Dave
Posted 01 December 2013 - 01:41 PM
National Post: Projecting Canada's men's hockey roster for the Olympics
http://sports.nation...r-the-olympics/
Only thing I disagree with is Mike Smith's inclusion. Fleury should definitely get a spot over Smith. One could make a strong argument for Josh Harding too. Canada definitely has the best team on paper.
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
Dave
Posted 01 December 2013 - 01:51 PM
Sochi 2014 Olympic Hockey Preview: Team Sweden
http://www.robthehockeyguy.com/2013/11/12/sochi-2014-olympic-hockey-preview-team-sweden/
Sweden quietly has a pretty good team. And if Lundqvist is hot, he's the best goalie in the world. Disagree with their forward picks, the writer left out Carl Soderberg, Marcus Kruger, and (if he'll play) Daniel Alfredsson. They're my sleeper pick to win in Sochi.
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
HOF
Posted 17 December 2013 - 08:17 PM
Owner
Posted 27 December 2013 - 11:24 PM
CBS Sports: Final Team USA Roster Projection
http://www.cbssports...ster-projection
HOF
Posted 30 December 2013 - 09:36 AM
These Olympics are shaping up to be a disaster. There was always a race to get the city ready in time, then there were the anti-gay stuff, and now the threat of terrorist attacks after two suicide bombings took place in Volgograd.
Between this and Qatar getting the World Cup, these institutions need to really start thinking about whether the bribes are worth having their games be played in places that don't deserve them.
HOF
Posted 30 December 2013 - 01:00 PM
These Olympics are shaping up to be a disaster. There was always a race to get the city ready in time, then there were the anti-gay stuff, and now the threat of terrorist attacks after two suicide bombings took place in Volgograd.
Between this and Qatar getting the World Cup, these institutions need to really start thinking about whether the bribes are worth having their games be played in places that don't deserve them.
It's going to take more than what we've seen.
It would take an absolute disaster: a major terrorist attack (far worse than Munich or Atlanta), or extreme civil unrest during the Games, or something obvious involving corruption (a stadium collapse, for example). Something that would give major nations (the US in the Olympics, UEFA in soccer) a reason to question continuing their association with the organization.
HOF
Posted 01 January 2014 - 05:07 PM
Forwards (14): David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler
Defensemen (8): John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Suter
Goalies (3): Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick
HOF
Posted 02 January 2014 - 09:17 AM
Dave
Posted 02 January 2014 - 10:25 AM
Forwards (14): David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty, Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler
Defensemen (8): John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Suter
Goalies (3): Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick
Only changes I'd make is kick Orpik off and bring in Keith Yandle. Cam Fowler is questionable, but he's a better skater than Byfuglien, so that's defendable. Other than that, love the choices. Agree with Bobby Ryan being off the team. I wish Okposo could be on the team, but Wheeler over Okposo is justifiable since Wheeler is the far better skater.
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
HOF
Posted 02 January 2014 - 10:26 AM
I can't wait for this tournament to start. Does anyone know if the games will be live? I don't want a game to be televised at noon that took place in the middle of the night that someone on twitter spoils for everyone.
I'm pretty sure all the USA games will be LIVE.
LIVE MEN’S HOCKEY
NBCSN will present 16 men’s live hockey games through the bronze-medal game, including qualifying, playoff, quarterfinal and semifinal games. Live men’s hockey medal-round coverage begins Tuesday, February 18 at 3 a.m. ET. The network will air three Team USA qualifying-round games, including Team USA vs. Russia on Saturday, February 15 at 7:30 a.m. ET.
HOF
Posted 02 January 2014 - 10:27 AM
Only changes I'd make is kick Orpik off and bring in Keith Yandle. Cam Fowler is questionable, but he's a better skater than Byfuglien, so that's defendable. Other than that, love the choices. Agree with Bobby Ryan being off the team. I wish Okposo could be on the team, but Wheeler over Okposo is justifiable since Wheeler is the far better skater.
From my understanding you want better skaters since there's a bigger playing surface. I don't watch enough or know enough about hockey to make an informed judgment on the snubs.
Dave
Posted 02 January 2014 - 10:35 AM
From my understanding you want better skaters since there's a bigger playing surface. I don't watch enough or know enough about hockey to make an informed judgment on the snubs.
Yes, you do. Hence why Byfuglien and Bobby Ryan weren't chosen. That's also why I'm confused as to why Orpik is on the team, especially when Yandle is one of the best skaters in the NHL. I know chemistry is also important but at some point (Martin and Orpik are teammates in Pittsburgh), you have to go with the better skater over the teammate.
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
Moderator
Posted 02 January 2014 - 10:48 AM
FanGrahps: http://www.fangraphs...-tsuyoshi-wada/
Baltimore Sun / Orioles Insider: http://www.baltimore...,0,946116.story
MASN / Kubatko: http://www.masnsport...d-bergesen.html
Dave
Posted 02 January 2014 - 11:02 AM
Politics. But yeah you should have some guys on the team that people question because you still need specialists and its a different style game internationally.
They tend to try to send all star teams and then get lit up on the pk and lose.
Past two Olympics they strayed from that idea, and I love it. This team should definitely contend for a medal. Defense is better and forwards are better. Every line on this team save the fourth line should be able to score at will, and the fourth line is still pretty darn good, especially if Callahan is healthy
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
Moderator
Posted 02 January 2014 - 01:17 PM
Past two Olympics they strayed from that idea, and I love it. This team should definitely contend for a medal. Defense is better and forwards are better. Every line on this team save the fourth line should be able to score at will, and the fourth line is still pretty darn good, especially if Callahan is healthy
Yeah, just pointing out that people's complaints about people left off aren't always the best arguments because you aren't really taking the top 14-15 forwards you can get, you are really taking the best 9 or 10 and then a bunch of specialists that you need in key situations. Faceoff guys, PK guys etc. More of a premium on playmakers than "scorers" because of the open ice, which is why Sweeden is always in the hunt, good goalie and a ton of Backstrom/MJ90 type players can move the puck around faster than teams can skate to keep up.
That skating thing is exactly part of why Carlson is on the team, he's a good solid on both sides defenseman who can skate well and handle the puck. Like a point guard in NBA. Did find it odd that they didn't have a spot for Yandle, I thought his game lines up pretty well with what they are looking for, although maybe they are just looking at the powerhouse teams (CAN, RUS, SWD, CZH) and trying to match up.
Dave
Posted 02 January 2014 - 01:26 PM
Yeah, just pointing out that people's complaints about people left off aren't always the best arguments because you aren't really taking the top 14-15 forwards you can get, you are really taking the best 9 or 10 and then a bunch of specialists that you need in key situations. Faceoff guys, PK guys etc. More of a premium on playmakers than "scorers" because of the open ice, which is why Sweeden is always in the hunt, good goalie and a ton of Backstrom/MJ90 type players can move the puck around faster than teams can skate to keep up.
That skating thing is exactly part of why Carlson is on the team, he's a good solid on both sides defenseman who can skate well and handle the puck. Like a point guard in NBA. Did find it odd that they didn't have a spot for Yandle, I thought his game lines up pretty well with what they are looking for, although maybe they are just looking at the powerhouse teams (CAN, RUS, SWD, CZH) and trying to match up.
Canada's and Sweden's forwards are more quick, Orpik will get burned against them. Might be useful against Russia's forwards who are more physical, but that's about it.
"We're not going to be f***ing suck this year" - Alex Ovechkin
@BaltimoreDavey
HOF
Posted 03 January 2014 - 10:06 PM
How The Sochi Olympics Became A $51 Billion Quagmire
The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, according to Wikipedia, may have been as high as $44 billion. The estimates I'm seeing for London were in the $15 billion range, and it would be about 5.5 times what Vancouver cost.
Advanced Member
Posted 03 January 2014 - 10:38 PM
This is ridiculous. How was Sochi chosen in the first place? I had no idea that it's considered more of a beach town and that the whole area is prone to flooding and landslides.How The Sochi Olympics Became A $51 Billion Quagmire The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, according to Wikipedia, may have been as high as $44 billion. The estimates I'm seeing for London were in the $15 billion range, and it would be about 5.5 times what Vancouver cost.
HOF
Posted 03 January 2014 - 11:09 PM
This is ridiculous. How was Sochi chosen in the first place? I had no idea that it's considered more of a beach town and that the whole area is prone to flooding and landslides.
It's a pretty insane site.
https://www.google.c...278!4d39.720278
First off, it's a resort town. Now, it looks like the mountains get pretty high pretty quick in that region (the Caucasus range, and it isn't too far from the tallest mountain in Europe), but this isn't (as one of the Deadspin commenters suggested) like Vancouver.
Second, it isn't exactly the most stable region in the world. Between the Russians, Turks, Georgians, Azerbaijani, Armenians, etc., you have a relatively small area with a lot of big grudges. And it's only a few hundred miles from Chechnya. Then you have the geologic instability with some pretty strong seismic activity.
Third, it's the pet project of a megalomaniac who is trying to become the second coming of Stalin (unfortunately, he was born five months before Stalin's death, or he might actually BE the second coming). Putin is basically forcing this, and the World Cup in another four years, on his country.
Fourth...well, that article is all about the corruption.
I can easily see disaster either due to these issues in isolation or places where they intersect. Shoddy construction could lead to collapsed structures, for example, which could be hastened by an earthquake or a terrorist act. Putin's authoritarian actions could end up with major protests followed closely by strong police or army responses, and could both cause or end up the target of terrorist activity.
Most Olympics have trouble with organization and security. However, in this case, there are just so many ways for things to go wrong.
CFB Analyst
Posted 04 January 2014 - 05:19 PM
By their very nature, the Winter Olympics can only realistically be staged in a handful of countries. And while you would think Russia would easily be one of them, it really isn't. There just aren't that many mountainous areas in the country that either 1) get adequate snowfall, or 2) aren't too remote and inaccessible to get all of the people there.
Add in all the other mess going on in both the country and the region, and it's a clear indication that despite what they say, bribery and extortion are still alive and well in the IOC. But hey, at least it got Pussy Riot out of jail.
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