The Official Olympics Hockey Thread

[coombs14]

They should have taken the Franco-Ontarian Claude Giroux! See how RDS commentors and the talking heads on Antichambre react to that.

[philou21]

I would've picked him personally over St.Louis. Not for the controversy it's just a preference.

[coombs14]

Me to and if it wasn't for a bizarre golf club incident in Ottawa he would (probably) have played better in the first twenty games and be on the team.

His numbers over the past 30 games are better than St. Louis'.

That being said, Marty will be good.

[philou21]

No doubt he will be. If Babcocks let him play.

Giroux's numbers are something like 48 pts in his last 32 I think.

[ForNever]

Mikko Koivu seems like he won't make it to the tournament. This isn't 100% sure yet but looks like it. It would be weird to see Olympic Games without both the Koivus... Also Kimmo Timonen is a questionable case too. I just hope they won't pick Jere Karalahti to cover him if he stays out, Karalahti is so darn slow and we are already slow...

[philou21]

H. Sedin and Gaborik withdraw as well.

[batdad]

Good for Henrik. Had to be hard to do that. And actually, good on the Nucks leaving the decision to him.

Hamhuis I bet pulls out too.

[Peter_Doherty]

Good for Henrik. Had to be hard to do that. And actually, good on the Nucks leaving the decision to him.

Hamhuis I bet pulls out too.

Who takes Hamhuis place? i can't believe Seabrook isn't in the team, but the coaches seem to have a fetish about equal amounts of righties and lefties. So Giordano or maybe even Marc Staal has a chance now?

Really tough break for us Swedes to lose Henrik though

[batdad]

Seabrook, Gio or Boyle. If Babcock sticks to his L-R thing, it will be Gio.

[Peter_Doherty]

I really don't understand why Canada didn't pick Seabrook in the first place. Having 2 of the best D-pairs in the league in the olympics would be so big imo.

[jesterx7769]

Kinda sucks that injuries are becoming the story of the hockey tournament. Even guys that are going to play in it have had injuries as of late.

[batdad]

There are always a few before every Olympics. Not really a big concern to me. The countries losing guys have lots of back ups.


But man...Sweden and Canada should fire their trainers.

SOrry could not resist.

[CJ]

Mikko Koivu seems like he won't make it to the tournament. This isn't 100% sure yet but looks like it. It would be weird to see Olympic Games without both the Koivus... Also Kimmo Timonen is a questionable case too. I just hope they won't pick Jere Karalahti to cover him if he stays out, Karalahti is so darn slow and we are already slow...

They're saying if Timonen doesn't make it Karalahti will take his spot. If Mikko Koivu doesn't make it, maybe Bergenheim takes his place?!
EDIT: Westerlund said now that he's pretty sure Timonen will be able to play.

Anyway I'm glad Marty got the place on team Canada! I dig him!

Daniel without Henrik? Interesting...

[Lazion]

Valtteri Filppula suffered injury in last night.. I just hope that it isn't anything serious.

[Primis]

There are always a few before every Olympics. Not really a big concern to me. The countries losing guys have lots of back ups.


But man...Sweden and Canada should fire their trainers.

Sorry could not resist.

Well, look at the 2 teams a lot of the hurt or not-100% guys are from.

[batdad]

Valtteri Filppula suffered injury in last night.. I just hope that it isn't anything serious.

Fractured ankle. Done for Olympics. Add him to the pile of injured.

[batdad]

Another double post because:

This amazes me

[Lazion]

Another double post because:

This amazes me

Murphy's law..
Overally opening ceremony was great! Well as great as those can be.. I did miss about an hour because I did fell asleep.

[jesterx7769]

...

[ForNever]

The two best non-goalie players Koivu and Filppula gone, Jarkko Immonen and Sakari Salminen replacing. Bergenheim withdrawing the offer because didn't get selected the first time (I assume). F*ck this.

[batdad]

Bergenheim has always been a weird guy. Kind of odd like David Booth.

And really...is there noone better than him anyway? Guy is not very good.

But never ever give up on Finland. No matter who they have playing they play such an amazingly exciting trap and bang game of hockey, that with their goaltending they are going to at least upset one team, and I bet make it to the medal games.

[Primis]

I don't blame guys for pulling out. You're already hurt, and given all the other circus and mess surrounding Sochi including the security concerns... why mess with it?

I think Slovakia is the sleeper of the tourney.

[ForNever]

Well there isn't any better goal scoring replacer for Finland than Bergenheim, we're not Canada... Now our first line center is going to be O. Jokinen, Granlund or Barkov, and that's just wrong... We miss a lot of speed and goal scoring ability which is going to screw us up. Our goalies can't save everything either because only our first two defensive lines are good, after that it's down to a pair like Ossi Väänänen - Sami Lepistö.

Unless we win every game 1-0 I don't see a way to beat, for example, Canada in the first games.

[CJ]

Finland revealed their lines:

1. line
Mikael Granlund-Aleksander Barkov-Teemu Selänne
Kimmo Timonen-Sami Vatanen

2. line
Lauri Korpikoski-Olli Jokinen-Tuomo Ruutu
Olli Määttä-Sami Salo

3. line
Jussi Jokinen-Petri Kontiola-Juhamatti Aaltonen
Sami lepistö-Juuso Hietanen

4. line
Leo Komarov-Jarkko Immonen-Jori Lehterä
Ossi Väänänen-Lasse Kukkonen
_______________________________

If only Saku- & Mikko Koivu, Filppula would have made it.

[Peter_Doherty]

Weakest finnish team i have ever seen in a big tournament on paper =/ Really have to glue as a team and Rask (he's #1 right?) needs to play at his best for Finland to have a shot at the medals.