistently...
 
db2011

db2011

Registered User
Oct 10, 2011
3,565
474
Brooklyn
bizzz said:
Nordique made a good point why he could expect some support. Callahan also sucks this season and he has never been a captain of the national team, he was injured at the moment of voting, but for some reason he got that support. In terms of defense that support was given to injured Martin and Orpik. Have they ever played on the big ice? JJ did well all the time. I'd take Johnson even over Shattenkirk, who plays sheltered minutes in the weakest division in hockey.
Also players don't keep the same high level of shape all year long. Everyone has ups and downs. For Bob the best time is 2nd half of the year. It's possible that JJ intentionally was trying to get to the pick of his shape closer to Olympics. And he's playing better recently. He needed trust that he will be in his best conditions at the Olympics. Just a half year ago he was the #1 defenseman on the team that finished 19-5-5. Shattenkirk has never been a #2 defenseman.
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I am now and ever will be opposed to anointing a player based on past achievements. That's a recipe for corruption and poor results. It seems that's what this JJ argument is coming down to. The problem is, what do you do when a player who has performed well in the past looks bad compared to a player who's giving their all and playing strongly now? The patronage system isn't fair to those guys.

That said, you provide solid reasoning for your position. I still don't agree, but I see where you're coming from.
 

bizzz*

Guest
davidbklyn said:
I am now and ever will be opposed to anointing a player based on past achievements. That's a recipe for corruption and poor results. It seems that's what this JJ argument is coming down to. The problem is, what do you do when a player who has performed well in the past looks bad compared to a player who's giving their all and playing strongly now? The patronage system isn't fair to those guys.

That said, you provide solid reasoning for your position. I still don't agree, but I see where you're coming from.
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This is not even about past achievements. I think most of you are badly underestimating importance of the experience at international level. Olympics is a very short tournament, Americans won't have time to adjust to the new environment. Jack been there, he knows what is all about. That's not a computer game, where you put your best players on the ice and beat anyone. Why do you think Canada can't win Olympics gold outside of North America for more than 60 years? In 1998 they had Gretzky, Yzerman and Lindros at center, but didn't get any medal. In 2006 in Italy they were 7th.

The important question was if Martin and Orpik have ever played on the big ice. Europeans grew up on such rinks, they know exactly how to play there. Look at the NHLers in the KHL during the last lock-out. I followed my hometown team, they had Evander Kane and Joe Pavelski. At the beginning each of them looked worse than those European veterans you've never heard of. Kane never adjusted and it took 4 weeks for Pavelski to establish himself as a decent player among KHLers. Or look at Canadians at the last WJC. The were outplayed by Finns and Russians on the Swedish big ice. USA and Canada won't have 4 weeks for adjustments at the Olympics.
I'm not saying that JJ should be on the team because of his international experience, but it doesn't matter how a player looks now, all what matters is how he gonna play in the future, at the upcoming tournament in absolutely different environment. And Jack has a way better resume comparing to some other guys who made the team.
 
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Samkow

Samkow

Now do Classical Gas
Jul 4, 2002
16,354
488
Detroit
ac979946901111e391f11213f82c8bd2_8.jpg


Uhhh...
 

bizzz*

Guest
This is beer cans. Zhiguli is the most famous brand of Russian beer, they made the "sports series" specially for Olympics.
 

bizzz*

Guest
major major said:
Who starts for Russia at the Olympics? Bob or Varly?
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No one knows. They gonna play both it the preliminary round. I suppose each will play half of the game against Slovenia. Then coaching staff will make decision who plays in the quarterfinal.
 

bizzz*

Guest
Is Svitov still under contract with the Jackets by the NHL standards? I think yes, cause he signed 2-year contract and never honored it, he left to Russia. So technically the Jackets are gonna have 5 players on the Russian roster.
 
Samkow

Samkow

Now do Classical Gas
Jul 4, 2002
16,354
488
Detroit
bizzz said:
Is Svitov still under contract with the Jackets by the NHL standards? I think yes, cause he signed 2-year contract and never honored it, he left to Russia. So technically the Jackets are gonna have 5 players on the Russian roster.
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No, he's a UFA. I remember him talking about coming back to the NHL the summer after his contract expired. Kinda soured me on him :(
 
Mayor Bee

Mayor Bee

Registered User
Dec 29, 2008
18,087
535
bizzz said:
Is Svitov still under contract with the Jackets by the NHL standards? I think yes, cause he signed 2-year contract and never honored it, he left to Russia. So technically the Jackets are gonna have 5 players on the Russian roster.
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His rights were officially released on July 1, 2010.

Hard to believe it's been nearly seven years since he skipped town.
 

bizzz*

Guest
CBJBrassard16 said:
Why'd he leave anyway? And why'd he sign a contract just days before leaving? lol
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I guess you're to young to remember that story. He signed with he Jackets 2-years contract, but then his hometown Avangard Omsk offered him way more money. Since there was no agreement between NHL and Russian League (KHL wasn't existing then), he just left.
Who starts for Russia at the Olympics?
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http://www.sports.ru/hockey/157602863.html
Tretiak just said that according to all the reports he gets from specialists in North America Bob is currently better than Varlamov.
He also said that Russia doesn't have a clear cut #1 goalie.
 
cbjgirl

cbjgirl

Just thinking
Jan 19, 2006
3,681
272
about last summer.
bizzz said:
I guess you're to young to remember that story. He signed with he Jackets 2-years contract, but then his hometown Avangard Omsk offered him way more money. Since there was no agreement between NHL and Russian League (KHL wasn't existing then), he just left.

http://www.sports.ru/hockey/157602863.html
Tretiak just said that according to all the reports he gets from specialists in North America Bob is currently better than Varlamov.
He also said that Russia doesn't have a clear cut #1 goalie.
Click to expand...

There were also rumors at the time that his girlfriend/wife?/baby momma was here with their child and there were some medical issues with the baby and kind of freaked her out since her English was poor and she wasn't sure how to get the help she needed at the time. So they decided to head back to Russia. I repeat - these were rumors.
 
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