Team Canada roster -- Fisher got jobbed

I have to admit, this will be a hard team to cheer for. Like someone already mentioned, just 2 players from Canadian based teams. I can't stand Pronger or Heatley, not a big fan of Niedermayer (especially as Captain), I feel Fisher got short-changed, Thornton is too easy-going, Brodeur cheated on his wife with his sister-in-law (yeah, it *does* matter to me).

Maybe a few injuries will happen in the next six weeks.

wprager wrote:I have to admit, this will be a hard team to cheer for. Like someone already mentioned, just 2 players from Canadian based teams. I can't stand Pronger or Heatley, not a big fan of Niedermayer (especially as Captain), I feel Fisher got short-changed, Thornton is too easy-going, Brodeur cheated on his wife with his sister-in-law (yeah, it *does* matter to me).

Maybe a few injuries will happen in the next six weeks.

Me too. Funny how that gets swept under the rug.

Are you hoping that folks get injured just so Fisher can make the team?

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:I have to admit, this will be a hard team to cheer for. Like someone already mentioned, just 2 players from Canadian based teams. I can't stand Pronger or Heatley, not a big fan of Niedermayer (especially as Captain), I feel Fisher got short-changed, Thornton is too easy-going, Brodeur cheated on his wife with his sister-in-law (yeah, it *does* matter to me).

Maybe a few injuries will happen in the next six weeks.

Me too. Funny how that gets swept under the rug.

Are you hoping that folks get injured just so Fisher can make the team?

I definitely wouldn't mind Fisher representing Canada. I'm upset that both Bergeron and Richards got picked over him when he's definitely ahead of them in his level of play this year. It's like he wasn't even being seriously considered. If there are injuries, I expect Lecavalier and St. Louis to be picked over Mike.

So that doesn't really answer your question, I guess.

wprager wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:

wprager wrote:I have to admit, this will be a hard team to cheer for. Like someone already mentioned, just 2 players from Canadian based teams. I can't stand Pronger or Heatley, not a big fan of Niedermayer (especially as Captain), I feel Fisher got short-changed, Thornton is too easy-going, Brodeur cheated on his wife with his sister-in-law (yeah, it *does* matter to me).

Maybe a few injuries will happen in the next six weeks.

Me too. Funny how that gets swept under the rug.

Are you hoping that folks get injured just so Fisher can make the team?

I definitely wouldn't mind Fisher representing Canada. I'm upset that both Bergeron and Richards got picked over him when he's definitely ahead of them in his level of play this year. It's like he wasn't even being seriously considered. If there are injuries, I expect Lecavalier and St. Louis to be picked over Mike.

So that doesn't really answer your question, I guess.

I'm afraid the "other Richards" and Stamkos should be ahead of Fisher too. He just isn't quite at Olympian level.

Should be a fun Round Table before the game tonight.

I'll have a VERY hard time cheering for them too. Kinda sad isn't it? Too many wrongs on that team.

Wow...8 players from non playoff teams...that astounds me. I realize some are veterans like Pronger and Neidermayer, but one would think players having good seasons would be something they would want.

I understand the decision for having Richards over Fisher, but i personally would rather have a player who is having a good season on the team, versus having someone having a bad year. It just doesn't make sense to me to put players who are under achieving on the team.

But I guess others would rather gamble that a player will break out and return to form during the 7 games in the tournament. Me I'd rather take the players who are performing well going in, to me it makes sense that they will maintain their current level of play rather than hoping a guy who is playing poorly changes his.

Devo wrote:Wow...8 players from non playoff teams...that astounds me. I realize some are veterans like Pronger and Neidermayer, but one would think players having good seasons would be something they would want.

I understand the decision for having Richards over Fisher, but i personally would rather have a player who is having a good season on the team, versus having someone having a bad year. It just doesn't make sense to me to put players who are under achieving on the team.

But I guess others would rather gamble that a player will break out and return to form during the 7 games in the tournament. Me I'd rather take the players who are performing well going in, to me it makes sense that they will maintain their current level of play rather than hoping a guy who is playing poorly changes his.

+1 all around. Very odd decisions for some.

SensGirl11 wrote:I'll have a VERY hard time cheering for them too. Kinda sad isn't it? Too many wrongs on that team.

Isn't the Maple Leaf enough of a "right"?

On another note, I really don't mind Fisher not being on the team. With the style of play he plays, I'd rather him get a week off to spend with Carrie and recharge prior to the stretch run. Hopefully (i hate to say it) Alfie' injury puts him ready to return at the olympics and he can iron out the kinks and return for the stretch drive firing on all cylinders.

Ill never have a hard time cheering for Team Canada. Ya there are a few wrongs on it but def more rights. I cant stand Pronger or Heatley either but noone can deny what they can do and probably will do for the team. I have no complaints about our D or goaltending and especially not Brodeur. The C had to go to Niedermayer with him being the most veteran and all. The likes of Nash, Crosby, Iginla, Perry and Getzlaf will make our team very fun to watch.

As much as I wouldve liked Fish to be on the team, I understand why he wasnt. My biggest issue is St.Louis vs Bergeron and even that isnt bothering me enough to not like the team as a whole

I like this team front to bottom. Every single one of them makes sense. Love the Doughty and Toews picks, as well as Mike Richards. Could have leaved without the douche but whatever he's gonna score a lot. I like Bergeron, he could play with Crosby like in the WJC. I like that they just didn't take the best players, opted with chemistry, stanley cup winners, world stage experience and I don't know how many captains.
Still, I cheer for Sweden

Devo wrote:Wow...8 players from non playoff teams...that astounds me. I realize some are veterans like Pronger and Neidermayer, but one would think players having good seasons would be something they would want.

I understand the decision for having Richards over Fisher, but i personally would rather have a player who is having a good season on the team, versus having someone having a bad year. It just doesn't make sense to me to put players who are under achieving on the team.

But I guess others would rather gamble that a player will break out and return to form during the 7 games in the tournament. Me I'd rather take the players who are performing well going in, to me it makes sense that they will maintain their current level of play rather than hoping a guy who is playing poorly changes his.

The issue with that though is the need to match skill with skill. I would have loved Fisher to play in the tourny because it would force him to the wing, where we all know he'd excel; but having the most skilled players all together can truly get people out of a so-called slump. Fisher has fought his whole career to reach 50 points. Richards should be a ppg player for the rest of his career...and he's young. If you have a choice between two players, both producing at roughly the same clip, both with similar attributes, and one with 5 years on the other, you go for youth (in this case, at least).

SpezDispenser wrote:Oh, in that case, I assume Martin and EJ will make it and the squad will be pretty competitive. Again though, unless something goes radically right (or wrong depending), I think at best they compete for Silver.

how do you compete for Silver?

Gohan wrote:

Devo wrote:Wow...8 players from non playoff teams...that astounds me. I realize some are veterans like Pronger and Neidermayer, but one would think players having good seasons would be something they would want.

I understand the decision for having Richards over Fisher, but i personally would rather have a player who is having a good season on the team, versus having someone having a bad year. It just doesn't make sense to me to put players who are under achieving on the team.

But I guess others would rather gamble that a player will break out and return to form during the 7 games in the tournament. Me I'd rather take the players who are performing well going in, to me it makes sense that they will maintain their current level of play rather than hoping a guy who is playing poorly changes his.

The issue with that though is the need to match skill with skill. I would have loved Fisher to play in the tourny because it would force him to the wing, where we all know he'd excel; but having the most skilled players all together can truly get people out of a so-called slump. Fisher has fought his whole career to reach 50 points. Richards should be a ppg player for the rest of his career...and he's young. If you have a choice between two players, both producing at roughly the same clip, both with similar attributes, and one with 5 years on the other, you go for youth (in this case, at least).

Not only that. Richards is a Captain, possibly the PKer in the game, has a memorial cup, a WJC gold medal(as a captain).
Every single player on the Flyers team is struggling. I don't buy that "off year" argument. Richards' off year is statistically on par with Fisher's carreer year. Think about that for a minute, people.

Gohan wrote:

Devo wrote:Wow...8 players from non playoff teams...that astounds me. I realize some are veterans like Pronger and Neidermayer, but one would think players having good seasons would be something they would want.

I understand the decision for having Richards over Fisher, but i personally would rather have a player who is having a good season on the team, versus having someone having a bad year. It just doesn't make sense to me to put players who are under achieving on the team.

But I guess others would rather gamble that a player will break out and return to form during the 7 games in the tournament. Me I'd rather take the players who are performing well going in, to me it makes sense that they will maintain their current level of play rather than hoping a guy who is playing poorly changes his.

The issue with that though is the need to match skill with skill. I would have loved Fisher to play in the tourny because it would force him to the wing, where we all know he'd excel; but having the most skilled players all together can truly get people out of a so-called slump. Fisher has fought his whole career to reach 50 points. Richards should be a ppg player for the rest of his career...and he's young. If you have a choice between two players, both producing at roughly the same clip, both with similar attributes, and one with 5 years on the other, you go for youth (in this case, at least).

I don't disagree, but in your scenario you're banking on Richards breaking out of his awful year by playing with talent, in my scenario I bank on Fisher improving on his already good year by playing with talent. The difference in my opinion is you're hoping Richards works, where I already know Fisher is playing at a high level.

I'm not doubting that if Richards was playing at his high level that he would be a better pick than Fisher even with Fisher playing at a 70 point click like he is, but Richards isn't and I'd rather have guys on the team who are playing well, versus guys who have the potential to play well.

Youth means nothing in this tournament, Fisher is every bit the faceoff man that Richards is, and they both penalty kill, and skate extreemly well. The different (right now at least) is one is playing well, and the other is under achieving relative to their normal levels.

Can you at least agree with that? If so, then I struggle to understand the reason for having so many guys on the team that are having off years. Staal, Richards, Bergeron, Morrow. All 4 are having off years, and that's just with the forwards. Pronger is the most notable on the back end, although Niedermayer is also having an off year.

All I am saying is maybe Richards needs to be kept, but I'd rather a guy like Fisher who is having a up year, rather than 1 of the 4 others that are having off years.

That's a huge risk, banking on all 4 to turn it around, and yes, I believe they will have to have all 4 turn it around to beat the likes of Sweden or Russia.

Devo

Bergeron is having an off year??? what???

marakh wrote:Bergeron is having an off year??? what???

well how else do you explain his projected 60 points. Is that what you would expect. Much like Fisher he is a huge question mark. He's only cracked 70 points twice and every other year he hasn't cracked 40. He's been injury prone and besides faceoffs, he Staal and Richards for that matter, all trail Fisher at Blocked Shots, Hits, Points, +/-, and PK time (both total and average).

So yes, with Bergeron projected to have 60 points I would say that's an off year.