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PK and the Olympics


brobin

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on the plus side, maybe MB likes that he can go into negotiations saying PK isn't even in the top 7 of Canadian d-men!

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A guy who would have thrived on the big ice is Taylor hall

Yeah, but the brain trust wanted the chemistry of Kunitz. How Kunitz is on this team, is beyond me - check that, these are the same clowns that have Subban in the press box.

Canada has a history of stupid decisions. Zamnur in 98'. Lindros should not have been in the gold cup winning team in 2002. Crosby in 2006. Stamkos in 2010. Stupid as stupid can get.

No issues with the russians or finns putting young kids who DESERVE to be there, then the usual over analysis by Canada.

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One frickin pile of complaining about a 3rd pairing/PP specialist d-man, as Subban was in his first year on world junior team.

He would never bump Keith -Weber and the 2nd shutdown pair of the 2 Blues is doing super.

Go Canada Go!

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Guest Stogey24

Yeah, but the brain trust wanted the chemistry of Kunitz. How Kunitz is on this team, is beyond me - check that, these are the same clowns that have Subban in the press box.

Canada has a history of stupid decisions. Zamnur in 98'. Lindros should not have been in the gold cup winning team in 2002. Crosby in 2006. Stamkos in 2010. Stupid as stupid can get.

No issues with the russians or finns putting young kids who DESERVE to be there, then the usual over analysis by Canada.

Subban is a game changer. I've said it before too, when was the last time a reining Norris Trophy winner couldn't crack their Olympic squad. Hamuis just came back from an injury and he's still above Subban on the roster. Such a joke. So much politics.
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One thing for sure, if PK has a poor display against Detroit right after the Olympics, the local BS medias will go and ask him if it has to do with his confidence related to Babcock benching him. :wall:

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The whole thing is just insane. This team struggles to score, so we sit the league's most explosive defenceman and the Art Ross winner. That pretty much sums up the folly of Canadian hockey "minds" right there. And it's not just this specific bunch - this whole pattern of overthinking, overcoaching and managing teams and players into the ground is the hockey pathology of our time. ANY sensible coach would be overjoyed to have a prodigious all-world talent like PK Subban. Not Therrien, though, and not the "geniuses" that run our national team. Better to lose with plumbers than to win with brilliance.

If Canada wins gold, it will be DESPITE its brain-trust - a product of sheer overwhelming talent - not because of it.

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Agree 100%

Canada should hav won the first game 8-0 and the third 5-1, if they were playing to win. Instead we are playing not to lose, despite having more firepower available then any other team. I used to think Babcock was the best coach since Bowmen. I was wrong, Babcock is an idiot.

We could be having 3 defence pairings each capable of scoring 2 goals a game. Instead we play with this safe boring don't risk losing style.

And can anyone tell me how an idiot like Lowe who has run the oilers into the ground is still a member of Canada's management team???

Despite sather constantly passing Habs like Roy in favour of his own players for canada cups, I always rooted for Canada. This year it's been total BS. I'd rather have Markov and the Russians win.

The whole thing is just insane. This team struggles to score, so we sit the league's most explosive defenceman and the Art Ross winner. That pretty much sums up the folly of Canadian hockey "minds" right there. And it's not just this specific bunch - this whole pattern of overthinking, overcoaching and managing teams and players into the ground is the hockey pathology of our time. ANY sensible coach would be overjoyed to have a prodigious all-world talent like PK Subban. Not Therrien, though, and not the "geniuses" that run our national team. Better to lose with plumbers than to win with brilliance.

If Canada wins gold, it will be DESPITE its brain-trust - a product of sheer overwhelming talent - not because of it.

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Habs29, I too find myself having trouble cheering for this bunch. I think it's my enormous love for the player that PK is and my utter fatigue and frustration with seeing him get crapped on non-stop for reasons that have nothing actually to do with his performance. Now the team I'm supposed to be cheering for is doing the same thing? I'm just so sick of it and the whole mentality it represents.

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I'm with everyone else in wanting PK to be playing and showing why he should be there. Canada has the most offensive weapons in the world and yet the game plan is to grind out 1 goal victories. That being said, I don't much care how they win as long as they do win.

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The Subban is a risky defender myth.

http://canucksarmy.com/2014/2/17/the-reports-of-p-k-subban-s-demise-have-been-greatly-exaggerated

"The evidence points to P.K. Subban being Canada's best offensive weapon from the blueline, and probably the second best defender behind Alex Pietrangelo too."

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What might be worth noting is that until this year, Detroit has been a Western Conference team, Babcock has solely been a Western coach. Here's Canada's defensive breakdown by conference:

Keith: West

Weber: West

Bouwmeester: West

Pietrangelo: West

Vlasic: West

Doughty: West

Hamhuis: West

Subban: Opposite of West

Prior to this tournament, Babcock really has only seen Subban a handful of times (maybe 5 including preseason); as a head coach, he didn't have a chance to scout like Canada's GM's do. He has seen all of the other blueliners 4-5 times per year for several years (or more). In a situation where one sits and one doesn't, simple familiarity with a player may play a role here, especially when in the must-win games, the 7th D will likely play very little. It's the safer choice from his point of view and as others have noted, Canada's philosophy typically is to play it safe.

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Some great observations in these last few posts. The fact that it's a site called "Canucks Army," which has no vested interest in plumping for Subban, is also a useful counterpoint to the prevalent view among Canada's brain-trust that all the fervour over their abuse of Subban is just typical Montreal-based hysteria. It's not - it's a response I've heard from many non-Habs fans. Hell, Vancouver radio is full of people scratching their heads over Canada's leaving off this superstar defenceman, along with St Louis.

The "western" bias is also a very telling point.

Finally, the goalie thing. That's also a small puzzler, frankly. I could totally see Babcock going with Luongo over Price - I think Price has been a better goalie this season, but I myself might well go with Loo based on his track record and the fact that his own performance has been strong this year. That could be a case where the "western" bias is actually helping a Hab; Babcock et al. have probably seen enough of Luongo's meltdowns over the years to be leery of him, maybe.

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What might be worth noting is that until this year, Detroit has been a Western Conference team, Babcock has solely been a Western coach. Here's Canada's defensive breakdown by conference:

Keith: West

Weber: West

Bouwmeester: West

Pietrangelo: West

Vlasic: West

Doughty: West

Hamhuis: West

Subban: Opposite of West

Prior to this tournament, Babcock really has only seen Subban a handful of times (maybe 5 including preseason); as a head coach, he didn't have a chance to scout like Canada's GM's do. He has seen all of the other blueliners 4-5 times per year for several years (or more). In a situation where one sits and one doesn't, simple familiarity with a player may play a role here, especially when in the must-win games, the 7th D will likely play very little. It's the safer choice from his point of view and as others have noted, Canada's philosophy typically is to play it safe.

Maybe just points to why West teams KILL east teams year after year, better d-men?

Julian and Yzerman I think are familiar with Eastern players?

Price, last i looked was an Eastern goalie?

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Except the stats back that decision as well.

If only mgmt. would pay attention to 'the stats' and they might of been undefeated so far.

I know all the pessimists and "the stats" say they would of had 3 shut outs and boatload of goals for; if only 76 was in the lineup. ( and if they happen to win gold, I imagine it will be "in spite' of Babcock dumb choices).

Anyways, however you want to spin-it, Go Canada (and kick some Latvian butt)! :canada:

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Anyways, however you want to spin-it, Go Canada (and kick some Latvian butt)! :canada:

Despite the moronic choice to sit Subban again! I will continue to cheer for Canada. I only hope Babcock's stubborness ie., sitting Subban; playing Kunitz--which is a much worse decision that sitting PK, IMHO-- will not bite us in the ass come the semi-finals.

If they lose to Latvia, I am never again going to watch Canada's men play hockey in the Olympics

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Despite the moronic choice to sit Subban again! I will continue to cheer for Canada. I only hope Babcock's stubborness ie., sitting Subban; playing Kunitz--which is a much worse decision that sitting PK, IMHO-- will not bite us in the ass come the semi-finals.

If they lose to Latvia, I am never again going to watch Canada's men play hockey in the Olympics

People said this when they burned out to the Swiss in 06 ;)

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I'm starting to think that PK sitting may end up being beneficial for us when he returns to the Habs. He may in fact have a chip on his shoulder and want to prove that he belonged on the ice and not the press box. He hadn't been playing his best after being named to the team so perhaps this will spark him the rest of the season. If I remember correctly, he seemed to always play well after being a healthy scratch.

And can you imagine the uproar of Habs nation if Canada fails to win gold?

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I'm starting to think that PK sitting may end up being beneficial for us when he returns to the Habs. He may in fact have a chip on his shoulder and want to prove that he belonged on the ice and not the press box. He hadn't been playing his best after being named to the team so perhaps this will spark him the rest of the season. If I remember correctly, he seemed to always play well after being a healthy scratch.

And can you imagine the uproar of Habs nation if Canada fails to win gold?

And the 2nd year in world juniors he was a star d-man, after being a bit player the year before.

Wouldn't matter one bit who is on roster or scratched if don't win gold, Hockey Canada will be roasted from top to bottom as a huge failure, same as ever.

Bigger question, will Crosby get a hat trick vs Latvia and team get to double-digits in goals?

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