Rick Nash to team Canada

[Pizza]

Thought about this today as well... how many teams have 7 (yes SEVEN) players going to olympic teams to represent their countries? and how many of them have done it over and over again? It's a testament to their skills for sure.

PS: added Zucc, looks like you forgot him!

Is that the most for any NHL team?

 

[NYRKindms]

Is that the most for any NHL team?

Question came up last night between me and the GF. She looked it up and the Blues have 10 players and 3 from the front office going (13 total)

 

[haveandare]

The thing with Nash though is that he has had stretches of dreadful play within his career. 2011-12, a season which he bombed, the 2013 playoffs, and now the current regular season in a span of 3 seasons. No way should that level of inconsistency make the best hockey team on the planet, especially over the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner.

I don't think those are irregular things though. He had a bad season, a bad playoffs, and is struggling 27 games played this year, over now 11 NHL seasons. Is that really unusual? A lot of players go up and down for long periods of time. Players get on rolls and they get in ruts, sometimes for the bulk of a season either way. It sucks that Nash is in a rut now, but it's not unheard of in my opinion.

 

[NYRKindms]

I don't think those are irregular things though. He had a bad season, a bad playoffs, and is struggling 27 games played this year, over now 11 NHL seasons. Is that really unusual? A lot of players go up and down for long periods of time. Players get on rolls and they get in ruts, sometimes for the bulk of a season either way. It sucks that Nash is in a rut now, but it's not unheard of in my opinion.

I think the most telling stat is his hits. That says that he isn't engaging at all. He is a pretty big dude and could easily knock guys off pucks etc but he just doesn't. I think the concussions have him playing tentative and afraid to get hit. He will probably lay it all on the line for Team Canada tho as to be called out by your country for lack of effort etc would follow you forever

 

[Mr Atoz*]

I was hoping he'd get a rest. Nagging injuries are his last excuse.

 

[trilobyte]

As far as I am concerned, he got plenty rest with his moribund effort until the last 3 - 4 games, where he started to engage the opposition and go for pucks.
Rest is not what he needs. Getting his crap together and continuing his recent efforts is what's needed. Busting his azz is what he needs to do.

 

[Pizza]

Agreed.

Last thing Nasher needs is a rest. He's had plenty.

 

[Pizza]

Question came up last night between me and the GF. She looked it up and the Blues have 10 players and 3 from the front office going (13 total)

Wow. Impressive.

 

[EpicDing]

Is that the most for any NHL team?

Below are the clubs with the most representatives at Sochi 2014.

1. Chicago Blackhawks, NHL (10)
1. Detroit Red Wings, NHL (10)
1. Dinamo Riga, KHL (10)
1. St. Louis Blues, NHL (10)
5. Montréal Canadiens, NHL (8)
6. Anaheim Ducks, NHL (7)
6. New York Rangers, NHL (7)
6. Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL (7)
6. Vancouver Canucks, NHL (7)
10. Los Angeles Kings, NHL (6)
10. Dynamo Moskva, KHL (6)
10. EC Salzburg, EBEL (6)
10. Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL (6)
10. ZSC Lions, NLA (6)
15. Boston Bruins, NHL (5)
15. Colorado Avalanche, NHL (5)
15. Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL (5)
15. Klagenfurter AC, EBEL (5)
15. Minnesota Wild, NHL (5)
15. Philadelphia Flyers, NHL (5)
15. Phoenix Coyotes, NHL (5)
15. SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (5)
15. VÃ¥lerenga Ishockey, GET-ligaen (5)
24. HC Slovan Bratislava, KHL (4)
24. Buffalo Sabres, NHL (4)
24. Färjestad BK, SHL (4)
24. Genève-Servette HC, NLA (4)
24. EHC Linz, EBEL (4)
24. New Jersey Devils, NHL (4)
24. San Jose Sharks, NHL (4)
24. Winnipeg Jets, NHL (4)

edit: amended to reflect that St. Louis has 10.

From Boris4c on the Olympic board.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

Nash was huge for Canada in '10 it's surprising how many Canadians forget that, MSL should be there instead of Kunitz but the rest of the team seems like common sense to me.

 

[NYRKindms]

Nash was huge for Canada in '10 it's surprising how many Canadians forget that, MSL should be there instead of Kunitz but the rest of the team seems like common sense to me.

he skated like a bat outta hell in Chicago so if does that for team canada should be fine

But it PISSED me off to see he has a motor like that because it means he has definitely been floating all season. That was the first time all season I was like wow Nash is moving etc

 

[Synergy27]

Another couple of things to consider are chemistry and puck control. Speed is great on the big ice, but with more room to work, those Nash dangles have a higher probability of success. MSL should be on the team, but Nash definitely belongs as well.

 

[bobbop]

This one beats me I thought there were others more deserving.

OK then...one thought to file away...if trading Nash ever becomes a serious topic, does that put Tampa into the discussion?

 

[Leetch66]

Yzerman left MSL off and took Nash . He left a guy off from his own TB team...who is better than or an equal to Nash .That move by Yzerman says one or two things...he knows Stammer won't be ready and will replace with MSL or that somebody overruled Yzerman on the GM committee and weighed in in favor of Rick Nash . Just who would that be...somebody with Hockey Canada or who ???? That is the question being asked in coffee shops across Canada these days . Somebody obviously went to bat for Nash IMO ...who does he golf with LOL ?

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Yzerman left MSL off and took Nash . He left a guy off from his own TB team...who is better than or an equal to Nash .That move by Yzerman says one or two things...he knows Stammer won't be ready and will replace with MSL or that somebody overruled Yzerman on the GM committee and weighed in in favor of Rick Nash . Just who would that be...somebody with Hockey Canada or who ???? That is the question being asked in coffee shops across Canada these days . Somebody obviously went to bat for Nash IMO ...who does he golf with LOL ?

Don't care about age, Nash for MSL straight up. Get it done Sather!

 

[Mr Atoz*]

From Boris4c on the Olympic board.
Originally Posted by boris4c View Post
Below are the clubs with the most representatives at Sochi 2014.

1. Chicago Blackhawks, NHL (10)
1. Detroit Red Wings, NHL (10)
1. Dinamo Riga, KHL (10)
1. St. Louis Blues, NHL (10)
5. Montréal Canadiens, NHL (8)
6. Anaheim Ducks, NHL (7)
6. New York Rangers, NHL (7)
6. Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL (7)
6. Vancouver Canucks, NHL (7)
10. Los Angeles Kings, NHL (6)
10. Dynamo Moskva, KHL (6)
10. EC Salzburg, EBEL (6)
10. Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL (6)
10. ZSC Lions, NLA (6)
15. Boston Bruins, NHL (5)
15. Colorado Avalanche, NHL (5)
15. Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL (5)
15. Klagenfurter AC, EBEL (5)
15. Minnesota Wild, NHL (5)
15. Philadelphia Flyers, NHL (5)
15. Phoenix Coyotes, NHL (5)
15. SKA St. Petersburg, KHL (5)
15. VÃ¥lerenga Ishockey, GET-ligaen (5)
24. HC Slovan Bratislava, KHL (4)
24. Buffalo Sabres, NHL (4)
24. Färjestad BK, SHL (4)
24. Genève-Servette HC, NLA (4)
24. EHC Linz, EBEL (4)
24. New Jersey Devils, NHL (4)
24. San Jose Sharks, NHL (4)
24. Winnipeg Jets, NHL (4)

That include fatty as donut consultant?

 

[Cake or Death]

Yzerman left MSL off and took Nash . He left a guy off from his own TB team...who is better than or an equal to Nash .That move by Yzerman says one or two things...he knows Stammer won't be ready and will replace with MSL or that somebody overruled Yzerman on the GM committee and weighed in in favor of Rick Nash . Just who would that be...somebody with Hockey Canada or who ???? That is the question being asked in coffee shops across Canada these days . Somebody obviously went to bat for Nash IMO ...who does he golf with LOL ?

Who knows? A number of my friends in Canada pointed to the idea that, if someone is essentially equal to MSL or close to it, Yzerman can sit MSL for the Olympics so he is fresh in the playoffs without really hurting Team Canada. I don't personally see Yzerman doing that myself, but it about works out that way nonetheless.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

You'd think that a team that sends 7 players to Olympics would be better than they are. Shows you how flawed this process is.

 

[trilobyte]

Nash was huge for Canada in '10 it's surprising how many Canadians forget that, MSL should be there instead of Kunitz but the rest of the team seems like common sense to me.

Yes, he was very good and an integral part of the team. I think the coaching staff knew they they could count on him.
Nash's career, and his contribution on the 2010 team would definitely weigh the decision, and I don't argue against that at all.
Last Tuesday, Nash had only recently started to show a better game/effort. It made me wonder about post-concussion symptoms (if they exist to the extent his game is negatively affected, what's the go-forward on that, just keep waiting?). In the absence of any information related to that, I thought about the mental aspects of getting back into the game. When I saw no real improvement for so long, I thought Nash has to take ownership of this and push himself. He was certainly of limited use to the Rangers the way he had been playing.

Lots of games this season, I watched him, bit my lip and waited for the next game. Eventually I got pretty impatient with waiting for him. With some time elapsed since his selection to the team (and the couple of good efforts immediately preceding), he seems to be stringing good games together. He wants the puck. He still does these mission impossible plays that I have to laugh at, but lately he is battling. The Rangers cannot afford placeholder Nash, they need contributing Nash.