Best represented team at the Olympics

[RadioGaGa 162]

As I watched TSN do the mock Team USA (Based on Tortarella picks) I started wondering:

Which NHL team do you think will have the most players playing at the 2010 games?

Detroit will have quite a few...Vancouver as well. Montreal could have a good showing.

thoughts?

[Chadd 916]

I see the links to Pierre's picks for Canada on TSN but can't find the USA stuff. If you come across it can you post a link?

[RadioGaGa 162]

I see the links to Pierre's picks for Canada on TSN but can't find the USA stuff. If you come across it can you post a link?

They just did it during Intermission of the Leafs game...It should be on the TSN video player soon.

[EDIT]: sooner than later ---> http://tsn.ca/olympics/

[Chadd 916]

Ouch, that team USA wouldn't make the medal round with god coaching.

Rangers and Capitals could both have pretty significant numbers of guys in the Olympics, assuming the rosters are pretty similar to start next season.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Off the top of my head:

Montreal (8-10)

Presumed locks for their National Teams:

Koivu (FIN)

Markov (RUS)

Komisarek (USA)

Hamrlik (CZE)

Plekanec (CZE)

A & S. Kostitsyn (BEL - they qualified, right?)

Halak (SLO)

Maybe's:

Higgins (USA)

Price (CAN)

[Chadd 916]

Rangers: (all possible)

Drury

Gomez

Korpikoski

Naslund

Prucha

Sjostrom

Zherdev

Kalinin

Roszival

Lundqvist

Mara

Caps:

Backstrom

Nylander

Ovechkin

Semin

Kozlov

Green

Kronwall

Neuvirth

The US team is either going to be old or young. I'd rather see a little more experience on the ice than Torts was expecting.

[RadioGaGa 162]

The US team is either going to be old or young. I'd rather see a little more experience on the ice than Torts was expecting.

I was surprised not to see Higgins on his team...he hasn't had a great year...but in a short tourney...I'd take him over some of the youth Torts picked. Not that Chris is an old man or anything.

[Chadd 916]

The US team is either going to be old or young. I'd rather see a little more experience on the ice than Torts was expecting.

I was surprised not to see Higgins on his team...he hasn't had a great year...but in a short tourney...I'd take him over some of the youth Torts picked. Not that Chris is an old man or anything.

I'd rather see Gomez and/or Modano over guys with no history of producing at the NHL level.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Ya know what...Toronto (this years roster anyways) would have quite a few possibles too:

Kaberle (CZE)

Kubina (CZE)

Toskola (FIN)

Blake (USA)

Grabovski (BEL)

Antropov (RUS) ...or is he Khazak?

Hagman (FIN)

Stepniak (USA)

Schenn (Can)

...those last 2 are long shots.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Washington would have

Russia

OV

Semin

Feds

Kozlov?

Varlamov

Canada

Green

Sweden

Backstrom

Kronwall?

Nylander

CZE

Flash

Juice

neuvirith?

[Chadd 916]

I was looking for someone other than the Wings, they were the obvious front-runner.

[interpathway 9]

CZE

Flash

Juice

neuvirith?

I know they don't have the strongest Olympic showings, but Jurcina? You really think?

[habookus 1]

In response to Pierre's picks for Canada, does anyone else agree with me that Niedermayer is way past his prime, and that Pronger would be a more than obvious pick over him?

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Jurcina has one of the hardest shots in the NHL. For the Czech that might be hard to pass up.

[top_shelf_24 0]

CZE

Flash

Juice

neuvirith?

I know they don't have the strongest Olympic showings, but Jurcina? You really think?

A bronze medal doesnt't qualify for a strong showing?

[Darshu 0]

In response to Pierre's picks for Canada, does anyone else agree with me that Niedermayer is way past his prime, and that Pronger would be a more than obvious pick over him?

I like the Pronger over Neidermayer pick, just from a physical intimidation perspective. I think I know where McGuire's going with his choices though -- his D is all the very best transition players.

Though, honestly, Pronger might make a better choice than Phaneuf for me. He's a much more mature defensive player who provides that same intimidation factor without putting himself massively out of position head-hunting in open ice.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

CZE

Flash

Juice

neuvirith?

I know they don't have the strongest Olympic showings, but Jurcina? You really think?

Jurcina has one of the hardest shots in the NHL. For the Czech that might be hard to pass up.

Apart from the fact that Juice is Slovakian, and ineligible to play for the Czech Republic, I think he is a longshot :lol:

But he will probably make the slovakian team, and they will be there

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

hahaah... whoops.

[chippa13 1844]

Boston:

Axelsson SWE

Chara SVK

Kessel USA

Krejci CZE

Savard CAN

Stuart USA (maybe)

Sturm DEU

Thomas USA

Wheeler USA (longshot)

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Boston:

Axelsson SWE

Chara SVK

Kessel USA

Krejci CZE

Savard CAN

Stuart USA (maybe)

Sturm DEU

Thomas USA

Wheeler USA (longshot)

You really think he is a longshot?

He plays hard, plays to his size (from the limited chances I've had to see him play this season), and would be a sound addition to the US squad.

But I don't know about the US players who would be ahead/behind. International hockey does not have the same appeal to me, what with my home country being ranked 40 and in the IIHF division III, playing with such powerhouses as New Zealand, Mongolia and South Africa :lol:

[chippa13 1844]

I think there are a lot of players ahead of him right now and he still has a lot of rookie in his game. His biggest fault is knowing where he is on the ice, committing turnovers in bad areas, that kind of stuff.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I don't see enough of him to notice that. I was impressed with him against the caps this year, and the odd time I tuned into versus

[Darshu 0]

I agree with the comments about Wheeler being green and I think he's benefited a lot from Krejci's development, but Team USA is going to need some size in the top 6 and for that reason I think he and Mueller have a pretty got shot at playing their way onto the squad.