Gretzky 'is crazy'

[Narnia]

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/Sports/2004/05/18/463616.html

TAMPA, Florida -- Keith Primeau was answering a question from the media, but Philadelphia Flyers teammate Jeremy Roenick was shaking his head. What's up, J.R.?

"I can't see how (Wayne) Gretzky kept him off the Canadian team," he said. "I am shocked. I am utterly shocked."

That's good to know. But what about Roenick himself, who had to leave Saturday's game with a suspected concussion?

"I am really shocked that Gretzky kept Preems off the Canadian team," he said. "That's insanity in my opinion."

And so it went. Whatever the question, Roenick returned to the subject of Primeau being left off the World Cup team.

He even did what athletes rarely do. He named those whom he felt Primeau should have superseded - Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Ryan Smyth and Brad Richards.

"They can't hold a candle to what Preems has been showing," Roenick said. "I think he (Gretzky) is crazy."

Click to read more...

 

[Regency]

I saw JR's interview yesterday and he actually says that it was bs that Primeau wasn't included!

 

[mackdogs*]

I'm confident he will play for this team, somehow. IMO he's the #1 forward to replace anyone and one of Lemieux or Yzerman likely won't play meaning Keith will suit up. I think this will be a moot point and I also wonder why so many people are questioning Gretz & co. They are sporting a pretty good track record so far...

Maybe, just maybe, they know what they are doing.

 

[Narnia]

It's funny there wasn't this much talk about who made the team and who didn't when Bobby Clarke and Co. picked the team for the 1998 Olympics. Why does ever pick that Gretzky and Co. make get criticized.

 

[SChan*]

some people will always whine over roster decisions. You can't satiesfy them all. Look at the people complaining that nylander wasn't added to the swedish roster. Funny thing is that people outside of Sweden whined more about it

 

[Finkle is Einhorn]

I think it is pretty funny that there is this much controversy over leaving Primeau off the team. Go back a few months to the allstar game.....Primeau was widely regarded as being a ridiculous selection by fans and media alike. So tell me, how does a player that was the joke of the allstar game a few months ago, turn into one that was absolutely robbed of being on the World Cup team? In my mind, it should take a bit more than a good playoff run. I really like Primeau, and would love to see him play on my team, but I am not losing any sleep over him being left of Canada's roster.

 

[Brownies]

I think it is pretty funny that there is this much controversy over leaving Primeau off the team. Go back a few months to the allstar game.....Primeau was widely regarded as being a ridiculous selection by fans and media alike. So tell me, how does a player that was the joke of the allstar game a few months ago, turn into one that was absolutely robbed of being on the World Cup team? In my mind, it should take a bit more than a good playoff run. I really like Primeau, and would love to see him play on my team, but I am not losing any sleep over him being left of Canada's roster.

Two words : Playoff hype.

 

[KariyaIsGod*]

People need to let this go. Kieth Primeau is not a superstar. Barry Melrose actually compared him to Jerome Iginla the other day. I nearly crapped my pants when I heard that.

 

[SChan*]

but melrose is a bandwagon fan.

 

[IceDragoon]

Gretzky 'is crazy'...

Crazy like a fox.

It's funny there wasn't this much talk about who made the team and who didn't when Bobby Clarke and Co. picked the team for the 1998 Olympics. Why does ever pick that Gretzky and Co. make get criticized.

Thank the growth of the cyberworld, fantasy leagues and video games.
Just because people can watch players play and build successful pretend teams,
they think they are smarter than the ones who have lived, breathed and excelled in hockey at an elite level.
Let's try and keep our abilities in perspective guys.

As for what JR has to say...
c'mon... IT'S :attn: JEREMY ROENICK TALKING.

Gretz and co. are trying to build a team to win a 2 week tournament, against the best in the world.
imho - they know what they are doing.

 

[Flyman]

People need to let this go. Kieth Primeau is not a superstar. Barry Melrose actually compared him to Jerome Iginla the other day. I nearly crapped my pants when I heard that.

Of course he doesn't have the offensive arsenal of a Jarome Iginla...but when you lead your team like he is doing, you are a special player.

 

[AGraveOne]

He's special alright...special like Otis on The Andy Griffith Show.

Has anyone seen someone blow a 3 on none like Primeau did the other night??? C'mon he juked himself out, fell into the goalie, got an interference call and nullified a goal. The potential first goal of the game, i think.

geesh. what a clod.

To be clear - i praised Primeau early in his career with Detroit. I thought he was very active and punishing and added great energy on the ice. But when he came to the Canes, a friend of mine referred to him as a "poor man's Eric Lindros". Well, my eyes were openned - he is at best a Lindros-wannabe (skill-wise - i think he has proven to be a better character leader). Anyway, his hands are stone-like. His skating is goofy. His playmaking is mostly luck. He can go out and bang around and he can add energy to the game....but he is not the force everyone is claiming at this point...

 

[CoupeStanley]

Primeau isn't a superstar but he can do the job that Draper or Maltby do...

and do it better

 

[mackdogs*]

But he doesn't have chemistry with either like they do. I think the key thing here is that this is a 2 week tournament, you need instant chemistry.

See now why Maltby and Draper wee chosen? With no Draper there would be no Maltby, and maybe vice-versa.

They're the best penalty killing tandem Canada has - do you not see their value?

 

[Flyman]

He's special alright...special like Otis on The Andy Griffith Show.

Has anyone seen someone blow a 3 on none like Primeau did the other night??? C'mon he juked himself out, fell into the goalie, got an interference call and nullified a goal. The potential first goal of the game, i think.

geesh. what a clod.

To be clear - i praised Primeau early in his career with Detroit. I thought he was very active and punishing and added great energy on the ice. But when he came to the Canes, a friend of mine referred to him as a "poor man's Eric Lindros". Well, my eyes were openned - he is at best a Lindros-wannabe (skill-wise - i think he has proven to be a better character leader). Anyway, his hands are stone-like. His skating is goofy. His playmaking is mostly luck. He can go out and bang around and he can add energy to the game....but he is not the force everyone is claiming at this point...

Obviously you're frustrated cuz Preems proved to be exactly the contrary of what you say! lol :lol
I guess many heavyweights like him would love to have his leadership and his hands. Cuz the goal he netted on Khabby the other night wasn't a demonstration of stone-like hands!

 

[tom_servo]

It's funny there wasn't this much talk about who made the team and who didn't when Bobby Clarke and Co. picked the team for the 1998 Olympics. Why does ever pick that Gretzky and Co. make get criticized.

How do you know there wasn't this much talk?

 

[John Flyers Fan]

But he doesn't have chemistry with either like they do. I think the key thing here is that this is a 2 week tournament, you need instant chemistry.

See now why Maltby and Draper wee chosen? With no Draper there would be no Maltby, and maybe vice-versa.

They're the best penalty killing tandem Canada has - do you not see their value?

If they cared so much about Chemistry, why was Richards chosen over Lecavalier ? Vinny plays with St. Louis on a regular basis not Richards.

Primeau and Gagne have played together for nearly 3 years --- voila instant chemistry.

Players at this level are skilled enough to mesh extremely quickly.

 

[mackdogs*]

If they cared so much about Chemistry, why was Richards chosen over Lecavalier ? Vinny plays with St. Louis on a regular basis not Richards.

This one I can't answer, I guess they think Brad is the real deal and Vinny isn't.

Primeau and Gagne have played together for nearly 3 years --- voila instant chemistry.

Word on the street is that Gagne will be reunited with Sakic and Iginla. He wouldn't play with Keith even if he does make it. We'll see for sure.

Players at this level are skilled enough to mesh extremely quickly.

I agree, but try telling that to a Russian fan.

 

[BlackJack21]

Crazy like a fox.
Thank the growth of the cyberworld, fantasy leagues and video games.
Just because people can watch players play and build successful pretend teams,
they think they are smarter than the ones who have lived, breathed and excelled in hockey at an elite level.
Let's try and keep our abilities in perspective guys.

As for what JR has to say...
c'mon... IT'S :attn: JEREMY ROENICK TALKING.

Gretz and co. are trying to build a team to win a 2 week tournament, against the best in the world.
imho - they know what they are doing.

Correct...

I'm not going to argue any choices of Gretz beside Maltby!!!

I would hav mke different choices but I think gretz is in better position then me.

However I really think Maltby is a Zamuner kind of mistake.

Bert, Levcavalier, Nash, Primeau and Madden, Peca and Morrison in particular, if you are loockink in the same type of player, would have been better choices IMHO.

Just my 2 cents,

BJ21

 

[Russian_fanatic]

He's special alright...special like Otis on The Andy Griffith Show.

Has anyone seen someone blow a 3 on none like Primeau did the other night??? C'mon he juked himself out, fell into the goalie, got an interference call and nullified a goal. The potential first goal of the game, i think.

geesh. what a clod.

To be clear - i praised Primeau early in his career with Detroit. I thought he was very active and punishing and added great energy on the ice. But when he came to the Canes, a friend of mine referred to him as a "poor man's Eric Lindros". Well, my eyes were openned - he is at best a Lindros-wannabe (skill-wise - i think he has proven to be a better character leader). Anyway, his hands are stone-like. His skating is goofy. His playmaking is mostly luck. He can go out and bang around and he can add energy to the game....but he is not the force everyone is claiming at this point...

Playmaking is luck wow he is the luckiest playmaker in the league . Listen buddy you don't make plays by getting "luck" you make plays , by having great hockey sence , and great ice vision ... learn it !!!

 

[BlackJack21]

Anyway, his hands are stone-like. His skating is goofy. His playmaking is mostly luck.

You are kidding right...

Not saying that he should absolutely be on the National team but...

Hands: One of the best wrist shot in the NHL

Skating: OK... not Karya but not gooffy neither

Playmkink: Luck!!! no comments

BJ21

 

[wilka91*]

JR rules!

IMO he's right, there's no way a guy like Malts or Drapes are better than Keith.

 

[hockeyGod]

They are talking about Preems like hes a freaking god on CBC tonite.

 

[boxall9]

[

And so it went. Whatever the question, Roenick returned to the subject of Primeau being left off the World Cup team.

He even did what athletes rarely do. He named those whom he felt Primeau should have superseded - Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Ryan Smyth and Brad Richards.

"They can't hold a candle to what Preems has been showing," Roenick said. "I think he (Gretzky) is crazy." [/i][/QUOTE]


If Roenick wants to shoot his mouth off and name names, he forgot the biggest mistake, Gagne! All those guys had season's as good as or better than Gagne. If Roenick wants to be a big shot and mouth off, why did he leave out Gagne?

 

[John Flyers Fan]

If Roenick wants to shoot his mouth off and name names, he forgot the biggest mistake, Gagne! All those guys had season's as good as or better than Gagne. If Roenick wants to be a big shot and mouth off, why did he leave out Gagne?

Incorrect again.

Gagne was better than Yzerman, Maltby and Morrow. He was also every bit as good as Draper and Smyth.