tomas_plekanec Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 (edited) TEAM USA... A well rounded team,but not gold medal potential with streaky goaltending from Dipietro-Esche-Grahame, it doesnt look like this teams going to be hearing their national anthem much after the round robin. Seems like their forwards are speedy and skillfull with the likes of Gionta-Gomez-Drury-Conroy-Rolston which is a big bonus to there squad. Then you got the old boys with the heart and dedication that can win you those games, Chelios-scheider-weight-tkachuk-modano will either help the team or bring them down. One reason why the USA doesnt deserve to win any games is cuz they left good ol' great teamate and player J.R. off the team. HOWWW can you do this to a player thats brought nothing but love and joy to the country. Roenick is a well brought up american and shoulda been in the first players named to the team. Its ridiculous. Canada names Stevie Y as an automatic because hes a leader and no matter how good/bad of a season hes having hes a lock. J.R. is not Stevie Y skill wise, but hes a stevie Y for the USA as he is for Canada.Just brutal how you leave him off the team. Jason Blake over Jeremy Roenick? And how does Knuble get a spot on the team? cuz he plays on a line with the best player in the NHL and one of the best scorers? Makes no sense in my head actually. No respect shown for the vets, and thats just sad to see... Prediction: Lucky if they come out of the Round Robin with 3 wins. TEAM GERMANY... The germans come into the tournament knowing flat out that there not winning a medal. Sorry to break your hearts but its not happaning. A very underated team tho Germany is and personally i think there capable of upsetting a few teams in there division. With Kolzig as your starter your know what your getting. Give him a lead and he'll make those 40 saves needed for the win. They have 3 NHL defencemen consisting of Seidenburg-Schubert-Ehrhoff, which will be a great help for this potential upset teams. Team Germanys forwards are fairly decent with a few potential stars. Marco Sturm-Jochen Hecht-Marcel Goc and Thomas Martinec will lead the team offensive wise. Jan Benda and Stefan Ustorf who play in Europe will be the teams leaders as theyve been to the olympics a few times before Italy this february...Prediction: With solid goaltending and scoring, they should finish 4th in there division. TEAM KAZAKHSTAN... A young team with 16 first time Olympic participants. Alot will be riding on rookie goalie Vitaliy Kolesnik who played a few games with Colorado this year, and Toronto maple leafs giant, Nik Antropov. This team is already closely bonded seeing as 7 of there players play on the same team in europe, so they will know each other on the ice and what there capable of doing. I like Dmitriy Dudarev who plays for AK Bars Kazan, a highly sought team in Europe. Prediction: They suck, but wont finish last in the tournament but will in there division. I cant see them getting a win... TEAM CANADA... Ranked number one in the world team canada is thinking about nothing but gold, and they have no reason to think otherwise. With a star-studded lineup, Amazing goaltending, rough-no mercy rushing/stay at home defencemen, and there forwards...welll there self explanitory. Obviously theres a few guys i think shouldnt be there and others should be because they've proved it this year but there still amazing. Spezza and Stall are currently both hurt, both hurting themselves vs the Habs, and Brian McCabe just doesnt miss the net. Doan-draper are guys that people claim that you need on the team for defensive purposes-as a grind line, but if you have a chance of sticking two of the top 10 scores in the NHL on your team, you do it no questions asked. Buttt i guess these young guys will have to wait 4 more years unless someones gets hurts. All this shit about Doan making fun of french canadians...that can eat shit. I kind of want him on the team because of that, french people make me angry also, good stuff Doan. But anything towards Begin again andddddd your a dead man. Bertuzzi is the man. Solid forward who can play with anyone and will hit anything, hes a great add to this team. Brodeur will get the starting role seein as hes proved it time and time again in clutch games. Luongo would have the best stats in the NHL if his team wasnt giving up and letting him have 40+shots a game, and turco...well he can sit in the crowd and enjoy a free ticket to italy. Canada has 13 first time olympians after mario stevie pulled out, and let the way for the younger generating. But dont get me wrong, there no inexperienced. almost every player has represented canada in some form, most through the World Championships...Prediction: Medal Round guarentee, Should win Gold. TEAM SWEDEN... Ranked 2nd overall in the world, and many say there overated. I say there perfectly rated. Yeah they choke and have had weak goaltending and defence in the past olympic games and world championships, but i like this sweden team, i like them Alot. Young Goalies making debuts, and Henrik Lundqvist should be the started over Liv-Tellqvist, but you never know with the swedes management. They should ride the hot goalie, as Henrick is leading the rangers into playoff contention, and this sweden team only has 4 players currently not playing in the NHL. Lidstrom, Johnsson, Ohlund and former NHL'er Kenny Jonsson will lead the team defensively which is a great lineup of your a goalie looking out. Kronwall and Backman are making there olympic debuts but are great young guys ready to represent sweden to the fullest. Forwards...wow is all you gotta say. Forsberg-Naslund-Alfredson-Sundin-Zetterburg will lead then and the sedins will be a great plus for the 3rd line. Jorgen Jonsson will be leading the team with his leadership. An older guy whos stats in Europe have always been amazing some must stop to think why this guy doesnt play in the NHL. This teams got a great chance on making it far, but it will rely on there defence/goalies to get them there...Prediction: Bronze medal. I dont think they have what it takes to win in the semi's. TEAM SLOVAKIA... The slovaks are one of those teams thats can either be amazing, or just plain brutal. When your starting goalie is Jan Lasak, or Peter Budaj, you know your in trouble right off the bat. You cant say these guys are going to win there team a gold medal but if there hot they might be able to bring you close. There solid strong defence makes up for there lack of goaltending. Chara-Visnovski-Meszaros-Suchy-Strbak should be solid enough to provide chances for there forwards, and great point shots. This team on paper looks really good compared to some others, but i just dont see them being able to pull of the gold but there a strong candidate to make it far with there forwards. Bondra-demitra-nagy-satan-gaborik-hossa to say the least will lead this team offensivly and they will just excell in the future with the likes of Marcel Hossa, Marek Svatos to lead the team and to get some experience in february...Prediction:Wont get a medal because of goaltending, but will smoke a few teams. TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC This teams going to be a tough task for the Canadians, being in the same division. All you gotta know with the czechs is that you got Vokoun and Hasek to pick out of your starting goalie. If that doesnt say enough for the depth of this team then nothing will. Veryyyy solid D-men to back up the great goaltending with Veteren Spacek leading the way with Zidlicky Kubina kuba and the kaberle's to join offensive power MAREK MALIK. Yeah he'll never score a nicer goal ever again but i lovee the balls it takes to pull that off in a shootout. Forward wise, this teams got alot of fire power. You can take the Rangers 1st line and stick it right on the team, with Straka-Jagr-Rucinsky leading the way and your still left with Hejduk-Hemsky-Lang being great players to join the other boys. These guys are always an offensive threat and with great goaltending they can go a long way and hopefully will have to play the slovaks after the round robin as thats always great to watch...Prediction: I love the defensive players and with Jagr, you know your going far. If they dont finsh atop of Finland in the Round Robin, they wont get a medal. Other wise i think we could be seeing them play in the medal round. TEAM LATVIA Welll these guys are pretty bad. There best player just recently put himself in the substance abuse program in the NHL and that doesnt help a brutal teams motivation. The only reason im going to watch these guys play, its because im banking on the fact that Irbe will start a game and i can just watch this guy play once more. Skrastins is a good defencemen but it really doesnt matter on this team. I know im making fun of them quite a bit and puttin them down, but these guys dont impress me. Them vs Kazakstahn will be a good game to watch...Prediction: Second last in there division. Should beats the 'stahns. TEAM SWITZERLAND The Swiss look like a brutal team, but i think they have the power to surprise a country or two. A former, and a current habs players will lead the team. Paul DiPietro and Mark Streit should bring it upon themselves to help this underated swiss team get a some points. They have alot of confidence in net with Martin Gerber hopefully starting, playing a steller season in Carolina this year, while Aebischer has been trying to find his game after struggling early on in the season. I like Thomas Ziegler to lead the offensive power for this weak forward crew. Mind you most of these players do play togherther in the swiss league so there chemistry could bring them together in upsetting a team or two...Prediction:2nd last in the division, unless they can catch the germans. TEAM FINLAND... The fins are going to be looking for a medal come february. Their country is putting alot of pressure on them to succeed in these olympic games and they have reason to do so. There only weakness is goaltending. After having Kipper lead the way in the world championships, he opted not to join the team for the olympics. This decision puts alot of pressure on Kari Lethonen. Kari is supposed to be the next great finnish goalie, but is only 1-1 this year after being injured with a groin injury early in the season.if he can arise to the occasion and play to his full potential, these finns will be flying. Another option the finish coaching staff have is putting Niittymaki in net. Hes proven to win games with phili this year after esche got hurt. There is no lack of leadership, and it starts from the defence. Once named the best looking guy in Finland, vet Teppo Numminen is going to be teaching alot fo the young first time defence, and helping alot off the ice for team Finland. Joni Pitkanen is having a great season, and sami salo should be a great help on D as well. The fins forward are just an awesome sight to see. Obviously not the most skilled out of all the countries, but these guys play game in and game out with there heart on their sleve. Koivu-Selanne-Jokinen-Kapanen-Lethinen will lead the will lead the charge, and seeing as Tuomo Ruutu has been injured for most of the season, its going to be interesting whos going to take his spot on the team. Jarkko Ruutu is going to lead the way physically for the fins...Prediction: If Lehtonen can lead the charge, these guys have a chance to be medal bound. Other wise i cant see it happaning. TEAM ITALY... Ohhhhh boy is this going to be fun to see. TEAMMMMMMM italy. Gotta love it that the home team gets to play Canada in there first game of the tournament. Nice way to embarass yourself if you ask me. Seeing as most of there players are Canadian born anyways, if these guys get a point in the round robin im going to be shocked. Jason Muzatti is the only player i really recognize, and thats because he had nice green equipment when he was in the NHL years ago. Theres a few names that ring a bell here and there but still it doesnt matter. I love when it comes to soccer my Italian friends cheer for italy, but for hockey they back out and Cheer for canada. Just like most of those italians, they loveeeee jumping on the bandwagon haha, i hope i dont eat my words but still i love talking trash about brutal teams, esspecially the fact that its italy...Prediction: Dead last, no points, 6 goals for. TEAM RUSSIA... Now this team shouldnt be taken lightly. Obvioulsy they never should but im just saying these guys might just explode come february. I personally dont think they should start the bulin wall as it seems to be crumbling in chicago, and hurt again. Nabokov is playing with confidence after the thornton trade, so i think he should get the nod. This Russian team is just awesome i find. Great picks by the russian rocket, and offensively this team might just tear it apart. Lets go over a few names here for fun...Gonchar-Markov(x2)-Zhitnik-Volchenkov to lead the D. Thats obviously not amazing...buttttt there very solideeeee. Now the forwards, i look at these guys and its just amazing. Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-kovalev-yashin-frolov-afinogenov-kozlov-zhamnov. Thats not even including young sensations of Ovechkin and Malkin. Not many peole agree with me when i talk soo highly of the russians but this years there year to explode and just fire on all cylinders. If they play as a team and with some heart there guarenteed a medal in my opinion...Prediction: These guys will challenge Canada and i think will be sooo strong... Edited January 26, 2006 by tomas_plekanec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch_nl Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Sweden WILL play Lundkqvist in net. They have done so for the last 3 season. He will be in net. Kronwall won't play since he's injuried. Minnesotas Tjärnqvist is the who will replace. Only two of Swedens none NHLer will play. Kenny Jönsson and Jörgen Jönsson and they are brothers. Kenny plays in the second division with his hometown club Rögle. Mika Hannula, former Dallas Stars and Detrot Red Wings prospect Stefan Liv won't probably see action. Stefan Liv will make his NHL debut next season with the Red Wings. A couple of years ago he was ranked ahead of Lundkqvist. They are at the same age... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetsniper Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Didn't Kenny play in the NHL for the Islanders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fanpuck33 Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 TEAM USA... ...Then you got the old boys with the heart and dedication that can win you those games, Chelios-scheider-weight-tkachuk-modano will either help the team or bring them down. One reason why the USA doesnt deserve to win any games is cuz they left good ol' great teamate and player J.R. off the team. HOWWW can you do this to a player thats brought nothing but love and joy to the country. Roenick is a well brought up american and shoulda been in the first players named to the team. Its ridiculous. Canada names Stevie Y as an automatic because hes a leader and no matter how good/bad of a season hes having hes a lock. J.R. is not Stevie Y skill wise, but hes a stevie Y for the USA as he is for Canada.Just brutal how you leave him off the team. Jason Blake over Jeremy Roenick? And how does Knuble get a spot on the team? cuz he plays on a line with the best player in the NHL and one of the best scorers? Makes no sense in my head actually. No respect shown for the vets, and thats just sad to see... Prediction: Lucky if they come out of the Round Robin with 3 wins. Sorry, but JR is NOT the face or leadership of Team USA. A man you list as a make/break player is the face of USA hockey, and that is Mike Modano. Not quite sure why you list him as a guy who might bring the team down. He's putting up great numbers this season, and is the best American born player to put on a jersey. JR, on the other hand, is an outspoken jerk. Don't get me wrong, I think he's a funny guy, but he's not the heart and soul of the team or anything. When the teams were selected, JR was having a brutal season, and had recently made comments that indicated he ready to retire. Plus, he was quoted as saying that he'd root for Canada if he wasn't picked, and that doesn't exactly scream national pride. He is not a key leader and he would not have been a key contributor this year. Modano, Chelios, Weight are the guys who lead the team, not JR. Ultimately, however, I agree that the US will be lucky to make the medal round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomas_plekanec Posted January 27, 2006 Author Share Posted January 27, 2006 as long as you agree with me that the US wont make it to the medal round i like where ur heads at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch_nl Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Kenny Jönsson did play with the Islanders but the Jönsson-brothers have a soft spot for mother Sweden. Nik Antropov a giant?! In what way? Jan Lasak has won a gold medal to Slovakia. He has done it before and could win again. I think you're underestimating the Slovaks. And what's with your love for Czechs? Are you from the Czech Republic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTH Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 The Czechs are very, very good. They already have chemistry and like many have said already, that's very important for a short tournament like the Olympics. And it's not like they have a bad team - Jagr alone makes the team competitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenadian Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Canada got some bad news today; well actually 2 pieces of bad news................. 1) Jovo is out on D which means; 2) McLame is in............... :puke: Anyone know what Tonya Harding is up to these days. Maybe she can "visit' McLame. But on the positive side just cause he's on the taxi squad, and is next in line; DRESS HIM BUT DON'T PLAY HIM. But with Quinn as the coach............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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