News Article: NHL Players are going to the Olympics

[What the Faulk]

http://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=678434

Not that it's really a surprise, but now it's official.

Who from Carolina has a shot? Eric/Faulk/Semin for sure. Pitkanen/Ruutu if healthy. Ward/Skinner maybe. Tlusty? Sekara?

Probably more than last time.

Click to read more...

 

[Roboturner913]

Sekera too, I would imagine. Maybe Gleason. Big maybe.

 

[nobuddy]

Eric, Semin, Tlusty, Pitkanen, Ruutu, Sekera, Faulk, Ward.

 

[Sasha Cares]

Eric, Semin, Tlusty, Pitkanen, Ruutu, Sekera, Faulk, Ward.

I would say Skinner is on the radar with a great year and some injuries

Sekera too, I would imagine. Maybe Gleason. Big maybe.

No way on Gleason

 

[Finnish Jerk Train]

Gleason barely made it last time, and he's dropped off since then. He won't be in unless he really hits his stride in the first few months.

Everyone else I agree with.

 

[vwg*]

Eric, Semin, Faulk, Tlusty, Sekera, Ruutu, Pitkanen should be locks if healthy. Ward is iffy... he really needs to have a solid start to the season. Skinner better be top 5 in scoring by the Olympic break or he has no shot. Gleason just isn't good enough anymore, way too many good US d-men ahead of him now.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Eric/Semin/Sekera/Pitkänen/Ruutu/Faulk are locks if healthy.

Skinner/Ward/Tlusty/Gleason fall into that *iffy* category I think.

I hope Ward makes it tho, just for y2kCanucks reaction

 

[vwg*]

I'd say Tlusty is a lock. He was the 2nd leading scorer out of all Czech players last season.

 

[Boats Ahoes]

Staal/Semin/Tlusty/Ruutu/Sekera/Pitkanen are locks, with Ward as a "Probably" and Skinner/Faulk/Gleason/J. Staal as "Probably not".


I like Faulk as much as the next guy, but I can't see him as close to a lock. Will we really be surprised if 7 of Suter/Shattenkirk/McDonaugh/Carlson/Yandle/Bogosian/Jack Johnson/Eric Johnson/Byfuglien/Fowler get the call over him?

 

[Novacane]

Yeah. I'm not seeing Faulk as a lock. He'd have to put up huge offensive numbers while retaining his defensive game to be qualified as a lock. Should he be in consideration as it stands now? Maybe, but he'd be pretty far down based on his inexperience compared to some of the guys he's going against.

 

[vwg*]

Faulk is a favorite of the U.S. hockey program over some of the fringe guys he'll be competing against. I think he has a great chance at making the team but I also wouldn't be surprised to see him come up just short.

Suter/Shattenkirk/McDonaugh/Carlson/Yandle/Bogosian/Jack Johnson/Eric Johnson/Byfuglien/Fowler

I'll go ahead and say Suter, McDonagh, JJ, Bogosian, Shatty are probably all going to make the team, but Faulk has as much of a chance as the rest of those guys.

 

[What the Faulk]

Am I the only one who thinks Bogosian is a tad overrated? He's a good player, but an olympic lock?

Though I guess others might be saying that about Faulk.

 

[vwg*]

I used to think Bogo was overrated, but in the last 2 seasons I think he's lived up to his reputation. He's probably better than Faulk, at least currently. Faulk needs his offensive game to develop a bit more before they're seen as equals. I think/hope that will happen this season.

 

[Buenos Necas]

I didn't want to overate Faulk and call him a lock, but Kevin Allen just put out an article on the U.S. team, and here's what he had to say:

Defensemen: Jack Johnson (Columbus Blue Jackets), Ryan Suter (Minnesota), Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes), Paul Martin (Pittsburgh Penguins), Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis), Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes), Erik Johnson (Colorado) and Brooks Orpik (Pittsburgh)

Story line: The American defense is far from settled. Jack Johnson, Suter and McDonagh are locks, and Faulk is close to a lock. But the USA's depth on defense is so strong that that the final four or five spots could be considered a wide-open race. It would be easy to see Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks) making the defensive group. You also have to keep an eye on John Carlson (Washington Capitals). No decision has been made whether to bring eight or nine defensemen. Others could step into contention, but these are the guys with the best chance.

Link to the full article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2013/07/20/team-usa-olympic-hockey-team-projections/2571391/

 

[DaveG]

Would not be surprised to see Buf make the team based on his versatility. Need a PF winger? Sure he'll do that, need a PP dman/rover? sure he'll do that too.

But as for the top 6 I would be surprised if Faulk wasn't given a long look. In all honesty I think he'll either have to have a rough season or a few guys will have to come out setting the world on fire for him to miss. The US brass seems to absolutely LOVE Faulk, and he just made Erik Johnson, a veteran from the last Olympic team, look like an amateur by comparison at this most recent Worlds.

 

[vwg*]

Cam Ward didn't get invited to Canada's preseason camp. He should be healthy now, so this probably isn't a good omen for making the team.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think Ward pretty much played himself off the squad with his WC performance and slow start after the lockout.

 

[AD Skinner]

I think Ward pretty much played himself off the squad with his WC performance and slow start after the lockout.

A lot will probably depend on how the NHL season starts. If Ward comes out playing incredible and/or one of Price/Crawford/Holtby is playing poorly or gets hurt, the door will open for Ward to make his case.

 

[Oenatzu]

He still has a chance to play himself back on the team with a hot start to the season.

 

[Unsustainable]

I don't see Ward making it back into the running.

Faulk I think is a lock. Semin and Tlusty are locks I think also.
Eric and Jordan are both probably locks.
Ruutu if healthy should be.

Skinner is a maybe.

Gleason not a chance.

Sekera maybe.

 

[tarheelhockey]

A lot will probably depend on how the NHL season starts. If Ward comes out playing incredible and/or one of Price/Crawford/Holtby is playing poorly or gets hurt, the door will open for Ward to make his case.

It will have to be more than one of them, because Luongo and Smith also received invites. That means there are 3 goalies ahead of Ward for the last backup spot.

He still has a chance to play himself back on the team with a hot start to the season.

To me, he had a golden chance in the 2012 WC and didn't play well at all. That put him in a position where he had to change some minds in 2013, and he didn't do that either.

There's always a chance, but I really don't think it's likely at this point. There would have to be a perfect storm of injuries and slumps, combined with Ward having a sensational year. Of course I hope it happens, but what is the likelihood?

 

[Novacane]

I don't want Ward to make the team. With the amount of games he already plays, he doesn't need to go over to Russia and play more. Sure Khudobin may help but Ward's still going to start an ungodly amount of games.

 

[dammit100]

Eric and Jordan are both probably locks.

Eric, yes. Not sure about Jordan. Depends who's definition of "lock" we're using though.

 

[raynman]

Don't see Jordan cracking Canada's lineup. Maybe as a reserve like Eric in 2006?

 

[DaveG]

Ward will need a huge start to the season to play his way in.

Absolutely frigin shocked that Holtby got an invite.