The Official Olympics Hockey Thread

[Saapas]

I dunno about Rask being #1 Niemi has played very well also Was just wondering why J.Jokinen is in 3rd line and not in 2nd with O.Jokinen and T.Ruutu

[batdad]

If Niemi is starter that will be more trouble for Finland. He is not that good. He's ok but Rask is awesome.

[ForNever]

Rask is the starter. No doubt about it. Every media has selected him, Erkka Westerlund couldn't pick someone else now. Dunno about who's 2nd but both Lehtonen and Niemi have said that they'll gladly be even the 3rd goalie if that happens.

Dunno about J. Jokinen, maybe he isn't Westerlund's favourite?

Note that Selänne is older than his linemates combined.

[philou21]

Imagine if Nedved and Jarg play on the same line that would be a world record for the oldest line ever.

[coombs14]

They could have Elias centre it!

Combined age of 120 (I think)!

[philou21]

121!. Jarg 41. Nedved 43. Elias 37.

[jesterx7769]

Dissapointed with Finlands injuries as the were my underdog. Excited its almost time to start!

[philou21]

I'm disappointed for Sweden as well. I usually prefer them over Canada most of the time.

[CJ]

Here's the Czech Republic linup:

1. line
Jagr- Plekanec-Cervenka
Zidlicky-Michalek

2. line
Voracek-Krejci-Palat
Rozssval-Kaberle

3. line
Nedved- Elias-Erat
Gudas-Smid

4. line
Frolik- Novotny-Michalek
Krajicek- Barinka

I'm disappointed for Sweden as well. I usually prefer them over Canada most of the time.

Why would you do such a thing?

[Primis]

Imagine if Nedved and Jarg play on the same line that would be a world record for the oldest line ever.

DET has to have come close several times in the early-to-mid 2000's.


Here were USA's lines at practice:

James van Riemsdyk – Joe Pavelski – Phil Kessel
Dustin Brown – Ryan Kesler – Patrick Kane
Zach Parise – David Backes – T.J. Oshie
Ryan Callahan – Paul Stastny – Max Pacioretty
Extras: Blake Wheeler, Derek Stepan

Ryan Suter – Cam Fowler
Ryan McDonagh – John Carlson
Kevin Shattenkirk – Paul Martin
Brooks Orpik – Justin Faulk

Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey says he thinks the def. pairings are misleading and just throw-togethers for now, but the forward combos are likely real. He also points out instead of trying to stack 1 or 2 lines, USA has spread out the scoring some. He also notes those 4 lines are in no particular order... along with this:

"Every single line includes at least two players that either currently play together or have played together at some point in their careers."

*shrug* We'll see. Forwards are OK, but really concerned about the def. corps on big ice.

[philou21]

Why would you do such a thing?

I'm not really into the patriotic thing that surrounds the Olympics. I'll be really happy if Canada wins but I'm not going to be sad if they don't. I prefer to be amazed at what those athletes (not just hockey) accomplished there and how talented they are. But I'll always cheer for the Canadian people outside hockey, especially the Québécois that already have 5 medals on the 7 Canada have.

Going back to hockey, I always liked Sweden simply because most of my favs players come from this country.

[CJ]

I just read that Getzlaf & Perry has been training today with Duchene and Marleau. As a possible line-up mate.

PS: I didn't know Canada has never won the gold medal outside America. Pretty interesting.
(20's-50's doesn't count)
__________________________________________________

Possible Swedish lineups:

1. line
Daniel Sedin - Nicklas Bäckström - Loui Eriksson
Erik Karlsson - Oliver Ekman-Larsson

2. line
Gustav Nyquist - Patrik Berglund - Daniel Alfredsson
Johnny Oduya - Niklas Hjalmarsson

3. line
Gabriel Landeskog - Henrik Zetterberg - Alexander Steen
Jonathan Ericsson - Niklas Kronwall

4. line
Carl Hagelin - Marcus Krüger - Jimmie Ericsson
Henrik Tallinder - Alexander Edler

Extra
Marcus Johanssonin & Jakob Silfverberg

[philou21]

Duchene*

[batdad]

Philou--complain only when we learn how to spell FIIINIISHIIIIMAKIIII names.

[philou21]

Nythimakii. See, I'm okay.

[Primis]

FWIW I know a toooooooon of Red Wings fans who buy Sweden jerseys and root for Sweden every Games. A lot of them have trouble rooting for guys they can't stand like Dave Backes, Ryan Kesler (who is considered a huge traitor, and regardless of that he's bee a giant a** about the whole thing), and Dustin Brown on Team USA. So instead they just root for Sweden.

[batdad]

Curious. How is Kesler seen as a traitor? He has never had a chance to leave Vancouver.

[Primis]

Curious. How is Kesler seen as a traitor? He has never had a chance to leave Vancouver.

He's originally from the Detroit area. He purposely chose to play college hockey at Ohio St. (Strike One with Michigan fans) to "be different"... I doubt if he had chosen MSU or Western or something Michigan fans would hate him so much even. And he has gone out of his way since then to not only rub that in Michigan fans' faces, but he's also kinda' badmouthed Detroit and the state several times since.

From a purely Wings perspective, he hasn't done a ton to be hated. He's been injured a lot and not really been a thorn in DET's side that I can remember. But I know to grow up in the area and then badmouth it and stuff.... it hasn't set well with many around here. There's nobody in this state that roots for him basically. He's embraced Heel status I guess so, Heel it is, even come Olympic time.

[CJ]

Even though I think those are pretty dumb reasons to turn on your country.

[philou21]

You take that way too seriously come on. That's ridiculous.

[batdad]

No, I get it. The Michigan hockey culture is huge. Kesler has made alot of enemies along the way. BUt....he backs up his words with his actions most of the time. I can see the heel status, but I can also see him being a fan favorite if he ever got signed as UFA, or traded to the Wings. It is just too bad, that he runs his mouth a bit too often.

And club team allegiances in USA are much stronger than in Canada, when it comes to the National teams taking from teams you hate, it is hard for Americans to put that aside. Stems from the football fanaticism and to some extent baseball as well. The college/uni thing is SOOOOO huge. I totally can see what Primis said happening there.

But in Canada totally different. EVeryone puts aside the fact that Sharp, Kane, Keith play for HATED Chicago (and no doubt about it...most Canadian team fans are jealous of or hate the Hawks). No one cares that Bergeron plays for the Bruins, and Crosby for the Pens.

It is about the hockey for Canadians and showing that our nation is the best at it. And boy are we widdled when we lose. Blame goes around to everyone and everything, including the water boy.

[Primis]

It's worth noting that other players to come out of Michigan who go elsewhere in the NHL don't generally receive the same treatment. Mike Modano used to kill the Wings when he was in MIN/DAL and... people around here still loved him. Soooooo many guys have ties around here, either from birth or they played their OHL time in Saginaw, Plymouth, or even Sarnia or Windsor just across the border, or they play at one of the many Div. I schools in-state (UM, MSU, Western Michigan, Ferris St. Lake Superior St., Michigan Tech, Northern Michigan...). Kesler is just a special exception. Less with me personally, but I hear it from others all the time.

FWIW in a related way, there are still Wings fans who never could root for Chris Chelios. They couldn't let go of some of the stuff he did when he was in CHI. Long memories for many in these parts. Those of us who remember the Norris Division days had no problem at all renewing a rivalry with the Leafs, remembering the PIM-filled games...

And yeah don't ever underrate the Michigan-Ohio State/collegiate thing. There's a reason NFL stadiums pull in 50,000 for an NFL game, but college games can pull in 110,000, and that the college stadiums are the biggest ones around. I know some of you in Canada may not understand the deep-seated college rivalry thing but, down here it's real. Just like there's a very real hatred to the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry that extends beyond sports (Michigan spent 3 or so decades early on trying to kill the school the became MSU... literally kill it off and legislate it out of existence, then fought tooth and nail to keep MSU out of the Big Ten Conference when they joined... that doesn't just evaporate). Also re: the Michigan-Ohio St. thing... look up "Toledo War" on Wikipedia. It a shame Ohio St. is never better in hockey to stoke the fires more.


Personally this year, I still root for USA (if for no other reason than to watch the world burn), and Sweden (6 guys on the team from DET) and Slovakia (Tatar and Jurco, because they are awesome and fun). I love Datsyuk to death but Russia has to lose this time, given what's at stake. I hope he scores 45 goals and his team never wins, basically.

[jesterx7769]

Primus just said it but I don't think anyone else, especially those not in the States, understand the Michigan/Ohio St. Rivalry. Being from Michigan (but no longer living there) if I meet someone from Ohio there is that awkward cringing moment where you both realize it. According to his wiki he chose OSU over Wisconsin because it was closer to his home in Michigan but I'm sure both Michigan/MSU would have wanted him.

That being said I still like him for his time playing USA and I think its dumb to root against your country but I understand why Wings fans would root for Team Wings *cough* I mean team Sweeden.

[batdad]

Problem is...you do not know if he was even offered a deal to play at Michigan or MSU. All speculation on his motives. If you do know that, fine...but if not...then there is a major faux pas of an issue in what the "speculation" is about "alot of people" who "hate Kesler" in Michigan.

I put that in quotes because it is not actually something that you can back up with anything other than heresay. I think in some crowds obviously that is an issue...as College rivalries are huge. But not all the facts are KNOWN commodoties. What if he was not actually offered anything to stay at home and play college? Or not offered any role of significance. When you go back and look at rosters of the Michigan schools at the time..who are their centres? What was thought of them compared to Kes at the time? MAybe he had no choice but to go to OSU with Umberger to get some ice time.

Neh..when I look back, rubbish on those teams (cannot see Michigan roster in hockey db, but see Tech and MSU.)

But still...point is there maybe Sertich, Berenson and the other guy did not like Kesler as a player and he was not given what he felt was his just offer to play there??? I dunno.

But..I totally get that no matter what, a Detroit boy going to OSU would be a real piddle off.

[ForNever]

The Sweden's line up seems so much better than Finland's. Not that it comes as a surprise - Sweden has as many defs as have have players in the NHL - but still, people in Finland think we stand somewhat equal chances against our neighbours.

I call bullsh*t.

Note: Mad because of a Liiga game.