Olympics: Which Patrick would you choose?

[VanIslander]

One was top-3 in ice time among team forwards at the 2010 gold-medal-winning Olympics and had his second consecutive shootout game-winning goal tonight (Marleau) and the other had a hat trick tonight (Sharp).

Really, aren't both of these Patty's-turned-winger deserving of Olympic selection?

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[JCF]

Sharp. 200 ft. player (I know Marleau is also) has chemistry with Toews, who is a lock, and has already hit 21 goals this season.

Marleau also wouldn't have great chemistry with anyone as I don't see Thornton making the team due to center depth and skating.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Sharp.

 

[CanadienShark]

Sharp. 200 ft. player (I know Marleau is also) has chemistry with Toews, who is a lock, and has already hit 21 goals this season.

Marleau also wouldn't have great chemistry with anyone as I don't see Thornton making the team due to center depth and skating.

I would say that Marleau is the better defensive player and his skating is outstanding. Moreover he has history with HC and also would have chemistry with Couture, should he make it. Both are quite versatile.

That takes nothing away from Sharp, who is making a very good case for making the team.

 

[The Nemesis]

Sharp. 200 ft. player (I know Marleau is also) has chemistry with Toews, who is a lock, and has already hit 21 goals this season.

Marleau also wouldn't have great chemistry with anyone as I don't see Thornton making the team due to center depth and skating.

Marleau and Thornton don't play on the same line. He plays on Couture's line (though Couture is costing himself his shot at the team with his goalless streak)

 

[JCF]

Marleau and Thornton don't play on the same line. He plays on Couture's line (though Couture is costing himself his shot at the team with his goalless streak)

Ah, well I don't have couture making it either (IMO) due to his recent slump and inexperience.

 

[JCF]

I would say that Marleau is the better defensive player and his skating is outstanding. Moreover he has history with HC and also would have chemistry with Couture, should he make it. Both are quite versatile.

That takes nothing away from Sharp, who is making a very good case for making the team.

I'd say it's too close defensively to make that the deciding factor and if couture doesn't make it (which I don't think he will) the chemistry factor is not there for Marleau as well.

 

[Canadian Canuck]

Sharp

 

[Juxtaposer]

Sharp. 200 ft. player (I know Marleau is also) has chemistry with Toews, who is a lock, and has already hit 21 goals this season.

Marleau also wouldn't have great chemistry with anyone as I don't see Thornton making the team due to center depth and skating.

With all due respect to Sharp, Marleau is having the best season of his career despite playing with Couture, who has done a whole lot of nada offensively and a rotating cast of bottom-6 wingers on his RW (Tyler Kennedy, Tommy Wingels, James Sheppard, Marty Havlat at 50%, etc.). He's playing the toughest competition in the entire league, starting just 44.7% of his non-neutral zone starts in the offensive zone (a number that is usually only given to bottom-6 defensive specialists who aren't expected to produce offense), getting 58.2% Corsi-for in 5v5-close situations at even strength (good for 19th in the whole league), is 12th among Canadians in points, is 2nd in shots on goal among Canadians, is an elite penalty killer (and draws many more penalties than he takes), an elite PP point producer, has both Olympic size and Olympic speed, is one of the best skilled forecheckers out there, and can play any of the three forward positions.

Marleau can have chemistry with anyone. He is one of if not the single most versatile player in the league. He can play any strength, fit on any line, compliment any player, do anything you want. He has zero ego. He's loved by Mike Babcock. He was an instrumental part of the 2010 team.

If you're looking for someone to play on line 4 with Bergeron or be the 13th forward (because let's be real, those spots are what Marleau and Sharp would be competing for), there's no way you can't take Marleau. He's 15th all-time in playoff game-winning goals. He's come up big time and time again.

With all due respect to Sharp, who's having a great year, Marleau is playing the best hockey of his entire career and doing it with poor linemates while playing extraordinarily difficult minutes. Sharp is not playing tough minutes, and is playing with Toews. Marleau's season is much more impressive, as is his history with Team Canada and Mike Babcock.

You can't pick players just because they have chemistry with other players. That's how you end up with Chris Kunitz.

 

[TurdFerguson]

I see no reason why both wouldn't make it with the way they're playing.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

I'd say it's too close defensively to make that the deciding factor and if couture doesn't make it (which I don't think he will) the chemistry factor is not there for Marleau as well.

So your saying Canada should throw Kunitz up on the same line as Crosby, just because they have "team chemistry"?

 

[JCF]

With all due respect to Sharp, Marleau is having the best season of his career despite playing with Couture, who has done a whole lot of nada offensively and a rotating cast of bottom-6 wingers on his RW (Tyler Kennedy, Tommy Wingels, James Sheppard, Marty Havlat at 50%, etc.). He's playing the toughest competition in the entire league, starting just 44.7% of his non-neutral zone starts in the offensive zone (a number that is usually only given to bottom-6 defensive specialists who aren't expected to produce offense), getting 58.2% Corsi-for in 5v5-close situations at even strength (good for 19th in the whole league), is 12th among Canadians in points, is 2nd in shots on goal among Canadians, is an elite penalty killer (and draws many more penalties than he takes), an elite PP point producer, has both Olympic size and Olympic speed, is one of the best skilled forecheckers out there, and can play any of the three forward positions.

Marleau can have chemistry with anyone. He is one of if not the single most versatile player in the league. He can play any strength, fit on any line, compliment any player, do anything you want. He has zero ego. He's loved by Mike Babcock. He was an instrumental part of the 2010 team.

If you're looking for someone to play on line 4 with Bergeron or be the 13th forward (because let's be real, those spots are what Marleau and Sharp would be competing for), there's no way you can't take Marleau. He's 15th all-time in playoff game-winning goals. He's come up big time and time again.

With all due respect to Sharp, who's having a great year, Marleau is playing the best hockey of his entire career and doing it with poor linemates while playing extraordinarily difficult minutes. Sharp is not playing tough minutes, and is playing with Toews. Marleau's season is much more impressive, as is his history with Team Canada and Mike Babcock.

You can't pick players just because they have chemistry with other players. That's how you end up with Chris Kunitz.

This is what I posted in the Olympic discussion thread based on what Babcock has been saying recently:

Some thoughts based on the Babcock/Yzerman interviews:

-Bergeron will not make this team (offensive level has dropped too much, shutdown line C can be replaced by Toews/Richards/Getzlaf)

-Tavares is at risk (C [already too many], too slow, weak defensively, high end offense is replacable)

-One of Duchene/Benn will make the team (I hope it is Duchene due to the WC and Speng Cup but Benn has upper hand in being natural LW [where Canada is weak], really want both though)

-Stamkos will play (Guy is going hard in rehab, he was upset from being cut in 2010, and won't miss the olympics this year)

-MSL will make the team (Yzerman GM, reigning Art Ross winner, Stamkos [who will be back] chemistry)

-Kunitz will make the team (In case of Sid having horrible chemistry again, if Sid finds suitable wingers, Kunitz sits [Low risk, high reward])

My lineup based on mix of personal thoughts and what I expect from HC

Forwards:

1.Stamkos-Crosby-MSL
2.Benn-Getzlaf-Perry
3.Sharp-Toews-Giroux
4.Duchene-Richards- Carter
Ex. Kunitz, Couture

1.#1 Offensive force, Stamkos has speed Crosby needs
2.#2 Offensive force, three big, skilled bodies, can hold own skating
3.#1 Shutdown line, still capable of good/clutch offence
4.#2 Shutdown line, has chemistry Babcock wants, Duchene throws in dynamic offence
Ex. Kunitz in case of chem. problems, Couture for 200 ft. game
*2 Centers on each line as suggested by Babcock

Defence:
1.Kieth-Weber
2.Vlasic-Doughty
3.Bouwmeester-Pietrangleo
Ex. Subban, Giordano

1. All around unit, capable of whatever we need
2. Selected Vlasic as the elusive 3rd starting LHD, shut down pair with potential offence
3. Chemistry, mixed with great skating and a hot start
Ex. Have to take Subban because of skating/Norris, Giordano is my sleeper pick as Babcock wants even handedness and Gio is lights out this year
*Even LHD-RHD, with chemistry and experience

Goalies:

1. Carey Price
2. Roberto Luongo
3. Mike Smith

1. Hot start, represented Canada before, best of limited options
2. Experience and is still playing quite decent
3. Can be good as anyone when hot, but this spot doesn't really matter to me due to limited potential of actual playing time.
*Area in which I think there will be little dispute, almost certain Price-Luongo go 1-2

Conclusion: Think it will be a really good overall team, great lineup exception goaltending, but I can see Price easily stepping up and pushing us to a repeat Gold. Nearly unmatched on offence and defense. Should be an entertaining Olympics.

I just don't have Marleau fitting in anywhere (maybe for couture looking back on it), but sharp for me is much higher on the depth chart, and I would take him first if I was Team Canada. Of course, that's just my opinion on the matter.

 

[Royal Canuck]

Sharp.

Have to take him at this point.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Saint PATRICKS day

 

[Canuck21t]

Sharp.

I've always thought Marleau was overrated at the international level. At the Olympics, he was pretty ordinary with very predictable movies.

 

[CertainAffinity*]

Sharp

 

[PredragD]

Sharp all the way.

I don't think any Sharks forward will make team Canada. Marleau would not only be passed by Sharp but probably folks like Benn also since they are better suited for bottom six roles than Marleau. Thornton loses out due to lack of versatility; can't carry a guy who can only play center and is avg at best in face-offs. Couture was a near lock at the start of the season, but has disappeared in large stretches this year.

 

[86Habs]

Easy answer. Take them both.

 

[CanadienShark]

I just don't have Marleau fitting in anywhere (maybe for couture looking back on it), but sharp for me is much higher on the depth chart, and I would take him first if I was Team Canada. Of course, that's just my opinion on the matter.

I certainly disagree - I think Marleau is the better player, but Sharp has had such a great season that they're certainly close right now. Let's just say that if Sharp was selected, I'd have no complaints though.

 

[SoupNazi]

Sharp, easily. Ride the hot hand.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Kane. Merica rules!

 

[tony d]

Sharp. He's the better player right now.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

I always saw Marleau as a cerebral, streaky player. Not a guy I would gamble with during such a short tournament when there as so many other options.

 

[JackSlater]

I was wary of Marleau earlier in the year because of his streakiness from time to time. He has been exceptional this year however, for months now. I would ideally take both, and put Marleau next to Getzlaf with Sharp next to Toews. If I had to take only one, at this moment, it would be Marleau by a hair.

 

[TheNuge]

So your saying Canada should throw Kunitz up on the same line as Crosby, just because they have "team chemistry"?

As much as I dislike Kunitz for riding the Crosby train to point town, I must say that chemistry has to come quick for the players selected, gold is the goal and yes you can have the best players in the world but what good are they if they don't have any chemistry together.

Patrick sharp makes a case for himself as well, a very good 200ft player, he's quick, good puck control, an awsome pass and shot..as of right now he is 9th in NHL scoring producing a point per game.

As I would see the first couple lines

Stamkos Crosby Kunitz
Sharp Toews Perry/giroux

The chemistry and offensive flair will be enormous