kipwinger

I don't think anybody has ever disagreed with you that Franzen would be a tradable asset. I think it's clear a lot of teams would be happy to trade for him. I think the question has always been whether the Wings should trade him, to which there is still some debate. As far as playing with the Sedins, of course he'll have chemistry. They literally make everyone else they play with look good. But considering that, chemistry with them would likely not be the deciding factor for Vancouver on the trade from. If everyone plays better with your two stars, then you get someone your organization needs, and not someone that has to complement the Sedins necessarily.

I fail to see the problem. I responded to someone else, and they liked what I said. I'm just not really sure what you're bothered about? Also, perhaps the reason you're seeing so much Olympic talk from me is because there are currently three different Olympic threads that are active. So again, if you object so anything I'm saying then by all means stop reading and responding to it. Or not so subtly denigrate me on a personal level like you did above. That's pretty cool too.

Wow dude, first I'm "mad" and now I'm "insecure"? Way to "debunk" me by attacking me personally. Keep classing it up.

Don't like my posts? Don't read or respond to them. The person I was talking to "liked" my response, so clearly it struck a chord with the person it was intended to.

Don't be too sure. Canada and Sweden are good, but the USA is better than 2010 and we didn't look too shabby then. Russia won't even medal. Every year everyone thinks they'll place because of their forward corps, but in reality they've only got like 4 or 5 quality forwards with shaky goaltending and a horrible defense. The US team has a little less scoring than Canada or Sweden, but is faster than both, grittier than both, and as good or better defensively than both. Plus our goaltending is studly right now. Don't sleep on the Americans, lean and mean baby.

Dude, is it just me or did another Team USA fan finally make his presence known? For two days I've had to defend the USA squad alone. Welcome aboard buddy.

I'm so glad that we don't have to play against him anymore. I seriously love David Backes, always have, and it sucked so bad to both have to pretend like I didn't like him as well as watch him obliterate our guys on a constant basis. But seriously, how badass is it to start your Olympic intimidation efforts during NHL games. How many Canadians did he end up fighting anyway?

And you would be correct. Oduya is a stay at home guy and Larsson is a puck mover. However, to be fair Larsson plays a real good good two-way game so it's a little unfair to call him a PMD considering he's grown beyond that, but that's definitely what he started as. Oduya conversely has never been known to consistently produce any kind of offense and has never really been expected to.

I didn't realize it was "spewing propaganda" to be a fan of the country you're from. Particularly when they played pretty damn well the last time around. And because they've improved since then. And because the larger ice is to their advantage. And because the only team that beat them last time has lost some pretty important pieces. Sooo, any Team Canada fans have anything to say about the topic that doesn't involve A) Calling me names, B) Accusing me of "propagandizing", or C) Knee-jerk belittling anyone who dares suggest that another team could possibly be good at hockey too? I know there are some pretty decent people out there who happen to want Canada to win gold, unfortunately they're being over-shadowed by their more...thoughtless...peers.

You've got to be careful about that though because while Canada's got (easily) the best NHL roster, the international game is totally different. For instance: There are far fewer penalties in the international game. So guys who have tons of PP points in the NHL are going to be less effective when that's factored in. Also, guys who are the recipients of good systems play and/or really good linemates in the NHL are going to be less effective at the Olympics. So, for instance players for a team like Boston who's system is almost completely formulated for the NHL game, might not play so well internationally. Obviously, these limitations are the same for every team in the Olympics, but it's not simply as cut and dry as looking at guys who are studs in the NHL and assuming that they'll work well together in Sochi. In my opinion, and admittedly it's just mine, the teams that play a full 60 minute game do better in the Olympics. Fast teams that keep the pressure on tend to perform well which is why not an Olympics goes by when some team like the Czecks or Slovaks don't upset somebody with a far better NHL caliber roster because they out skate them.

Were you expecting a lot of fights at the Olympics? Because in no other way is Lucic a better hockey player than a guy like Backes, and he's infinitely less suited for the Olympics than any of the big forwards that Canada chose (Benn, Carter, Nash, Marleau, Perry, or Getzlaf).

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, so I'll just assume since this is LGW that you are.

Yep, you nailed it. I'm sooooo mad. Grrrrr, I haven't slept a wink since 2010. Nice try.

Actual exchange from CBS Sports comments regarding choices for the Czech Team: spiropericles 17 hours ago How can they leave off Marian Hossa, a possible future Hall of famer? Xenith 16 hours ago Probably because he is playing for Slovakia where he is actually from?

I heard that Carl Haglin sucks on the powerplay and that he's a "jitterbug". Anybody else hear that?

Good try, but you got to the party a little late for the trash talking. I get it, Canada has a bunch of all-stars. Nobody else could ever possibly field a team with players as good as Jamie Benn, Dan Hamhuis, Matt Duchene, and Jay Bouwmeester. Those guys are all like...generational talents. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to battle it out with the other mere mortals for second.

1) USA 2) Canada/Sweden 3) Canada/Sweden

Favorite things about Team USA: Tenacity and Swagger. These guys are lean and mean. It's like playing a whole team of Tomas Tatars, except some of our Tatars are as big and mean as David Backes.

Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see won't we?

Well, first of all we've got Quick this time and he's better. Secondly, as previously mentioned (and repeatedly ignored by you guys), the difference this time is that we'll be on international ice. In Vancouver they played on North American ice. Olympic ice will favor teams that can skate, and we can do that. We're also much better in terms of team defense than Canada, and we've got plenty of scoring (obviously not as much as you guys, but enough). Scoff and be patronizing all you want. At the end of the day I see a Canadian team with a ton of firepower, but not a lot of anything else. Problem is, there's only one puck to go around and you've got a team full of guys that need it to be effective. Plus you're slow. And nobody on your team, including your defensemen, play defense.

Isn't he still injured? That could be why. Edit: Nevermind, he's back from injury. And apparently lighting it up since his return. So your question definitely a good one.

Scoff all you want fellas. On the big ice your big team is toast.

That's what all you guys said last time too, right before we beat you once and took you to overtime the second time around. Laugh all you want, but you guys won on North American ice in 2010. On international ice you're screwed because everybody in Canada still believes that bigger is better.

This is a really good roster, but I can see them getting upset by another really skilled Euro squad. Someone like Finland or Russia could steal one against Sweden because it looks like they'll be goalfests with this defense.

s***, we split with you in Vancouver on North American ice (which clearly favored the bigger team compared to the faster one). On international ice your boys are going to get pretty tired chasing around guys who can actually skate. Huge mistake taking too many of Benn, Carter, Getz, Perry, Nash, Marleau, etc. Should have stuck with guys like Couture, Giroux, etc. Your boys are going to be gassed.