Are the Olympics going to help us or hurt us?

[Yzerman191 37]

Well, the injuries seem to be piling on again. Datsyuk has a sore ankle, Kronwall's knee isn't fully healed, Filppula's groin is acting up, Holmstrom's knee is bothering him, Eaves has a sprained ankle, and Maltby may be having shoulder injury (if any of this is news to you, check mlive). The worst part is, four of the six are participating in the Olympic games, where they will face some of the most competitive hockey of their lives. I just can't quit thinking about Lidstrom's tendinitis, Datsyuk's ankle, Kronwall's knee, etc. whenever I hear about these guys going off to the Olympic games.

So here's my question: is this Olympic break really going to help us all that much? Literally all of our best players (Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Franzen, etc.) will get little rest as they fly to Vancouver shortly after tonight's game to compete with the best hockey players in the world. Guys like Datsyuk and Kronwall, players we desparately need for a legitimate championship run, already have their health dwindling in the balance, and certainly could use the two weeks off.

[Datsyuk2Zetterberg 1]

if either of dats, Z, lids, franzen get gut, the it hurts us.

if not it helps, because then jimmy can play another straight 10 games, and all the secondary offense gets rest.

[Nev 1,085]

For the big players like Dats, Lids and Z, all of whom could do with the 2 weeks rest, its hurts us.

Ironically, it might help us though with the players recently returned from injury - Kronwall, Franzen and Holmstrom all get to play themselves into game shape on someone elses team

Ideally Sweden, Russia and Finland all bomb out in the group stage and we have a Canada-US final

[Yzermania 156]

they are good. most the guys get to rest, which is great for guys like stuart who have racked up the minutes with all the injuries and if Mule gets to end up playing, it will only bring him back even closer to full game shape, though to me, he hasn't looked far from it already.

[clutchngrab 12]

I hope Homer can rest. Franzen can use the work, and Datsyuk will use this to fire up the rest of his season. I worry about Z, who has looked tired most of the season and Kronner, due to his injury tendencies. Rafalski could use the rest as well. Yeah, so except for Dats and Franzen, pretty much all these guys would be better of resting.

Oh yes, and Lids should rest too.

Edited February 14, 2010 by clutchngrab

[sean 19]

The only players who might be hurt by the Olympics are Zata Raf, and Lids IMO, barring serious injury, of course. I'm not really worried about Z, but I am little worried about our top 2 defensemen being top-2 defensemen on 2 teams that will go deep.

Not really worried about Pavel, Franzen, Homer, or anyone else. They'll all be lower on the depth chart than they are in Detroit. I don't see them being too worn out.

[RedWings 79]

I really hope Sweden will have an early exit, we need a rested Zetterberg to finish in the top 8.

Goaltending has been Sweden Nbr.1 problem in many former olympics, let's hope Lundqvist chokes

I'd like Canada to go far... Lots of guys which will be tired for the end of the season, and no many red wings

Datsyuk needs some more confidence in front of the net, let's hope he will get crazy goals there.

[Z and D for the C 712]

I'm mostly worried about Kronwall, and I hope that Holmstrom doesn't play.

I think the best thing that could happen is Sweden getting knocked out early.

Edited February 14, 2010 by Z and D for the C

[Rivalred 630]

The players who are playing for their country better enjoy this now as they may not win any prize this season.

[VM1138 1,921]

I think that the break will help. I think people worried about injuries have valid reasons, but I just don't see them all getting badly injured.

Plus it'll clear their head, allow the other injured players to heal and rest, and when they come back with clear heads they can be focused and play like they did last night.

What a roller coaster of a season, but after the depression of the last month or so, I'm actually feeling pretty good about this team now.