Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 Hossa said he wouldnt play unless his boyfriend was invited - thats why Kopecky was invited. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adtthosa 5 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 This is a decent lineup. If Halak gets hot they could play for a medal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StormJH1 231 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 Even beyond their top line they have some damn good players, albeit in differing spots in their careers... but Demitra, Meszaros, Satan, Handzus, Visnovsky, Halak, Budaj... all solid players. Also, Palffy was a stud in the NHL... if he still has that offensive ability, this could be a solid squad... I think they got a better offense than the US roster, tho the US has better goaltending/defense for sure.. Palffy was ALWAYS productive in the NHL. I'm not exactly sure if it's his name, the European-ness, or the crappy teams he played for, but as a pure one-dimensional goal scorer, he was a Top 20, if not Top 10 talent at times. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StormJH1 231 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 i was thinking the same thing. If they had a team from both Czech Republic and Slovakia, it'll be a really good team. Goal: Vokoun (Cze) Budaj (Slo) Halak (Slo) D: Kaberle (Cze) Zdlicky (Cze) Spacek (Cze) Smid (Cze) Chara (Slo) Meszaros (Slo) Visnovsky (Slo) Forwards: Jagr (Cze) Elias (Cze) Plakanec (Cze) Prospal (Cze) Hejduk (Cze) Krejci (Cze) Erat (Cze) Hudler (Cze) Michalek (Cze) Gaborik (Slo) Hossa (Slo) Handzus (Slo) Demitra (Slo) Slovakia is kinda like Russia, in that they always look sweet on paper, until you see it on the ice and realize either (a) their goaltending sucks; or (b) They have a bunch of offensive minded defensemen that have no real concept of playing team defense together. That said, the emergence of Chara is a huge asset for them, but unless your team is just so loaded (2002 Canadian) that it doesn't matter, it seems like some of the teams with less percieved "talent" (1998 Czech; 2002 Belarus) do better b/c they have guys in roles they are used to. IIRC, that was a big help to the 2002 Canadian team too, b/c they had guys like Draper on there that made it because of their value in situational hockey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Datsasuk 2 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 Zigmund Palffy still plays? lol. I thought that he retired because of shoulder problems? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted December 29, 2009 Wait is Kopecky really on the team? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 If Kopecky were Canadian, he wouldn't make the 9th string line-up. Do you try to be this stupid or does it just come to you naturally? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
55fan 5,133 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 Wait is Kopecky really on the team? Yep, and they had him listed as a Red Wing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
#18 the _Hoss_ 2 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 (edited) People here are surprised as well(Kopecky), but it's still better than Ladislav Nagy.......... Tatar could travel with the team though. Palffy-Stumpel-Zednik--Visnovsky-Strbak Hossa-Demitra-Gaborik--Chara-Meszaros Satan-Handzus-Bartecko--Lintner-Sekera Svatos-Kopecky-Hossa--Valabik Halak-Budaj-Stana Edited December 30, 2009 by #18 the _Hoss_ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
servo 15 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 I forgot all about Palffy, Stumple and Zednik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 tatar>>>>>>kopecky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted December 30, 2009 besides Chara and Visnovsky, that defense looks a little iffy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heinrich 0 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 Slovakia is kinda like Russia, in that they always look sweet on paper, until you see it on the ice and realize either (a) their goaltending sucks; or (b) They have a bunch of offensive minded defensemen that have no real concept of playing team defense together. That said, the emergence of Chara is a huge asset for them, but unless your team is just so loaded (2002 Canadian) that it doesn't matter, it seems like some of the teams with less percieved "talent" (1998 Czech; 2002 Belarus) do better b/c they have guys in roles they are used to. IIRC, that was a big help to the 2002 Canadian team too, b/c they had guys like Draper on there that made it because of their value in situational hockey. Well maybe that's true but if both Halak and Budaj get in shape, they might steal some important games. Especially Halak showed that last 4 games (not the last one against Sens). I'm much more satisfied with goaltending now, than with Lasak & Stana in 2002, when we won World Championship in Sweden. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hallelujahlogic 1 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 honestly, i'll be surprised if they don't medal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheDetroitRedWings 286 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 How irritating that almost every country involved has released their roster to the public. But for some reason team U.S.A. hasn't officially announced the team yet. Sorta ticking me off. Cause it looks like for the first time in a looonng time, team U.S.A. Will be fairly stacked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mors 201 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 Getting kinda ridiculous at this point...does Hossa refuse to travel without his *****? There's no plausible explanation for Kopecky playing in the NHL, much less in the Olympics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Lidstromboli Report post Posted December 30, 2009 How irritating that almost every country involved has released their roster to the public. But for some reason team U.S.A. hasn't officially announced the team yet. Sorta ticking me off. Cause it looks like for the first time in a looonng time, team U.S.A. Will be fairly stacked. the roster will be announced on new years day during the winter classic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted December 30, 2009 the 8th place USA roster will be announced on new years day during the winter classic FYP. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites