Niedermayer Out

[Canuck21t]

These guys are ok, but nowhere near Jovanovksy/ Niedermier caliber

Jovanosvki shouldn't have been named in the first place so no big deal there. Bouwmeester, Phaneuf, Boyle and even McCabe is better than overrated Jovo. Niedermier is a big loss though.

 

[Canuck21t]

I know that they have a great defense, and still the best of all teams, but after the Retirement of Bourque, Mac Innis, Stevens etc the D is not that amazing like a few years ago. And then to lose Niedermayer is tough.
Imo it would had been easier for them to replace Thornton, Sakic etc.

Stevens has never been good at the international level because he was too slow. Remember that he wasn't invited in 2002 and that was a good decision.

 

[Kevin Forbes]

wait a minute, I thought that Canada could ice 3 teams at the Olympics, and now I'm starting to hear that Canada is a lot weaker wihtout one of its defensemen.

Did I miss something?

Canada could ice three teams, but there's a reason why Niedermayer was named to the team and whoever his replacement wasn't. Niedermayer is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and he's one of the best defensemen in Canada. You can't take him out of the lineup and expect the team to be a better team because of it. What I am saying is that even with the loss of Niedermayer, which might weaken the Canadian blueline (hard to say, a healthy Dan Boyle or Jay Bouwmeester might be a better player then an injured Scott Niedermayer, but we'll never know), Canada has the corps (such as the two players I just mentioned) to ice a blue line that stacks up favourably against any other team in the Olympics.

I think it's obvious that Scott Niedermayer is a better player then anyone who replaces him. But at the same time, it's not going to kill Canada's Olympic hopes with him off the team.

 

[bennysflyers16]

That sucks , but he his 1st priority is to the Ducks, good decision.

 

[NJ_Devil_Boy]

Stevens has never been good at the international level because he was too slow. Remember that he wasn't invited in 2002 and that was a good decision.

Yeah...which is why Stevens represented Canada in the:

Olympics (1998)
World Championships (1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989)
Canada Cup (1991)
World Cup of Hockey (1996)

 

[God Bless Canada]

Jovo is a big, strong, physical, highly-skilled defenceman who can do it all, when his head's on right. So is McCabe. Both can be brilliant, both struggle with consistency.

Jovo is replaceable. Niedermayer is not. He has won it all during his career: Memorial Cup, three Stanley Cups, Olympics, World Cup and World Championship. Best defenceman at the 2004 Worlds. He and Foote were our best at the 2002 Olys and the 2004 World Cup. As far as skating, moving the puck and outright winning, he's our best. It leaves a gaping hole on our roster.

McCabe will slide into Jovanovski's slot on the roster. My pick to take Niedermayer's slot is Dan Boyle. Boyle can rush the puck and QB the power play, although he isn't as quick or as strong defensively as Niedermayer. Boyle has also been the No. 1 defenceman on a Stanley Cup championship team, and was Canada's No. 2 defenceman at last year's Worlds. He has not, however, played well since being left off Team Canada's Oly entry in December, and we'll see how that impacts him.

I'm disappointed Scotty isn't going to Turin, but I'm not surprised. In the end, he owes Hockey Canada nothing, with all he's accomplished while playing for Canada. He has excelled in the NHL all year, showing Norris-worthy form again, but who's to say the knee holds up, especially since this year's Oly schedule is a little more rigourous than past years.

Hannan, Phaneuf and Bouwmeester are also worthy of consideration, and one of those three deserves to be on the Taxi Squad.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

Yeah...which is why Stevens represented Canada in the:

Olympics (1998)
World Championships (1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989)
Canada Cup (1991)
World Cup of Hockey (1996)

owned

 

[infected13]

It seemed to me that Scott's enthusiasm to play at the olympics dropped significantly when his brother also didnt make the team despite reports of rob outworking and outplaying alot of people on the team. Had Rob made the team I dont think there is a doubt Scott would still be playing.

 

[Habeas Corpus]

It seemed to me that Scott's enthusiasm to play at the olympics dropped significantly when his brother also didnt make the team despite reports of rob outworking and outplaying alot of people on the team. Had Rob made the team I dont think there is a doubt Scott would still be playing.

Am I missing something? or is this a joke I didn't get?

I don't think Rob was ever considered for team Canada.

 

[Snap Wilson]

Am I missing something? or is this a joke I didn't get?

I don't think Rob was ever considered for team Canada.

He was on the 86-player (or whatever) shortlist, but he was probably never a serious candidate, nor should he have been.

 

[Chandler55]

even though mccabe replaces jovacop robyn reghier is the one that REALLY replaces jovo. and then mccabe is the new 7th. now that neidermayer is out, boyle or jbo is in, but that probably still makes mccabe the 7th