EHM The Blue Line

I assume Russia's team is nearly all NHL or is there any KHL players in there. With the tournament being played on NHL sized ice could be interesting for non NHLers. I think it is between Russia and Canada. The Swedes and Finns are ageing but then again in a tournament experience may well count. Not too sure the Czech's have the power they use to. Will Jagr be in this tournament will be good to see him on NHL ice again for a short time. Team USA might pull a surprise as they seem quite strong in netminder department. I really enjoy Olympic hockey and it would be sad if this were to be the last one the NHL were involved in as there is something special seeing the top players play for their country and like football's world cup is only every 4 years so is special every time.

I would love to see the qualification stages where every team except the hosts must qualify like the football world cup. I would extend the tournament to 16 teams (4 groups of 4) would mean less games for each team which would make NHL happier.

Hosts - Automatic spot (Hosts qualifying area should lose one spot and give it up for a play off so e.g. if Canada is hosting the Americas get one automatic spot and the runner up would go into a play off round with another areas team)

Qualification zones - Americas - 2 qualifiers - Almost certain Canada and USA
Europe - 10 qualifiers 11th placed decided by play off
Asia/Africa/Oceana - 1 qualifier - Almost certain to be Kazakstan but strong Japanese team may challenge

play off America v asia etc = probably Mexico v Japan or china

Would be funny to see Canada go play Mexico to qualify for the Olympics the result is probably inevitable but Italy had to play teams like the Faroe Islands to qualify for the football World cup and they went on to win the thing so done them no harm. The smaller nations getting that chance to play the big teams will be a great experience and over time they will defend better and improve like small football nations have done. No doubt Canada wouldn't send NHL players in qualifying but still a formidable force.

I would really hope Finland to go all the way this time around. Don't really see it happening though.

Nearly all of the Finns have played below their expected level, atleast when measured in points. The magical duo Saku Koivu/Teemu Selänne has also been rather dissapointing.

The exceptions are the Finnish netminders, who have been great this year, and is one of the Finland's key elements for success.

grazza wrote:I assume Russia's team is nearly all NHL or is there any KHL players in there.

Tretiak said it was going to be half NHLer and half KHLer.

eme wrote:I would really hope Finland to go all the way this time around. Don't really see it happening though.

Nearly all of the Finns have played below their expected level, atleast when measured in points. The magical duo Saku Koivu/Teemu Selänne has also been rather dissapointing.

The exceptions are the Finnish netminders, who have been great this year, and is one of the Finland's key elements for success.

Selänne has played great this year (dude, he is 39!!!) and Koivu has played superbly last 5 games. He played poorly first 20 games but know he has played well. Hagman has been great, especially when his team failes. OJ and Miettinen has found his scoresheet, JJ playes always superbly in playoffs, Timonen has been good (although started season poorly), Pitkänen played well (don't mind that -13, he isn't good in defense). Kipper, Rask and Rinne has been superb, Bäckström, Toskala etc. has played well. I don't know why you're disappointed.

Sami Salo and Jere Lehtinen has played poorly, but they have had lots of injuries. I don't know if you make your opinions by stats, but Lehtinen is 2nd/3rd line twoway-forward, he isn't going to score as much points as he make ten years ago (he is too over 35).

Forsberg is in swedish nomination I'm looking forward to see him playing against NHL skilled players.

The fact that Canada can't even take Phaneuf or Eric Staal scares me. We aren't even taking Savard or Spezza! (though Spezz is injured) Mike Green isn't on our team either. I think Canada should ice a 2nd team. We could win Gold and Silver

Though the Russian powerplay unit no. 1 will be scary.

Kovalchuk - Malkin - Ovie

Markov - (Datsyuk or Semin)

Try stopping that.

That'll score some goals.

I understand from a quick comment on TV last night that, if anything, there's heat over in Russia over there being not enough players selected from the KHL. Anyone heard more about it? Seems like quite a shame if politics are going to stand in the way of assembling the best possible team.

Sweden's team was announced today, if I may roll them out:

Goalkeepers:
Jonas Gustavsson (Toronto Maple Leafs/NHL), Stefan Liv (HV 71), Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers/NHL)

Defenders:
Tobias Enstrom (Atlanta Thrashers/NHL), Magnus Johansson (Linkopings HC), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Douglas Murray (San Jose Sharks/NHL), Johnny Oduya (New Jersey Devils/NHL), Henrik Tallinder (Buffalo Sabres/NHL), Mattias Ohlund (Tampa Bay Lightning/NHL)

Forwards:
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators/NHL), Nicklas Backstrom (Washington Capitals/NHL), Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars/NHL), Peter Forsberg (MODO Hockey), Tomas Holmstrom (Detroit Red Wings/NHL), Patric Hornqvist (Nashville Predators/NHL), Fredrik Modin (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL), Samuel Paahlsson (Columbus Blue Jackets/NHL), Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Henrik Sedin (Vancouver Canucks/NHL), Mattias Weinhandl (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings/NHL)

alexob18 wrote:The fact that Canada can't even take Phaneuf or Eric Staal scares me. We aren't even taking Savard or Spezza! (though Spezz is injured) Mike Green isn't on our team either. I think Canada should ice a 2nd team. We could win Gold and Silver

Though the Russian powerplay unit no. 1 will be scary.

Kovalchuk - Malkin - Ovie

Markov - (Datsyuk or Semin)

Try stopping that.

That'll score some goals.

Mike Green isn't good in defense, he's more offensive, like Petteri Nummelin in Finland (i'm quite sure that he's not in Team Finland). Canada takes often players, who aren't only defensive or offensive, they take usually two-way-defenders (i heard that from Finnish hockeyexpert and i don't remember did he say Team Canada don't take or their managers don't take). Defensive defenseman are usually slow and that's not good if you play against Russia who has Ovie and Semin etc. That's the reason why Green isn't in Team Canada. I don't know reason why Phaneuf isn't in Team Canada.

Its not that we take two way defenders, its that we take the best player that fits what we need. We round out our team accordingly. We didn't take Mike Green because he didn't fit what Yzerman or Babcock wanted. Every DMan we have can move the puck extremely well. I love how Weber plays.

I fully expect a gold medal out of Team Canada.

And I fully expect Team Canada to cave in to the pressure.

The entire hockey world wants you to fail.

Had to share Mikael Samuelsson's quote about not being selected to play for Sweden:

"Probably going to get in trouble for this, but they can go (expletive deleted) themselves"

alexob18 wrote:Its not that we take two way defenders, its that we take the best player that fits what we need. We round out our team accordingly. We didn't take Mike Green because he didn't fit what Yzerman or Babcock wanted. Every DMan we have can move the puck extremely well. I love how Weber plays.

I fully expect a gold medal out of Team Canada.

That's what i mean, they can play puck in offense and with/without puck in defense. And that's what i said, Yzerman takes players which fit in Team Canada. Webber is great player in offense and in defense and Green only in offense.

1. Canada has not announced its team yet. So Mike Green...may in fact be on the team. Same for Phaneuf. But...Phaneuf has been horrible this year and not so good last year either. Green--is a big liability in his own end. Huge at times. But that being said Canada would have one heck of a 2nd team in this tournament. Probably better than at least half the countries top team.

2. Samuelsson does not deserve to be on Sweden. Edler however did ahead of Murray, Oduya and mr visor wiper.

3. Spezza sucks. Savard is good but is he as good as Thornton, Marleau, Crosby, Getzlaf? If not...no room for him.

4. Weber is better at both ends of the ice than Phaneuf and smarter. Weber is WAAAAY better than Green in his own end. Green would be a better winger.

5. THere will be no change to Russia's lineup. It is the best one they can put out save Khabibulin if he was healthy. They are one heck of a team .being Canadian I hope the Russian coach makes em play the trap.

6. Same as 3 months ago..>Canada gold, Russia Silver, Sweden Bronze.

batdad wrote:Canada gold, Russia Silver, Sweden Bronze.

Canada will drop out in quarter finals after a glorious defeat to Switzerland.

Dream on Frank...

And the veteran laden team of the tournament, Slovakia. All the best to them, but maybe Slowvakia is more fitting for this group

batdad wrote:1. Canada has not announced its team yet. So Mike Green...may in fact be on the team. Same for Phaneuf. But...Phaneuf has been horrible this year and not so good last year either. Green--is a big liability in his own end. Huge at times. But that being said Canada would have one heck of a 2nd team in this tournament. Probably better than at least half the countries top team.

2. Samuelsson does not deserve to be on Sweden. Edler however did ahead of Murray, Oduya and mr visor wiper.

3. Spezza sucks. Savard is good but is he as good as Thornton, Marleau, Crosby, Getzlaf? If not...no room for him.

4. Weber is better at both ends of the ice than Phaneuf and smarter. Weber is WAAAAY better than Green in his own end. Green would be a better winger.

5. THere will be no change to Russia's lineup. It is the best one they can put out save Khabibulin if he was healthy. They are one heck of a team .being Canadian I hope the Russian coach makes em play the trap.

6. Same as 3 months ago..>Canada gold, Russia Silver, Sweden Bronze.

Yeah, good points. But i don't see reason to take Green. Olympics is tournament where every defender should be good at defence, what Green isn't. Think the situation, maybe in Finals (3rd period), where opposite have 1-1 and Green is in defence, it's quite sure that he can't do anything, but Canada have good goalie, who can make great save. Why to take this risk, cause for example Shea Weber can play better in that situation and take the puck away from opposite player. And Canada have lots of good two-way-defensemen. And Canada has lots of good wingers so why put Green to play winger? In Finland we have to take for example Joni Pitkänen, who isn't good in defense, like Green. Hopefully Petteri Nummelin isn't in our team, cause he is other defender, who plays terrible in defense. It is better than we choose Lasse Kukkonen or Sami Lepistö instead of him.

The Hutch wrote:And the veteran laden team of the tournament, Slovakia. All the best to them, but maybe Slowvakia is more fitting for this group

Exactly. Satan (not playing in any league this year!), Stumpel, Zednik and Palffy(!) ... Too many old players. On the other hand there are Budaj, Halak, Meszaros, Sekera, Jurcina. Goalies are young, defense is ok and forwards are old

And did you see Latvia roster? They have 15 players from Dinamo Riga. I want to see games like CAN vs. Dinamo Riga

McQwak wrote:

The Hutch wrote:And the veteran laden team of the tournament, Slovakia. All the best to them, but maybe Slowvakia is more fitting for this group

Exactly. Satan (not playing in any league this year!), Stumpel, Zednik and Palffy(!) ... Too many old players. On the other hand there are Budaj, Halak, Meszaros, Sekera, Jurcina. Goalies are young, defense is ok and forwards are old

And did you see Latvia roster? They have 15 players from Dinamo Riga. I want to see games like CAN vs. Dinamo Riga

Dinamo Riga plays in KHL and it's in 16th/24 teams. Don't underestimate Latvia, they have good players, for example Sandis Ozolinsh, Janis Sprukts and Lauris Darzins (those three plays in Dinamo Riga, so i'm not sure are they all in Team Latvia's roster, hope so). I'm interested to see Palffy in Olympics, he has been superb in Slovakian league, last year he scored over 70 points in about 40 games and this season has been same kind. He is still very good player and maybe he plays in 2nd line.

Finland Roster:

Forwards:
Valtteri Filppula, Detroit Red Wings
Niklas Hagman, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jarkko Immonen, Kazan, KHL
Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames

Niko Kapanen, Kazan, KHL
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
Saku Koivu, Anaheim Ducks
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

Antti Miettinen, Minnesota Wild
Ville Peltonen, Minsk, KHL
Jarkko Ruutu, Ottawa Senators
Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes
Teemu Selänne, Anaheim Ducks


D-men:
Lasse Kukkonen, Omsk, KHL
Sami Lepistö, Phoenix Coyotes
Toni Lydman, Buffalo Sabres

Joni Pitkänen, Carolina Hurricanes
Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Janne Niskala, Färjestad

Goalies:
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Niklas Bäckström, Minnesota Wild
Antero Niittymäki, Tampa Bay Lightning

axwel3221 wrote:Finland Roster:

Forwards:
Valtteri Filppula, Detroit Red Wings
Niklas Hagman, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jarkko Immonen, Kazan, KHL
Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames

Niko Kapanen, Kazan, KHL
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
Saku Koivu, Anaheim Ducks
Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

Antti Miettinen, Minnesota Wild
Ville Peltonen, Minsk, KHL
Jarkko Ruutu, Ottawa Senators
Tuomo Ruutu, Carolina Hurricanes
Teemu Selänne, Anaheim Ducks


D-men:
Lasse Kukkonen, Omsk, KHL
Sami Lepistö, Phoenix Coyotes
Toni Lydman, Buffalo Sabres

Joni Pitkänen, Carolina Hurricanes
Sami Salo, Vancouver Canucks
Kimmo Timonen, Philadelphia Flyers
Janne Niskala, Färjestad

Goalies:
Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames
Niklas Bäckström, Minnesota Wild
Antero Niittymäki, Tampa Bay Lightning

I can't stand, why Jalonen choose Ville Peltonen instead of Mika Pyörälä. Pyörälä is perfect 13th forward, he can play in center, both wingers, powerplay, pentalty kills, everything, only goalie position isn't his job, but maybe if Kipper, Bäcks and Rask are injured, he is first choice to play goalie . Janne Niskala is weird choice, cause he is offensive defender and our pp's should be:

J. Jokinen-M. Koivu-T. Ruutu
K. Timonen-S. Salo

N. Hagman-S. Koivu- T. Selänne
J. Pitkänen-O. Jokinen

So what to do with Niskala?

Jypfan92 wrote:
I can't stand, why Jalonen choose Ville Peltonen instead of Mika Pyörälä. Pyörälä is perfect 13th forward, he can play in center, both wingers, powerplay, pentalty kills, everything, only goalie position isn't his job, but maybe if Kipper, Bäcks and Rask are injured, he is first choice to play goalie . Janne Niskala is weird choice, cause he is offensive defender and our pp's should be:

J. Jokinen-M. Koivu-T. Ruutu
K. Timonen-S. Salo

N. Hagman-S. Koivu- T. Selänne
J. Pitkänen-O. Jokinen

So what to do with Niskala?

I guess they still make him play PP. Jussi Jokinen is not even in the team, I guess you know that. Väänänen would be much better than Niskala on the team.

Jagr is in czech team Prospal and Hejduk missing

Lol, Hejduk is better than Jagr IMO. I think that is clear.

axwel3221 wrote:

Jypfan92 wrote:
I can't stand, why Jalonen choose Ville Peltonen instead of Mika Pyörälä. Pyörälä is perfect 13th forward, he can play in center, both wingers, powerplay, pentalty kills, everything, only goalie position isn't his job, but maybe if Kipper, Bäcks and Rask are injured, he is first choice to play goalie . Janne Niskala is weird choice, cause he is offensive defender and our pp's should be:

J. Jokinen-M. Koivu-T. Ruutu
K. Timonen-S. Salo

N. Hagman-S. Koivu- T. Selänne
J. Pitkänen-O. Jokinen

So what to do with Niskala?

I guess they still make him play PP. Jussi Jokinen is not even in the team, I guess you know that. Väänänen would be much better than Niskala on the team.

Oh, i didn't notice that J. Jokinen isn't in team. That's horrible . Väänänen should be instead of Niskala.