Possible reasons Subban left off Team Canada

[Rebels57]

Get rid of the under 23 limit for NA, let Canada and USA pick their teams and NA gets their pick of the rest, then you have Subban and Letang with a chip on their shoulder and NA likely is a huge threat to win it all.

Why the NHL has a format that lets players like this sit at home is puzzling.

This is a great idea.

Imagine how ornery that North America team would be, especially when playing Canada and USA.

 

[Scotty B]

This is a great idea.

Imagine how ornery that North America team would be, especially when playing Canada and USA.

No it's a stupid idea, who wants to be on team re-treads? team misfit toyz...Young Guns vs Grizzled vets thingy is compelling and their youthful , albeit at times mistake prone, exuberance, in conjunction with all that talent and SPEED, is a JOY TO WATCH!

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Who knows? But it doesn't make any sense to me. And Team Canada has always made weird decisions. Where's Taylor Hall? Where was Yzerman in 91? Rob Zamuner over Ron Francis... just weird decisions. Girodano doesn't make it? Letang? Bouwmeester makes it?

 

[TheCLAM]

Who knows? But it doesn't make any sense to me. And Team Canada has always made weird decisions. Where's Taylor Hall? Where was Yzerman in 91? Rob Zamuner over Ron Francis... just weird decisions. Girodano doesn't make it? Letang? Bouwmeester makes it?

Not too sure Taylor Hall is a notch-ahead of any other player on Team Canada - position into consideration.

He's a great player - it just speaks of Canada's depth.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Get rid of the under 23 limit for NA, let Canada and USA pick their teams and NA gets their pick of the rest, then you have Subban and Letang with a chip on their shoulder and NA likely is a huge threat to win it all.

Why the NHL has a format that lets players like this sit at home is puzzling.

I was thinking the same thing. It would make things a hell of a lot more interesting and I bet Team Canada would be more inclined to take better players to begin with.

Personally I'd rather it just be a Country vs Country tourney but if you're going to have a NA team... Guys like Kessel and Subban would be great to see.

 

[TheCLAM]

This is a great idea.

Imagine how ornery that North America team would be, especially when playing Canada and USA.

You could easily keep the U23 team and a men's version - keep competition at a high.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Because they're trying to put together the best team which doesn't always mean picking the best players at every position.

Add to that you have a head coach in Babcock who would probably turn Erik Karlsson into a stay at home d-man. Given the option he will take unspectacular but mistake free hockey every time.

 

[al secord]

There isnt a right handed D on Team Canada that I would replace with PK. PK isn't responsible with the puck or in his own end enough to play a Mike Babcock system better than what we already have.

 

[guzzy]

Subban can play his offside so try again

thats the whole point. Babcock doesn't want dmen playing their offside. We wants 4 lefties and 4 righties.

 

[Frank Drebin]

This is the Subban that was just traded by Montreal? It's like the hockey world knows something you don't.

No kidding right?

Price basically said PK wouldn't listen to his coach.

 

[sully1410]

Nagano's team had Shayne Corson and Rob Zamuner... I'm sure they could have picked better than those two if they wanted to pick an ASG cast.

The problem that team had is that they picked and played a bunch of guys who couldn't skate and the ice burned them big time. Same thing happened in Torino.

 

[jsalz16]

Here's a quote from Price after P.K. was traded that probably explains how team Canada brass feels about P.K.
“P.K. is an offensive defenceman and a risk-taker. That’s made him successful, that’s the way he plays the game. He doesn’t want to change that and I respect that. I respect the way that he plays the game…his type of enthusiasm and his ability to raise fans out of their seats. That’s a special gift and something that not very many players are able to do. But the way we’re coached on our team, the way our team is structured, that’s not what were looking for. We’re looking for a steady type of defenceman that makes quick plays and is able to move the puck right away. Shea fits that bill perfectly.â€

The 2 things that stand out are "risk taker" and "won't change". This doesn't sound like a guy Babs would want.

There was some similar comments from ex teammates about Hall in the same article.

Neither sound like team first players as great as they might be. Team first is probably the first prerequisite for even being considered for team Canada.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/23-minutes-shook-hockey-world/

 

[Frank Drebin]

Or they think they know more than they really do.

The hockey world, or HF posters. Couldn't be the latter...could it?

 

[Mattb124]

The only reason Vlasic is there imo is Burns.

What are you even talking about? Vlasic is probably the best defensive d-man in the league and continues to be under-rated offensively. Based on his high end defensive ability, he was selected to the Canadian Olympic team in 2014 and was outstanding w/ Doughty.

Burns wasn't even on the radar screen at that point

Vlasic has continued to play excellent defense and his offense has improved under DeBoer, further solidifying his stature among Canadian defensemen. Burns has absolutely nothing to do with any that. They don't play together on the Sharks and to my knowledge they are not playing together in this tournament as Vlasic has been paired with Weber to form a shutdown pair.

 

[Bieber fever]

Because TC is obsolete but still win due to the unmatched pool of talent.

Giordano-Letang
Brodi-Subban

might be better than the current group .Add one of Doughty or Keith and their is no contest.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

thats the whole point. Babcock doesn't want dmen playing their offside. We wants 4 lefties and 4 righties.

So then why not Giordano?

The selections still don't make sense.

 

[Mattb124]

Here's a quote from Price after P.K. was traded that probably explains how team Canada brass feels about P.K.
“P.K. is an offensive defenceman and a risk-taker. That’s made him successful, that’s the way he plays the game. He doesn’t want to change that and I respect that. I respect the way that he plays the game…his type of enthusiasm and his ability to raise fans out of their seats. That’s a special gift and something that not very many players are able to do. But the way we’re coached on our team, the way our team is structured, that’s not what were looking for. We’re looking for a steady type of defenceman that makes quick plays and is able to move the puck right away. Shea fits that bill perfectly.â€

The 2 things that stand out are "risk taker" and "won't change". This doesn't sound like a guy Babs would want.

There was some similar comments from ex teammates about Hall in the same article.

Neither sound like team first players as great as they might be. Team first is probably the first prerequisite for even being considered for team Canada.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/23-minutes-shook-hockey-world/

Yep. So maybe we DO know something that the Canadiens (and the Oilers) know - but some just aren't willing to accept it? Subban (and Hall) are great talents in their own right, but Canada is trying to build a winning team rather than a collection of the most highly skilled Canadian players. They are smart to leave out guys who won't get on the same page as they rest of the team - even if casual observes don't understand that.

 

[Jarey Curry]

Id happily take Vlasic over Subban on his off-side.

Id have taken Subban over Weber.

As for your question, I think its because Babcock and the rest of the Team Canada management arent fans of how Subban plays and dont trust him to pit the team before his desire to build his own brand.

Why would team canada and montreal canadiens take weber over subban when those both teams have incredible pressure to succeed? I think weber is a better piece overall to drive a team forward

 

[Freudian]

I don't think Bouwmeester/Muzzin are there if Pietrangelo/Doughty isn't. In a short tournament with little time for preparation, familiarity is an advantage.

Other than that, as has been said, Babock and his team wants reliability and few mistakes. Subban is a gambler. They don't need gambling to beat teams. They just need to roll out the lines and make the smart quick plays.

 

[Skobel24]

So then why not Giordano?

The selections still don't make sense.

They clearly had guys on their list that they felt fit better. The selections aren't going to be just the best players. They're building a team, and they chose the guys that they felt fit the best.

 

[austonmatthews]

I remember when the Subbanator was on the team at Sochi. He played 1 game and played his usual PK is #1, selfish, try and make something out of nothing and get stuck on the wrong side of the puck hockey. Babcock sat him and didn't look back. Team Canada is about putting the team before your ego. Subban doesn't seem to play that way. He plays his own brand of hockey. Now I enjoy watching it, and really love that there is a player like him. Creative, skilled, huge personality, etc. I am a fan of Subbans. But there is no doubting why a team that plays so disciplined and structured doesn't want Subban on it. No he shouldn't be there. Look at how this team plays. It isn't about politics. It is about control, discipline, structure, and simple hockey.

this exactly

clearly building a team is not simply about the most skill

whether you want to admit it or not it is fairly obvious subaan has some attitude/off ice issues - everyone seems to think it was a bad trade for montreal so there has to be something else going on

he made the team in sochi and got to play 1 game and didn't make it this time even though it is obvious he is better than some of the d men off the team

there really is no explanation other than he is

a - simply too selfish and gambles too much to play on a team where everyone has to check their ego at the door

or

b - has some character/off ice issues that hockey canada felt wasn't worth bringing along to get his hockey ability

it is that simple

 

[Pietrangelo]

He's too much of a liability. Too many turnovers. It's simple.

 

[pucka lucka]

Here's a quote from Price after P.K. was traded that probably explains how team Canada brass feels about P.K.
“P.K. is an offensive defenceman and a risk-taker. That’s made him successful, that’s the way he plays the game. He doesn’t want to change that and I respect that. I respect the way that he plays the game…his type of enthusiasm and his ability to raise fans out of their seats. That’s a special gift and something that not very many players are able to do. But the way we’re coached on our team, the way our team is structured, that’s not what were looking for. We’re looking for a steady type of defenceman that makes quick plays and is able to move the puck right away. Shea fits that bill perfectly.”

The 2 things that stand out are "risk taker" and "won't change". This doesn't sound like a guy Babs would want.

There was some similar comments from ex teammates about Hall in the same article.

Neither sound like team first players as great as they might be. Team first is probably the first prerequisite for even being considered for team Canada.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/23-minutes-shook-hockey-world/

Here is the thing. We pay to see Subban and Letang not Bouwmeester. These guys have lost the plot. This is hockey, entertainment, not war. I want to see the best players not a silly boys club political game.

Babcock is not the show. I really don't care what bs excuses they want to make to for choosing politics and backroom favours over the fans. Put the best players on the team. These guys are stuck in the 1950's.

edit: that quote from Price sounds like years of indoctrination from second rate coaches like Therrien.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Because Carey doesnt like him. Kinda like how Crosby got Giroux left off Sochi because you know hatred

 

[Mr Positive]

Here is the thing. We pay to see Subban and Letang not Bouwmeester. These guys have lost the plot. This is hockey, entertainment, not war. I want to see the best players not a silly boys club political game.

Babcock is not the show. I really don't care what bs excuses they want to make to for choosing politics and backroom favours over the fans. Put the best players on the team. These guys are stuck in the 1950's.

edit: that quote from Price sounds like years of indoctrination from second rate coaches like Therrien.

do you want the team to win games, or do you want to see all the fancy names? Babcock has assembled players he believes will win. It's similar to the selections that he's won with in the past in international play, and it takes advantage of established chemistry from those tournaments and the NHL. Throwing all the players with the highest EA NHL player ratings isn't a winning strategy.