Avalanche Olympic Preview
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Nov 25, 2009 6:00 AM MST
in News
21 comments
Around SBN, each of the hockey blogs is running a little preview of the Olympics with a look at who has a chance to make the Olympic rosters. We're still about a month and a half away from when the rosters are announced (Canada announces on December 31st, USA on January 1st), but here's a look at how the Avalanche are shaping up as of today. Remember, in 2006 the Avalanche sent 11 players to 8 different Olympic squads, tops in the league. The list won't be as big this year.
Team USA
Craig Anderson was not invited to Team USA's orientation camp in August (Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller and Jonathon Quick got the nods), but his strong play to date has to put him in contention to make the roster. Fairly Safe Bet
Paul Stastny did attend the orientation camp and figures to have a solid chance at making the roster. Fairly Safe Bet
John-Michael Liles was not one of the 12 defensemen named by Team USA GM Brian Burke, so it would seem doubtful that Liles will get a chance to repeat his 2006 Olympic participation. Work To Do
Team Canada
No Avalanche players were invited to Team Canada's camp in August. Actually, two were invited...but Ryan Smyth got traded and Joe Sakic retired. The Avalanche have some good Canadian-born players, of course, but no one strong enough to crack a very deep Team Canada squad.
Team Czech Republic
Milan Hejduk already has a gold medal (1998) and a bronze medal (2006) to show for his 3 Olympic appearances. Figure him to be on the team once again. Pack Your Bags
Team Slovakia
Peter Budaj played in the 2006 Olympic games (he was 2-1 with a 2.01 GAA) and is a good bet to make the team this year as well. He's likely to be battling Jaroslav Halak for the starting position. Nearly A Lock
Marek Svatos also played for the 2006 team. I'm not sure that he's a lock; perhaps they need an enforcer? Fairly Safe Bet
Team Belarus
Ruslan Salei is a lock...assuming he's healthy. Pack Your Bags
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I say this with love for Johnny Hot Pocket…but the reason he probably wasn’t invited to camp is because his 2006 Olympics were, well they were really bad.
Granted, Team USA was not exactly world beaters (bad pun)…but Liles defense was atrocious. He was constantly beaten to pucks, pushed off pucks, and got skated by like he was standing still on several occasions. Plus he was a turnover machine.
Liles has been worlds better defensively since….I just don’t think it’s enough to get him noticed again for this squad
I agree. I even wonder if ‘06 was a wake up call because his defensive positioning and strength started improving greatly since then and has gotten better each year. Unfortunately for him, last season didn’t happen and he’s been out half the games this year, so no one’s seen how his assets have grown. (and yes, that’s what i said.)
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Nov 25, 2009 7:41 AM MST up reply actions
SoS is a fairly safe bet?
I’ve yet to see a roster prediction that didn’t have his as No. 1 or No. 2 center.
My favorite prediction for a line for the U.S. team is the Kane, Kesler, Kessel line. That should play very well down south.
If Santa comes down my chimney wearing those Red Wing colors, he's going to wish he didn't exist.
The KKK is much more influential in Indiana than in Kentucky, for whatever that is worth.
Mile High Hockey: Hoping for the best, expecting the worst, hating the Wings.
What no mention of any les ailes? I’m going over to from Abdelkader to Yzerbart (excluding Zetterberg) to get the real story, everyone on that team, even the hurt players should play in the olympics…
Ryan O'Reilly for the Calder.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 25, 2009 10:24 AM MST reply actions
I hear Datsyuk and Zetterberg can play for any team they want to because their All-World status makes them honorary citizens of all countries. But I also hear the odds are likely that they will be playing for Coach Jesus on Heaven’s team because not even the boundary to the ethereal plane is something they can’t stickhandle through.
If Santa comes down my chimney wearing those Red Wing colors, he's going to wish he didn't exist.
by Dixomatic on Nov 25, 2009 10:35 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
canada is going to be AWESOME with Osgood in net.
Ryan O'Reilly for the Calder.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Nov 25, 2009 10:53 AM MST up reply actions
Duh
Talk about a goaltender that is a LOCK to get in the HOF and get his number retired.
Most dominating goalie I have seen play the game for years and years.
All other countries are doomed.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I'll try to look it up
but there was an olympic preview, linked through Puck Daddy, that showed how Stats integrated really well into the olympic roster with his skills and the other wingers.
09
Svats
I’m pretty excited to see him kick some ass for Slovakia. You know he’ll drop the gloves against the Duke if they match up.
haha. now that’s something i know i will never see.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Nov 25, 2009 3:52 PM MST up reply actions
Never say never, even Super Joe drop the gloves once.
The 2009-10 Avalanche: It's like having a banana split while all the other kids are getting an ice cream cone.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Nov 25, 2009 4:00 PM MST up reply actions
“dropped”
The 2009-10 Avalanche: It's like having a banana split while all the other kids are getting an ice cream cone.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on Nov 25, 2009 4:01 PM MST up reply actions
well, although i could see them drop them individually, i don’t see them going against each other. svats only did it cuz he got really, really, really pissed off the other night. no way will duke make anyone that mad, much less svats.
2009-2010 Avs: a game away from being up on blocks
by BeachNSnowGirl on Nov 25, 2009 6:31 PM MST up reply actions
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