News Article: NHL at the 2022 Olympics

[diehardleafsfan9878]

there is a certain radio show here in Vancouver that has Marner off of Team Canada lol

They said Bo Horvat deserves to be on the team more lol

Lol bo horvat.
whats so special about horvat? the guy has only hit the 60 points once in his career. vancouver media is delusional

If Ryan O'Reilly or Sean Couturier aren't available, Horvat would be on the team in their place. O'Reilly is first up, if he's injured, Couturier will take his place, if both are hurt, Horvat is the next best option for that role.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Lol bo horvat.
whats so special about horvat? the guy has only hit the 60 points once in his career. vancouver media is delusional

This f***ing city is ridiculous. I thought it was a joke. Their hate for the Leafs is based on the idea that national sports media gives the Leafs too much air time, yet they had a full hour long segment on their local station centered on do you take Bo Horvat over Mitch Marner on Team Canada....

 

[Dave92]

I highly doubt Marner makes it.

He has not shown any big-game ability, and Team Canada, with all it's crazy depth is going to put him on the world stage? Not a chance.

Team Canada will pick the best players that Canada has to offer, without any care for position. We have had previous teams loaded with C's, who played wing, so saying that Marner plays RW doesn't make a dimes worth of difference.

I think his poor showing in every playoff series is going to be why he doesn't receive consideration. He just hasn't shown that he can play at a higher level when it matters the most.

Tavares over Marner for Team Canada, easily, along with Rielly for consideration.

He was named a 1st team Allstar 3 months ago that means he was voted the best rw in the league for last season.

You're delusional if you think he won't be named to the team.

 

[Twine Tickler]

If Ryan O'Reilly or Sean Couturier aren't available, Horvat would be on the team in their place. O'Reilly is first up, if he's injured, Couturier will take his place, if both are hurt, Horvat is the next best option for that role.

Man this squad would be Nagano all over again if we keep trying to fill roles. I swear if we just take the 13 best forwards and 7 best D that we have in this country there is likely no one that beats us. I think Team Canada over complicates things sometimes. Always want to reinvent the wheel. Throwing in a Draper or Zamuner or Linden or Kunitz. I recognize when talking near equals then of course take the player that better fits that role. But there is no way you can tell me that Marner could not play a PK, 2way bottom 6 roll with an offensive upside on Team Canada. He plays that roll for us but in the top 6, and puts up 95-100 pt seasons. Not sure Horvat and Marner should ever be in the same conversation. Of course I am bias on that, but I just don't see any circumstance other than injury where Horvat makes this team over Mitch

 

[hotpaws]

Tavares is 9th in points and 12th in PPG amongst Canadian forwards since becoming a Leaf. How exactly does he have no chance?

what the f*** does his 1st season with us have to do with how's he's playing now ?

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

There is going to be debate over what forwards make the team, but the defense is much more interesting.

Makar RHS
Pietrangelo RHS
Theodore LHS
Ekblad (If Healthy) RHS

Those are the locks on D as I see it. There is a lot of questions on the left side. If they plan on going with L/R on every pair, it leaves 1 spot open for Letang, Burns, Hamilton, Ellis, Doughty, Spurgeon. And Barrie but lol.

The left side will consist of who? Theodore, Rielly, Chabot, Giordano, Nurse, Muzzin, Girard, Morrissey, Devon Toews.

Theodore-Pietrangelo is an easy pair
Rielly-Ekblad played together for team NA, but I don't know if Rielly makes it
Girard/Toews-Makar for familiarity purposes

All the players I listed make up the top 20 points per game defensemen since the start of the 2018/2019 season.

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

Man this squad would be Nagano all over again if we keep trying to fill roles. I swear if we just take the 13 best forwards and 7 best D that we have in this country there is likely no one that beats us. I think Team Canada over complicates things sometimes. Always want to reinvent the wheel. Throwing in a Draper or Zamuner or Linden or Kunitz. I recognize when talking near equals then of course take the player that better fits that role. But there is no way you can tell me that Marner could not play a PK, 2way bottom 6 roll with an offensive upside on Team Canada. He plays that roll for us but in the top 6, and puts up 95-100 pt seasons. Not sure Horvat and Marner should ever be in the same conversation. Of course I am bias on that, but I just don't see any circumstance other than injury where Horvat makes this team over Mitch

Bit of a disconnect, Horvat making the team for me, doesn't mean Marner doesn't make it. I was saying, the only way Horvat makes it, is if the other 2 I listed are hurt. You are also severely underrating Horvats impact. He is an elite level defensive 2nd line centre, ala prime Ryan Kesler. You want to tell me a prime Kesler wouldn't be on this team?

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

Man this squad would be Nagano all over again if we keep trying to fill roles. I swear if we just take the 13 best forwards and 7 best D that we have in this country there is likely no one that beats us. I think Team Canada over complicates things sometimes. Always want to reinvent the wheel. Throwing in a Draper or Zamuner or Linden or Kunitz. I recognize when talking near equals then of course take the player that better fits that role. But there is no way you can tell me that Marner could not play a PK, 2way bottom 6 roll with an offensive upside on Team Canada. He plays that roll for us but in the top 6, and puts up 95-100 pt seasons. Not sure Horvat and Marner should ever be in the same conversation. Of course I am bias on that, but I just don't see any circumstance other than injury where Horvat makes this team over Mitch

And I am too young to remember Nagano, or even Turin for that matter, but there is a big difference in building team Canada with rightful line players, i.e. taking a fourth liner to play on the 4th line, over taking a 2nd liner (Horvat) to play on the 4th line.

 

[Twine Tickler]

I actually see Marner more in the top 6 of this team TBH, and can totally see a changing of the guard from Sid and Bergy to more of a secondary scoring line. Similar to the Staal - Getzlaf - Perry line in 2010.

MacKinnon - McDavid - Marner
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron
Huberdeau - Point - Stone
Scheifele - Couturier - Stamkos

Extras: Tavares, O'Rielly, Barzal

Theodore - Pietrangelo
Chabot - Makar
Rielly - Hamilton

Extras: Ekblad, Morrisey

Price
Binnington
Flower

to me this is how I see it going down, or some combination of these players.

 

[Gabriel426]

As much as I want to see Mack and McD on a line together, I think it is better off if they are on different lines bc both of them like to carry the puck and attack the zone.
I think Stamkos will be on McD wing. It will be very similar to Drai being on McD wing.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Bit of a disconnect, Horvat making the team for me, doesn't mean Marner doesn't make it. I was saying, the only way Horvat makes it, is if the other 2 I listed are hurt. You are also severely underrating Horvats impact. He is an elite level defensive 2nd line centre, ala prime Ryan Kesler. You want to tell me a prime Kesler wouldn't be on this team?

Ahhh I see. Ya I mean no disrespect to Bo at all. He is a quality player. One I'd love to see in a Leaf uniform. He plays the right way. He has to at least be in the conversation to some extent. But to me he is in the same breath as a Hyman going to team Canada. Worthy of a honorable mention, but that's about it.

 

[LeafSteel]

He was named a 1st team Allstar 3 months ago that means he was voted the best rw in the league for last season.

You're delusional if you think he won't be named to the team.

He could very well be and I would love nothing more than for him to have a ridiculous, impactful, confidence building performance to get to his next level…….. but I’m not holding my breath.

 

[stickty111]

Muzzin should be considered over Rielly.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

what the f*** does his 1st season with us have to do with how's he's playing now ?

That is the last 3 seasons combined...

 

[Ashdown2]

That is the last 3 seasons combined...

i dont think tavares makes it .. hes awesome but on the bigger ice i think they will ice a much younger team .

also team canada loves to surprise people, they never just pick the top 12 point producers. im looking at guys like Gallagher to get a shot maybe go young with konecky who is underated.

as for the marner talk ... i know they say there are no guarantees in life, but that is as safe a bet you could possibility make

 

[zeke]

Huberdeau --- McDavid --- MacKinnon
Marchand --- Crosby --- Stone
Tavares --- Point --- Marner
O'Reilly --- Couturier --- Bergy
(Stamkos --- Scheifele --- Barzal)

Muzzin --- Pietro
Pelech --- Weegar
Toews --- Makar
(Girard --- Hamilton)

Fleury?
Price?
(??????)

 

[zeke]

what the f*** does his 1st season with us have to do with how's he's playing now ?

Last 2 seasons PPG

1. McDavid 1.68
2. MacKinnon 1.35
3. Marchand 1.27
4. Marner 1.18
5. Crosby 1.14
6. Huberdeau 1.12
7. Scheifele 1.07
8. Stamkos 1.05
9. Stone 1.03
10. Tavares 0.92
11. Point 0.92
12. O'Reilly 0.91
13. Bergeron 0.90
14. Couturier 0.88
15. Barzal 0.85

 

[zeke]

If Ryan O'Reilly or Sean Couturier aren't available, Horvat would be on the team in their place. O'Reilly is first up, if he's injured, Couturier will take his place, if both are hurt, Horvat is the next best option for that role.

Why? He sucks defensively.

 

[zeke]

There is going to be debate over what forwards make the team, but the defense is much more interesting.

Makar RHS
Pietrangelo RHS
Theodore LHS
Ekblad (If Healthy) RHS

Those are the locks on D as I see it. There is a lot of questions on the left side. If they plan on going with L/R on every pair, it leaves 1 spot open for Letang, Burns, Hamilton, Ellis, Doughty, Spurgeon. And Barrie but lol.

The left side will consist of who? Theodore, Rielly, Chabot, Giordano, Nurse, Muzzin, Girard, Morrissey, Devon Toews.

Theodore-Pietrangelo is an easy pair
Rielly-Ekblad played together for team NA, but I don't know if Rielly makes it
Girard/Toews-Makar for familiarity purposes

All the players I listed make up the top 20 points per game defensemen since the start of the 2018/2019 season.

Not sure points per game is a great thing to use given only 1 or 2 of them will see PP time. Maybe stick with Even Strength ppg as a more useful number.

Last 2yrs

1. Makar .53
2. Ellis .51
3. Weegar .50
4. Letang .50
5. Hamilton .49
6. Nurse .45
7. Theodore .45
8. Ekblad .44
9. Muzzin .43
10. Chabot .43
11. Pietro .42
12. Rielly .41
13. Barrie .41
14. Toews .39
15. Burns .39

 

[The Iceman]

Mathews
Marner
Nylnader

Tavares has little to no chance of making it .

Statistically the last 3 seasons he is right there. Depending on when the selection process is a good start to this season may do it.
92 goals 106 assists in 201 Leaf games is elite production from the centre position.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Great news. Olympic hockey is infinitely better with NHL players. Should be quite a few Leafs there.

 

[Rob Brown]

i dont think tavares makes it .. hes awesome but on the bigger ice i think they will ice a much younger team .

also team canada loves to surprise people, they never just pick the top 12 point producers. im looking at guys like Gallagher to get a shot maybe go young with konecky who is underated.

as for the marner talk ... i know they say there are no guarantees in life, but that is as safe a bet you could possibility make

Fairly certain they are playing on NHL sized ice.

 

[Koolboss]

If he doesn’t make the team that will be a huge hit to his ego.

Hope thats the case, maybe he will start playing like a 12mil player

 

[The Hanging Jowl]

I will not be watching an Olympics that is holding two Canadians hostage and unleashed a pandemic that broke the world while continuing to interfere in investigations into its origins.

I will also think less of any NHL player that competes in these Olympics.

 

[zeke]

I think the fans here have the forwards bang on - there's a clearcut 15 forwards to choose from and probably all 15 get named to the squad.

The defense selection isn't too bad - the top 6 vote getters are very likely in consideration. I think there's probably a bunch of those lower names in strong consideration too though - like weegar, muzzin, Spurgeon, toews, Girard.

The goalie situation isn't great and the fans are probably right that at this point old fleury and price are the likely faves - but I think/hope that performance this coming season plays a huge part in deciding which goalies to take.