Why the snub on Savard for Team Canada?

[Resolute]

Appropriately, those that argue Savard's case are much like Savard themselves: They can only see half the ice.

Canada will have no shortage of offensive talent that can also play defense.

Putting Savard on the team would be as bad as putting McCabe on the team: you are wasting a roster spot on a specialist when there are much better all around players available.

 

[trentmccleary]

Appropriately, those that argue Savard's case are much like Savard themselves: They can only see half the ice.

Canada will have no shortage of offensive talent that can also play defense.

Putting Savard on the team would be as bad as putting McCabe on the team: you are wasting a roster spot on a specialist when there are much better all around players available.

How old is your scouting report?

 

[Amen evil king]

That's what I was thinking, too. Another mindless homer jumping on some irrelevent buzzword (creativity) because he clearly loses if you use the term that actually matters (offensive production).

You may want to take a look at the current scoring leaders..

Here are some more reasons Marc Savard won't be on Team Canada: They don't want players with love handles, and they don't want whiny, pouty players who angst over their ice-time. Savard can stick with a loser franchise like the Thrashers, Team Canada actually wants to win.

Not one of these attributes describe Savard at all.

Half of the players who make Team Canada will have at least one character-damaging incident to their name that happened years ago (fights in bars, connections to the mafia, a nasty habit of abusing referees, criminal records, etc. etc. etc.). I don't see why Savard's time in Calgary is a reason to laugh in the face of people suggesting he be selected for the Olympics.

Sure beerpaul is over the top when it comes to Savard, but half of the rebuttals in this thread are just as ridiculous as anything he's ever said (minus the Savard>Thornton comments, of course ).

 

[GetPucksDeep]

most of his assits are 2nd assits where the puck just taps his stick

The breakdown on his 31 assists are 19 first assists and 12 2nd assists.

The bigger questions are: Why do people make up false stats on Savard, and are those in charge of selecting the team just as wrong about his accomplishments?

---------------

As to the specialist argument - he's been awesome on the forecheck all year.

 

[firstroundbust]

aki berg > marc savard

 

[RandV]

Bottom line, the Canadian Olympic Committee is made up of some of the best hockey minds we have, focused on icing the best Canadian team possible. Yes lots of fans here may overlook Savard for the team, but if they don't think he should be in consideration, then I would think the error in judgement would be on your part, as some casual fan, not theirs. Though of course there's nothing wrong with pushing for your own players.

For some points on Savard, it's like some of you are trying to make it sound like he's played with bad players, while not alongside Kovalchuk. Hossa is an elite first line talent who if he were Canadian should make the team. And Bondra may be getting up their in age, but he's still got enough left in the tank to be a good second liner.

 

[bert]

Other than Forsberg, who's more offensively creative than Savard? Names please. If taking the Thrashers on his back(along with sometimes Kovalchuk) for countless Thrasher wins is called "Baggage"...come on ...this supposed label pinned on him is from years ago when he entered the league in his early 20's. If you say he shouldn't be on the team because he hasn't been good enough, long enough....then Staal, Crosby and Spezza shouldn't be given consideration for the team either. Come on people...your excuses sad.

Spezza and Staal are both better and are both more creative.

 

[btn]

Hossa is an elite first line talent who if he were Canadian should make the team. And Bondra may be getting up their in age, but he's still got enough left in the tank to be a good second liner.

Neither of whom were on the team when he put up his points last year.

I just don't understand why so many Canadians are making up reasons why Savard should not be on the team.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Neither of whom were on the team when he put up his points last year.

I just don't understand why so many Canadians are making up reasons why Savard should not be on the team.

Here is why. Savard isn't good enough to be a top two line center on Canada, and he wouldn't fit in on a 3rd or 4th checking or defensive line because that isn't his type of game.

 

[The Hamburglar]

Neither of whom were on the team when he put up his points last year.

I just don't understand why so many Canadians are making up reasons why Savard should not be on the team.

I just don't understand why so many Thrasher fans are making up reasons why Savard should be on the team...

 

[Trottier]

Here is why. Savard isn't good enough to be a top two line center on Canada, and he wouldn't fit in on a 3rd or 4th checking or defensive line because that isn't his type of game.

Precisely.

Gretzky & Co. were wise enough to assemble a hockey team in 2002, as opposed to a fantasy team comprised of all the players with the shiniest personal offensive numbers.

Hence, a Mike Peca, no offensive juggernaut, was a very valuable addition as a fourth-liner. And, the team won Gold.

They won't mess with that successful formula.

If one wants to argue that Savard deserves a top six forward spot over the likes of Thornton, Spezza, etc., go right ahead. I personally think you are terribly misguided, but debates about players are fair game.

But the rationale as to why he is not going to be on the team is very clear and is stated above by Ziggy.

 

[ryz]

Appropriately, those that argue Savard's case are much like Savard themselves: They can only see half the ice.

Canada will have no shortage of offensive talent that can also play defense.

Putting Savard on the team would be as bad as putting McCabe on the team: you are wasting a roster spot on a specialist when there are much better all around players available.

Great post that mirrors my feelings exactly.

 

[Thrasher5]

I've been lurking around HF for sometime and I haven't posted at all. But it doesn't take much to figure out that unless the guy plays for a Canadien team he is going to get bashed by all you Canadien HOMERS. You guys call Beerpaul out as a homer, but you guys are the biggest hypocrites. Savard has skill and can play with just about anyone. He could play on the 2nd or third lines and be productive. The guy makes things happen. But I guess that is because he plays for the lowly Thrashers. If the Thrash where tearing the league up all you guys would be right the bandwagon.

 

[Aki Berg]

aki berg > marc savard

Solid Post.

It might be closer if Aki started biting people too.

Thankfully Aki relies on Aki's defensive awareness to contain forwards, instead of biting.

 

[Amen evil king]

For some points on Savard, it's like some of you are trying to make it sound like he's played with bad players, while not alongside Kovalchuk. Hossa is an elite first line talent who if he were Canadian should make the team. And Bondra may be getting up their in age, but he's still got enough left in the tank to be a good second liner.

The point that we're trying to make is that Savard isn't just a product of his linemates.. Last season he scored at a better PPG clip than Kovalchuk whilst playing on a different line (the gap widens further when you take out all power play points - ie. when they were playing together). His PPG last season was better than the Art Ross winner's for god's sake! This season he's already pulled out to a 10 point lead on Hossa, playing with all sorts of different linemates (he's spent plenty of time away from the big two as well when Hossa and Kovalchuk were on the same line).

Everyone just sees Savard close to Kovalchuk on the leaderboard and assumes that because he's a playmaker he must be leeching off of Kovalchuk. When you tell them he has hardly played with Kovalchuk, they say it must be because of Hossa and Bondra. When you point out that he's miles ahead of them both in points, they change the subject and call him fat, lazy and a cancer in the locker room. I personally don't think he should make Team Canada either, but the ignorance everyone shows towards Savard is just incredible.

 

[Bill McNeal]

I've been lurking around HF for sometime and I haven't posted at all. But it doesn't take much to figure out that unless the guy plays for a Canadien team he is going to get bashed by all you Canadien HOMERS. You guys call Beerpaul out as a homer, but you guys are the biggest hypocrites. Savard has skill and can play with just about anyone. He could play on the 2nd or third lines and be productive. The guy makes things happen. But I guess that is because he plays for the lowly Thrashers. If the Thrash where tearing the league up all you guys would be right the bandwagon.

If he makes the Olympic squad, I guess you're right. If he doesn't, I guess he's just not good enough.

 

[btn]

Here is why. Savard isn't good enough to be a top two line center on Canada, and he wouldn't fit in on a 3rd or 4th checking or defensive line because that isn't his type of game.

Which is exactly what I said.

The problem I have is with people who say he is only getting points because of the players around him, or that he has a bad attitude.

I agree Savard is not good enough at what he does to make the Canadian team, but at least give the guy his due for putting two great seasons together instead of attacking one of the better offensive C's in the NHL right now.

 

[Trottier]

Which is exactly what I said.

The problem I have is with people who say he is only getting points because of the players around him, or that he has a bad attitude.

That's a fair point btn. I have never been a fan of the guy's game previously, and he did have a pretty well-known rep for a lousy attiutude. But you know what? People can change. and players develop, both their game and as human beings. Maturity.

As far as anyone who subscribes to the naive "leech" line of thinking with any player:

 

[barfy2000]

He's the most creative centre in the NHL

Why dont we just put Kyle Wellwood on the team while we're at it?

 

[arrbez]

Solid Post.

It might be closer if Aki started biting people too.

Thankfully Aki relies on Aki's defensive awareness to contain forwards, instead of biting.

...but if Aki were to take up biting, he would no doubt be a superior biter to Savard

 

[barfy2000]

...but if Aki were to take up biting, he would no doubt be a superior biter to Savard

He would be the best #6 biter in the NHL. Fact.

 

[NyQuil]

I've been lurking around HF for sometime and I haven't posted at all. But it doesn't take much to figure out that unless the guy plays for a Canadien team he is going to get bashed by all you Canadien HOMERS. You guys call Beerpaul out as a homer, but you guys are the biggest hypocrites. Savard has skill and can play with just about anyone. He could play on the 2nd or third lines and be productive. The guy makes things happen. But I guess that is because he plays for the lowly Thrashers. If the Thrash where tearing the league up all you guys would be right the bandwagon.

You're a joke.

I'm a Sens fan and I don't think Spezza should be on the team.

The difference is that I understand the sport of hockey and don't just simply root for the guys with the logo I like on the front of the jersey.

 

[Bruins4Ever]

That's a pile.

Go to NHL.com.

Go to the Thrashers most recent game.

Watch the last game winning goal scored by Kovalchuk on a pass from Savard.

It's an unbelivable pass.

Now that's his most recent point from his most recent game. But he's been doing it all season long. And until two weeks ago, he wasn't centering Kovy at even strength, he was centering Hossa and Bondra. He was getting it done on both lines.

It's mind-blowing what a good playmaker he is. I keep hearing how there are 10 better centers than he in the NHL, but I don't see 10 centers ahead of him in the stat sheets.

Here are the better centres than Savard (not in order)

1. Thornton
2. Sakic
3. Lecavalier
4. Richards
5. Forsberg
6. Sundin
7. Lemieux
8. Modano
9. Demitra
10. Marleau
11. Jokinen
12. Lang
13. Morisson
14. Koivu
15. Datsyuk
16. Gomez

If you'll notice, there are 7 Canadian centreman AT LEAST better than Savard, and that's why he's not on the team. You don't need just offense, you need to roll balanced lines, and Savard doesn't play defensive, and he's not a gritty player, he's soft as a blanket, but can pass.

Gagne-Thornton-Heatley
Smyth-Sakic-Iginla
Nash-Lecavalier-Bertuzzi
Richards-Marleau-Doan
Draper


Pronger-Jovanovski
Neidermayer-Redden
Regehr-Foote

Brodeur
Luongo

Who the hell is Savard gonna replace on a lineup like this. Stupid argument, he's not even comparable to any of these players, just stop this thread.

 

[btn]

Here are the better centres than Savard (not in order)

1. Thornton
2. Sakic
3. Lecavalier
4. Richards
5. Forsberg
6. Sundin
7. Lemieux
8. Modano
9. Demitra
10. Marleau
11. Jokinen
12. Lang
13. Morisson
14. Koivu
15. Datsyuk
16. Gomez

Lemieux? This year?

I'd put Savard at #10 on that list.

 

[Zell_Rocks]

Savard is not on the team because this is TEAM Canada not individual scoring leaders from Canada all put on one team.

To make team Canada you must have leadership skills, two-way skills, a great work ethic and the ability to make players around you better.

Savard is a great player, no doubt. But there are a ton of better players to choose from to lead this team. Guys like Joe Sakic provide both offensive skill and defensive commitment while still being a great leader.