Why WON'T your country win gold?

[ThirdManIn]

The US hierarchy should feel shame if they don't win it, because they didn't take enough pure goal scorers (Ryan) to Sochi, but that's jmo, this isn't a best of 7 where you can grind down your opponent

Meh, the idea of putting together a team using players to fill roles rather than an All Star Team worked pretty well last time, even if it resulted in a Silver instead of a Gold. The USA Men's Team will never have as much sheer talent as the Canadian team. Gotta find a way to play to the strengths you have.

That said, I still don't see why Ryan wasn't included. Burke's "intensity" rant is all well and good, but this is the Olympics under International Rules. It isn't the NHL playoffs where, as you said, the ability to grind down your opponents is almost as important as having high end skill.

 

[Kranix]

If Canada loses, it will be because they lacked Scott Niedermayers snaps ones off from the blue-lines.

 

[thomasincanada]

The US hierarchy should feel shame if they don't win it, because they didn't take enough pure goal scorers (Ryan) to Sochi, but that's jmo, this isn't a best of 7 where you can grind down your opponent

I'm not sure if the US would reallly want to get into a shootout with the likes of Canada and Russia. Omission of Ryan excluded.. I sort of like their grinding approach.

 

[Tomas W]

Sweden currently have quite a few injured players. It could be one or two too many in the end, if we're unlucky.

 

[joe89]

Because of the 8th D and 14th F, what else?

 

[SashaSemin28]

Because England isn't in the Olympics

 

[LiveeviL]

Because of the 8th D and 14th F, what else?

Yes, that is pretty much how the discussions goes: "Tallineerd omg!". Ok I can not understand really why Tallinder was picked.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Goaltending would be the main reason for Canada.

Second reason would probably be not mixing up lines if they need to. They have a lot of pre-set pairs from their NHL teams (Kunitz-Crosby, Getzlaf-Perry, Sharp-Toews, Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo), along with guys who have played together before that they might want to try (Toews-Nash, Crosby-Bergeron, Keith-Doughty) and if they don't perform for whatever reason, I'd have to think they'd be hesitant to switch things up until maybe it's too late.

Also, the "big ice" argument.

 

[AlwaysARanger]

If Canada loses it will be due to poor goaltending, big ice or the team's inability to gel on time.. which seems to happen in the olympics for Canada at times.

wut, no refs?

for the record, I enjoy watching best on best hockey, Canada included.

 

[Ryan34222]

You're doing it wrong. It's "Why won't your team win Gold?"

Basically what you just said is Canada won't win Gold because "Blame Canada."

And I get what you're saying before you come back with "No. Everyone else won't win Gold because Canada is going to." I'm just pointing out how off topic your comment is

just telling every other country what their answer should be. so not completely off topic

 

[begbeee]

Because Satan is not with us

 

[QnebO]

Wow.... hard to come up with anything... I think bad luck would do it.

 

[TANK200]

The correct answer to this question if your country is not Canada is, "because Canada is better".

The correct answer if your country is Canada is, "our team will win the gold". Hockey is our game.

/thread

 

[jwhouk]

Because David Poile's weaknesses as a GM will be exposed in pool play.

 

[Plub]

The correct answer to this question if your country is not Canada is, "because Canada is better".

The correct answer if your country is Canada is, "our team will win the gold". Hockey is our game.

/thread

And people wonder around here why so many cannot stand Canadian posters. This post and the one before it by ryan34 are exactly why I feel like I should cheer for Canada being our Northern friends and such, but I can't because fools like this will get their way.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Brooks Orpik

Brooks Orpik is Finnish?

 

[TANK200]

Brooks Orpik is Finnish?

I think he's saying that Brooks Orpik is going to dominate the tournament.

 

[nitz]

This ones easy for Canada...Goaltending. Not that I think its terrible the way that some people make it out to be...but compared to other countries certainly not as good. Hopefully the beastly defence and stacked offence makes up for it.

As long as the goalies stay healthy, they can stack up against the goalies from any other country. It's a 1 vs. 1 sort of thing... not like Finland can toss Rask, Niemi, Renne, Backstrom, etc. into the net all at the same time.

Price/Luongo vs. Rask/Niemi/Lehtonen or Miller/Quick/Howard? I feel comfortable with that any day of the week.

 

[glue]

As long as the goalies stay healthy, they can stack up against the goalies from any other country. It's a 1 vs. 1 sort of thing... not like Finland can toss Rask, Niemi, Renne, Backstrom, etc. into the net all at the same time.

Price/Luongo vs. Rask/Niemi/Lehtonen or Miller/Quick/Howard? I feel comfortable with that any day of the week.

I hope you're right..something about Lou that makes me nervous in big games...he makes incredible saves and then somehow lets in ones that he shouldn't....Price I would agree could stack up better vs those other guys....time will tell

 

[Drew Doubty]

Unlike most Canadians who look at the roster and think "goaltending isnt 10/10 therefore if we lose it will because of that" I think that, given the talent of the roster, they have no excuses for losing.

If they lose, they will lose for the same reason they keep losing the juniors: Lack of team cohesion and too many one man bands. If they can pull together and play for each other then they will win.

I think this is true for any of the big 7. They could all potentially win if they develop a team identity quickly and have some puck luck.

Another factor is the big ice. This may cause problems for guys like Benn and Nash who rely on their size to be difference makers. A

 

[likid]

Me as Slovenian really don't see any reason why we couldn't win a gold...

 

[Gene Parmesan]

U.S. doesn't score enough goals.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

Superior players were left at home for chemistry or role reasons, allowing other countries to make up the talent gap.

 

[SteelFish87*]

 

[rduck1]

Because Satan is not with us

I see what you did there.


For team Finland: Defense.