Gordon: Team Canada snubs cause ruckus Live
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman knew what he was in for. As the point man for Team Canada's Olympic selection process, he was prepared to take heat for the panel's decision.
“From my last experience, it’s easy up until you name the team, Yzerman told reporters in advance of today's announcement. "Then you sit there for five weeks or six weeks until the Olympics start and hold your breath and listen to everybody tell you how stupid you are for leaving this guy or that guy off.”
Team Canada announced its roster amid pomp, circumstance and some long speeches from random old guys nobody wanted to hear from.
Blues fans are happy with the Team Canada roster, since the Alex Pietrangelo-Jay Bouwmeester defensive tandem went in as expected. Just throw those two on the ice together and good things happen. That was one of the group's easier decisions, aside from selecting Sidney Crosby.
Here is Canada's 25-man roster:
Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, Canucks; Carey Price, Canadiens; Mike Smith, Coyotes
Defensemen: Bouwmeester; Pietrangelo; Drew Doughty, Kings; Dan Hamhuis, Canucks; Duncan Keith, Blackhawks; P.K. Subban, Canadiens; Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Sharks; Shea Weber, Predators
Forwards: Crosby, Jamie Benn, Stars; Patrice Bergeron, Bruins; Jeff Carter, Kings; Matt Duchene, Avalanche; Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks; Chris Kunitz, Penguins; Patrick Marleau, Sharks; Rick Nash, Rangers; Corey Perry, Ducks; Patrick Sharp, Blackhawks; Steven Stamkos, Lightning; John Tavares, Islanders; Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks.
The Pietrangelo/Bouwmeester selection assures the Note quite a Blues contingent at Sochi. Earlier, Team USA selected Blues captain David Backes, his wing man T.J. Oshie and offensive defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
Vladimir Sobokta earned a spot on the Czech Republic squad, although shutdown defenseman Roman Polak got stiffed during that country's controversial selection process. (Petr Nedved still plays hockey? Who knew.)
Alexander Steen and Patrik Berglund got the nod today from the Swedish team, which also made a few head-scratching moves. But there is no Victor Hedman? Really?
Jaroslav Halak will play goal for Slovakia, assuming he is healthy enough to go. Winger Vladimir Tarasenko made the cut for Russia, another Olympic squad that shunned some big names -- including Hurricanes winger Alexander Semin and Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar.
Elsewhere, NHL fans are worked up. Among the more notable Team Canada omissions were Claude Giroux, Dan Boyle, Martin St. Louis, Joe Thornton, James Neal, Logan Couture, Eric Staal, Taylor Hall, Brent Seabrook and Tyler Seguin.
Here is how the Twitterverse responded to all this news:
“From my last experience, it’s easy up until you name the team, Yzerman told reporters in advance of today's announcement. "Then you sit there for five weeks or six weeks until the Olympics start and hold your breath and listen to everybody tell you how stupid you are for leaving this guy or that guy off.”
Team Canada announced its roster amid pomp, circumstance and some long speeches from random old guys nobody wanted to hear from.
Blues fans are happy with the Team Canada roster, since the Alex Pietrangelo-Jay Bouwmeester defensive tandem went in as expected. Just throw those two on the ice together and good things happen. That was one of the group's easier decisions, aside from selecting Sidney Crosby.
Here is Canada's 25-man roster:
Goaltenders: Roberto Luongo, Canucks; Carey Price, Canadiens; Mike Smith, Coyotes
Defensemen: Bouwmeester; Pietrangelo; Drew Doughty, Kings; Dan Hamhuis, Canucks; Duncan Keith, Blackhawks; P.K. Subban, Canadiens; Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Sharks; Shea Weber, Predators
Forwards: Crosby, Jamie Benn, Stars; Patrice Bergeron, Bruins; Jeff Carter, Kings; Matt Duchene, Avalanche; Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks; Chris Kunitz, Penguins; Patrick Marleau, Sharks; Rick Nash, Rangers; Corey Perry, Ducks; Patrick Sharp, Blackhawks; Steven Stamkos, Lightning; John Tavares, Islanders; Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks.
The Pietrangelo/Bouwmeester selection assures the Note quite a Blues contingent at Sochi. Earlier, Team USA selected Blues captain David Backes, his wing man T.J. Oshie and offensive defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
Vladimir Sobokta earned a spot on the Czech Republic squad, although shutdown defenseman Roman Polak got stiffed during that country's controversial selection process. (Petr Nedved still plays hockey? Who knew.)
Alexander Steen and Patrik Berglund got the nod today from the Swedish team, which also made a few head-scratching moves. But there is no Victor Hedman? Really?
Jaroslav Halak will play goal for Slovakia, assuming he is healthy enough to go. Winger Vladimir Tarasenko made the cut for Russia, another Olympic squad that shunned some big names -- including Hurricanes winger Alexander Semin and Stars defenseman Sergei Gonchar.
Elsewhere, NHL fans are worked up. Among the more notable Team Canada omissions were Claude Giroux, Dan Boyle, Martin St. Louis, Joe Thornton, James Neal, Logan Couture, Eric Staal, Taylor Hall, Brent Seabrook and Tyler Seguin.
Here is how the Twitterverse responded to all this news:
What does Marty St. Louis have to do to go to the Olympics? Criminy.
Jan. 7, 2014
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Probably the hardest choice for Yzerman was leaving off St. Louis off for the second time. Last week MSL told me how badly he wanted this
Jan. 7, 2014
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Again, not sure why Thornton "snub" is a big deal. What center do you move in favor of Jumbo (who you don't want on wing on larger ice)?
Jan. 7, 2014
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Joe Thornton (leads NHL w/43 assists/43 games) left off #Canada Olympic roster. Bring #StanleyCup to #SJSharks & you'll have the last laugh.
Jan. 7, 2014
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Canada wants 4 left D and 4 right D. Babcock wants balance. Big reason why Hamhuis makes it over Seabrook.
Jan. 7, 2014
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No Canadian has more points than Claude Giroux over the last three seasons hkref.com/tiny/86PeX
Jan. 7, 2014
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Yzerman on TSN: "Claude Giroux's a great player." Hints Giroux could be an injury replacement.
Jan. 7, 2014
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Giroux said yesterday and last week, "I did the best I could," but it wasn't good enough
Jan. 7, 2014
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Has to be disappointing for Staal. Didn't have to go to World Championship last year but did. Was Canada's captain and injured knee.
Jan. 7, 2014
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Blues who play Oilers tonight have 10 Olympians in case you're wondering, that's half their lineup.#Oilers
Jan. 7, 2014
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I predict Hall and Eberle will be anchors on Team Canada in 2018. If not, I predict the Oilers will be in Stage 4 of the rebuild
Jan. 7, 2014
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Reached for comment on making Team Canada, Jay Bouwmeester nodded, blinked once, and shifted his left eyebrow nearly imperceptibly.
Jan. 7, 2014
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Such a great honor to represent my country. Dream come true for any Canadian kid growing up ! #Sochi #Canada
Jan. 7, 2014
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Also a great to see all the boys being named to their respective countries. 10 players from the blues. Impressive. #stlblues #LGB
Jan. 7, 2014
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