leafaholix*
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In your opinion, who will be the top blueliner for each nation at the 2005 WJC's?
mazmin said:Probably Lepisto for the Finns again.
Obviously going in, it's Suter, but Johnson could emerge if given the opportunity.Matt MacInnis said:Ryan Suter - USA
Postman said:Obviously going in, it's Suter, but Johnson could emerge if given the opportunity.
Its virtually unheard of for forwards who are going into their draft year to make any kind of an impact, never mind a defenceman . To say the guy might, if given the chance, be the best D-man of a pretty strong team is optomisim (& arguably overhyping the guy) in the extreme.Postman said:Obviously going in, it's Suter, but Johnson could emerge if given the opportunity.
He was already the best defensemen at the evaluation camp over Suter, Thelen, and the rest. I'm not the only one that thinks this.Sammy said:Its virtually unheard of for forwards who are going into their draft year to make any kind of an impact, never mind a defenceman . To say the guy might, if given the chance, be the best D-man of a pretty strong team is optomisim (& arguably overhyping the guy) in the extreme.
The experience difference at that age is so enormous it makes it extremly unlikely unless the guy is the next coming of a defencemans version of Gretzky, imo.
I would venture to bet there is a much greater chance of him either not making it or riding the pine as there is of him being the #1 d-man, or even #2.Postman said:He was already the best defensemen at the evaluation camp over Suter, Thelen, and the rest. I'm not the only one that thinks this.
I think Suter will be the more steady defensemen easily, but Johnson has a MUCH more noticable, flashier style. He's excelled against not only kids his age, but NCAA D-1 teams, and he always does well in international competitions.
I'm not saying he will, and realize it's not probable because he's young yet, but he has the ability to at least emerge as the #2 behind Suter. We'll just have to wait and see.
True enough, but like Rabid Ranger pointed out in another thread, USA used Suter in his draft year for the WJCs, and they could do the same for Johnson (like I said, if given the opportunity).Sammy said:I would venture to bet there is a much greater chance of him either not making it or riding the pine as there is of him being the #1 d-man, or even #2.
Just my opinion.
Koltsov said:he's not eligable to play, he's a 84. That's who I was thinking too, but I looked it up and he was a late 84. For the Fins it will probably be Mantymaa(sp?).
Postman said:He was already the best defensemen at the evaluation camp over Suter, Thelen, and the rest. I'm not the only one that thinks this.
He isn't even the top dman on the russian selects team that is playing the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL. I don't see how he could be the best on their WJC team.Koltsov said:Russia- Kirill Lyamin
I've never seen any (aside from a few re: Schremp's poor play).Dr.Sens(e) said:I'm not questioning you on this, but are there any articles on-line that address how Johnson outplayed those guys? I'd love to read about their respective performances at that evaluation camp.
Sammy said:Its virtually unheard of for forwards who are going into their draft year to make any kind of an impact, never mind a defenceman . To say the guy might, if given the chance, be the best D-man of a pretty strong team is optomisim (& arguably overhyping the guy) in the extreme.
The experience difference at that age is so enormous it makes it extremly unlikely unless the guy is the next coming of a defencemans version of Gretzky, imo.
Crosbyfan said:I'm hearing (no idea personally) that the USA could have a competitive team this year. Last year was "they better do it this year, next year will not be very solid" type of thing. It would say a lot for US hockey if they medal again this year.