Posible Primeau Conspiracy?

[Magick93]

Like many others, I was surprised that Keith Primeau was not named to Team Canada, for a number of reasons

- He was at Nagano and almost made it to Salt Lake;
- He was named by Hitchcock (associate Team Canada Coach) to be captain of Philly
- He's having an exceptional playoffs (He was instrumental in knocking out my Leafs once again)

Anyway, I'm wondering if maybe Hitchcock didn't want him named yet, and wanted to keep the fire lit under him so that he continues to perform well for Philly in the playoffs. There's a good chance that at least one of the named forwards may not be ready (Yzerman?) and Primeau may be the first replacement.

Any thoughts?

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[BAuldie]

I think his regular season hurt him too much imo. Yea he is having a good playoffs but he only scored 7 freaking goals during the regular season.

 

[Vanucks]

I think his regular season hurt him too much imo. Yea he is having a good playoffs but he only scored 7 freaking goals during the regular season.

Agreed. I hardly think it's a "conspiracy", though.

 

[Gags1288]

I think his regular season hurt him too much imo. Yea he is having a good playoffs but he only scored 7 freaking goals during the regular season.

He was also the leading candidate for the Selke trophy before he was injured and there is a reason that he was named to the all star team.

In a press conference before the names came out, Hitchcock said that if he was asked about him he would say that Keith could definately help the team.

I also heard that he refused to go to camp before the olympics unless he was named to the team because he wanted to spend time with his family. This might have angered Gretzky and company and it could have factored into his decision making.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Having guys like LeCavalier ( exceptional playoffs + great season ) and Tanguay ( can play like the best even in stanley cups finals and among leagues best scprer ) out is far more questionnable than having *7goals Primeau* out of team Canada .

 

[Verbal Kint*]

Like many others, I was surprised that Keith Primeau was not named to Team Canada, for a number of reasons

- He was at Nagano and almost made it to Salt Lake;
- He was named by Hitchcock (associate Team Canada Coach) to be captain of Philly
- He's having an exceptional playoffs (He was instrumental in knocking out my Leafs once again)

Anyway, I'm wondering if maybe Hitchcock didn't want him named yet, and wanted to keep the fire lit under him so that he continues to perform well for Philly in the playoffs. There's a good chance that at least one of the named forwards may not be ready (Yzerman?) and Primeau may be the first replacement.

Any thoughts?

Conspiracy my ass.

Wayne Gretzky specifically kept the coaches out of discussion this time around, so Hitchcock had zilch to do with it. As others have said its more than likely his regular season performance which kept him our of the lineup.

 

[Legolas]

Gretzky was interviewed about Primeau and of course complimented him and said he was having a great playoffs. I think he's playing like a beast right now, but there's a number of players who could fill his role as the physical imposing forward...Marleau, Thornton in particular, Heatley and so forth...not an absolute necessity that he be there...although in an ideal world...a Primeau - Thornton - Bertuzzi line would have been unbelievable.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

I'm wondering if maybe Hitchcock didn't want him named yet, and wanted to keep the fire lit under him so that he continues to perform well for Philly in the playoffs. There's a good chance that at least one of the named forwards may not be ready (Yzerman?) and Primeau may be the first replacement.

Any thoughts?

No. Hitch made it clear in an interview that he had nothing to do with the selection process.

IMO if the coaches had input Primeau would have a spot on the team.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

The better conspriracy would be:

The 4 men that picked the roster, Gretzky, Lowe, Tambellini, and Nill all work for teams that play in the Western Conference.

Of the 23 skaters selected, 15 play in the West.

 

[Gags1288]

Having guys like LeCavalier ( exceptional playoffs + great season ) and Tanguay ( can play like the best even in stanley cups finals and among leagues best scprer ) out is far more questionnable than having *7goals Primeau* out of team Canada .

Are you kidding me? You look at goals and determine their possible impact? Well then why don't you also look at playoff goals and realize that he he 7. You know there is a reason that Primeau was named to the all star team this year. And there is also a reason he was probably the front runner for the selke trophy before his injury. He's the guy you want going against other teams big centers like sundin/forsberg, Roenick, etc. We'll see what happens, but if Sundin has a big impact in a game against Canada then it will be crystal clear that Gretzky made a HUGE mistake in not putting the leagues best shutdown center on the team.

Not to mention that Primeau was one of the best players on the 1996 olympic team.

 

[Rails]

Look at the goalies that Primeau has faced compared to Vinny.

I think it is easier to score on Dipwad and Theo than Brody and the Eagle

Gags - 98 Olympics...not 96

 

[CrAzYNiNe]

I think his regular season hurt him too much imo. Yea he is having a good playoffs but he only scored 7 freaking goals during the regular season.

Didn't he make the ALL-STAR team, so depressing

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Having guys like LeCavalier ( exceptional playoffs + great season ) and Tanguay ( can play like the best even in stanley cups finals and among leagues best scprer ) out is far more questionnable than having *7goals Primeau* out of team Canada .

There's more to the game than offense. Canada is stacked with offensive forwards, Lecavalier and Tanguay fell victim to a numbers game. When looking at defensive and checking forwards, Primeau had a decent regular season and is having an awesome playoff...hardly a conspiracy, but definitely worth more thought than leaving one-dimensional scorers Tanguay and Lecavalier off the team.

~Canucklehead~

 

[AGraveOne]

Primeau is sooooo overrated...geesh. He is a freaking clod....i've never seen any player in the NHL bust a 3 on none like he did. Sure he can bang...but i think that Flyers team is SOLID period. It is not just Primeau.

Matthew Barnaby had a freaking 13pt playoffs (7g 6a) in '98....in 15g and a less offensive powered team...SO.

Primeau is a clod and team canada made a fine decision. The team could use Primeau but will be fine without him.

 

[BAuldie]

Are you kidding me? You look at goals and determine their possible impact? Well then why don't you also look at playoff goals and realize that he he 7. You know there is a reason that Primeau was named to the all star team this year. And there is also a reason he was probably the front runner for the selke trophy before his injury. He's the guy you want going against other teams big centers like sundin/forsberg, Roenick, etc. We'll see what happens, but if Sundin has a big impact in a game against Canada then it will be crystal clear that Gretzky made a HUGE mistake in not putting the leagues best shutdown center on the team.

Not to mention that Primeau was one of the best players on the 1996 olympic team.

Meh.. who would you rather want as your shutdown center? A 7 goal scorer in Primeau or a 20+ goal scorer in Draper. Decision is easy for me.. sure you could play him on the wing but who do you take off for that? Not too mention there are more deserving wingers who didn't make it.

 

[z0llie]

im sorry, but you guys are stupid. i doubt youve even watched primeau play this season...

mario lemieux was named to the team... WHY?

gretsky doesnt appreciate players who use force instead of skating around in circles... exclusion of bertuzzi, primeau is a joke.

 

[AGraveOne]

im sorry, but you guys are stupid. i doubt youve even watched primeau play this season...

mario lemieux was named to the team... WHY?

gretsky doesnt appreciate players who use force instead of skating around in circles... exclusion of bertuzzi, primeau is a joke.

Bertuzzi is a force. Primeau is a farce. He is a good big guy. But his clodiness is so apparent.

Anyway...the media has hyped this guy ever since he was with Detroit - which at that time i thought he was really good...but then he got traded to Carolina where they made him a #1 center and he was only as good as a #2.

I had a friend who called him a "poor man's Eric Lindros" and that is the best he is. My eyes were openned. he makes more brickhanded plays than many i've seen. His role is a checking role and that is it - he is adequate at the other facets of the game.

I've been impressed with the comments i've heard from players and fans about him LEADING the team this year as Captain. But even then, they voted Recchi the MVP of the team. Primeau is a good guy but overrated in his head and his agent's. And now in everyone's.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

I've been impressed with the comments i've heard from players and fans about him LEADING the team this year as Captain. But even then, they voted Recchi the MVP of the team. Primeau is a good guy but overrated in his head and his agent's. And now in everyone's.

Recchi was the MVP because he stayed healthy and played the entire season.

Primeau missed 28 games this year. When healthy there has been no doubt that he's been our best player.

 

[Pantokrator]

There is no conspiracy. Canada will always have problems with forming a team because there are so many deserving players to choose from. No player should take it as a slight when they are overlooked for that team. I am convinced that if Canada iced 10 teams to play the other country's top 10 teams in 7 game series they would win at least 8 of the 10 series and have a realistic chance at winning all 10.

And I am not from Canada, so it isn't a nationalistic plug, I'm just trying to assert Canadian hockey quality and depth.

 

[Malefic74]

I would've taken Primeau over Maltby about 3 times over. Draper deserves the centre spot on the checking line, but you need a big guy to handle the size some of the other teams have on their top lines. Tkachuk, Sundin, Viktor Kozlov, Jagr all these guys have size and reach that smaller checkers have trouble with.

While Maltby is a great PK guy, I think the presence of St. Louis makes that redundant.

I think Gretz and the boys have over-analyzed this selection a little. This has some of the same vibes as Nagano. Picking players to fill specific roles rather than picking the best available players.

If any forward drops out I think Primeau's name tops the list so he could still get in.

 

[deathbear]

he scored 7 goals all season and now he's having a fine playoff run! big deal!

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

Anyway, I'm wondering if maybe Hitchcock didn't want him named yet, and wanted to keep the fire lit under him so that he continues to perform well for Philly in the playoffs.

If Primeau needs that kind of motivation to get fired up for a run for the Cup, then he sure as heck shouldn't be on Team Canada.
No conspiracy. Just a lot of better players. One good playoffs does not an international competitor make...

 

[Gags1288]

he scored 7 goals all season and now he's having a fine playoff run! big deal!

Here's a hint, watch the guy play hockey. It would really help your assessment a lot. He scored 7 goals and yet was named to the allstar team. He scored 7 goals and yet was probably the front runner for the Selke trophy. He also missed a conciderable amount of time so you must consider that when analyzing his numbers. He's not just having a fine playoff, he's been the best player in the playoffs. If they named a conn smyth without a cup champ, he'd win it. He's a force at both ends of the ice and has been incredible. He's scored big time goals in the playoffs and was one of it not the very best player at Nagano. Put all those things together and don't forget that he's the guy you'd want against Jagr's, Forsberg's, Sundin's, Roenick's, and Tkachuk's of the league and it is rediculous that he isn't on the team.

I'm pleading with you, watch the guy play!

 

[John Flyers Fan]

If Primeau needs that kind of motivation to get fired up for a run for the Cup, then he sure as heck shouldn't be on Team Canada.
No conspiracy. Just a lot of better players. One good playoffs does not an international competitor make...

He was also one of Team Canada's best players in Nagano in 1998.

 

[Prrebel]

Here's a hint, watch the guy play hockey. It would really help your assessment a lot. He scored 7 goals and yet was named to the allstar team. He scored 7 goals and yet was probably the front runner for the Selke trophy. He also missed a conciderable amount of time so you must consider that when analyzing his numbers. He's not just having a fine playoff, he's been the best player in the playoffs. If they named a conn smyth without a cup champ, he'd win it. He's a force at both ends of the ice and has been incredible. He's scored big time goals in the playoffs and was one of it not the very best player at Nagano. Put all those things together and don't forget that he's the guy you'd want against Jagr's, Forsberg's, Sundin's, Roenick's, and Tkachuk's of the league and it is rediculous that he isn't on the team.

I'm pleading with you, watch the guy play!

Thats the 3rd time you posted that!
Souray and Theo also made the all-star team, but you don't hear me whining cause they never made it. If the Flyers had of gotten kocked out in the first round nobody... nobody.. would be whining cause he never made it. He is having a super playoff, but so is Lecavalier, Conroy, Damphosse, Gelinas etc all of who had a better season than Primeau. They didn't make it either. Get over it.

You have to realize that Canda could put together 3 or 4 world class teams. JRs whining, but lets face it, the US only has the talent to ice 1 team, so picking that team will be easy.