Why The Olympics Scare The BeJesus Out Of Me

by SamFels on Aug 3, 2009 3:52 PM CDT

Of all the things coming up this season, the cap headache, the goalie question, the crowded forward line, nothing scares me as much as the Olympic break. We can have the discussion another time about whether this system makes any sense (it sort of does and sort of doesn't), but it's going to happen. The season will stop for two weeks, and some of our most important players will have 6-8 high intensity games in a silly short time span tacked onto their schedules, as well as a compacted NHL schedule to return to. For evidence on how this can royally fuck up a team, one need look no further than the 2005-2006 Senators.

That team was loaded. Then the Olympics came, and Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson, Hasek, Redden, and Chara shipped off to Turin. That's your startin goalie, your entire top line, and your top d-pairing. As you may remember, Hasek got hurt and didn't play again, and the Sens bowed out in five to a clearly inferior but hot Buffalo Sabres team, who only had three Olympians in Kotalik, Afinogenov, and Drury.

This was also the same year that Scum reverted to their alternate form, known as Team Sweden, and were bounced in the first round by the Oilers (still kinda hilarious). Can you make an argument that fatigue didn't get to these teams? I'm not so sure.

It's hard to predict how many Hawks will be making the trip to Vancouver. We know of three for sure, as Hossa and Kopecky will be suiting up for Slovakia and Kane for the Red, White, and Blue (and if our season hinges on Kopecky's health, we're in fuckloads of trouble, so that doesn't really matter). Now, there's a possibility that Toews, Sharp, Keith, and Seabrook will suit up for Canada, as well as Buff for the US, or it's just as possible that none of them could. So it could be anywhere from 3 players (2 important) to 8 players shipping off. That would be almost half your regular skaters having their season extended and bodies being pounded even more. Not so good.

The smart money tells you that not all of them will make it. Yzerman has an almost dangerous crush on Toews, it's likely he goes. We love Sharpie, but as soon as Canada sees he's not quite as versatile as he used to be, it's unlikely he'll be picked as just a sniper. They have tons of those. It's hard to get a read on Keith and Seabrook. If you asked me in February last year, I would have told you Keith was definitely going and Biscuit wasn't. After the playoffs, the buzz from Hockey Canada was that Seabrook's stock was shooting through the roof. Now it seems if you pick one you pick both, but I can't honestly believe that those two are amongst the best two Canadian d-men. Hopefully neither do, but I get a feeling Flash (Duncan Keith) will be wearing a Maple Leaf.

I don't know about Buff. Burke loves size, the US squad lacks it in serious proportions, and if Dustin shows any of his playoff fire early in the season, he's going to get a serious look. So the likely number of Hawks Olympians is around five, our three best forwards, possibly one or both of our best d-men. Luckily, the Hawks will be younger at this point then either the Sens or Wings were in 2006, and maybe can handle the extra workload. I'd rather not deal with it, though.

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I share a lot of your concerns Sam, but to play devil’s advocate for a minute…

With the youth involved, maybe the top competition springboards Kane (and Toews) to new heights for the remainder of the season. Both have starred internationally in their careers thus far, and proving themselves on the world’s biggest, baddest stage mid-season could add a new layer of confidence down the stretch. If anyone can take a few extra miles on their legs, it’s the kids (as opposed to, say, Lidstrom).

Let’s just be thankful that France didn’t qualify and Finland has plenty of goaltending depth.

by Dr. Ice on Aug 3, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions

I would lay the odds like this (Taking out the 3 definites)

Toews – 2-1
Byfuglien – 5-1
Keith – 12-1
Seabrook – 15-1
Sharp – 35-1

There’s just too many good wingers and d-man for Team Canada. Even if Keith or Seabrook squeak in, I would assume they would make it as a 5th or 6th defenseman.

Another thing to keep in mind with that 2005-06 Ottawa team, not only were those guys the top players on their team but they were also the top players on the national squad seeing heavy minutes for both teams. Other than Kane and Hossa, none of the Hawks will be anchoring the top two lines (or defensive pairs) for their national team.

FifthFeather.com

by El Duque's Raft on Aug 3, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions

I like your odds…. I agree that Toews is almost a lock. I would give both Keith and Seabrook better odds right now though. I dont know that both will make the team, but I definitely think at least ONE of them will make it. I think Seabrook’s game is a little better for international competition— but both would be good selections. They couldnt go wrong with either…

View From My Seats
Sarcasm: God's gift to smart people...

by Matt Reitz on Aug 5, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone know when the official roster will be announced?

It’s not for awhile, right? Will it coincide with the start of the NHL season? I just found out I’m going to the closed Team USA practice next Wednesday. It would be sweet if they made the announcement during the practice!

by Sportsgal on Aug 3, 2009 11:32 PM CDT reply actions

nice to see our commenters have more access than us… we expect a report. I’m trying to go to one of the open practices.

Second City Hockey

by Killion on Aug 3, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Never underestimate the power of breasts, Matthew.

by Sportsgal on Aug 3, 2009 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL!

I like you. Exploit all avenues!

by G8K33P3R on Aug 4, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I remember reading somewhere that the US team should be announced in late December.

by Dr. Ice on Aug 4, 2009 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

If you think Sharp isn’t as versatile as he used to be, you may want take your meds. He skated on every line in the playoffs and was relatively productive, too. The question is… does Richards take Sharps spot as the versatile sniper? My money is on Richards being a roleplayer and Sharp sitting on the sidelines.

As far as Seabrook and Keith, you might as well book their tickets to Vancouver now. Same goes for Toews.

by wlittle on Aug 4, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions

As an American you should be scared...

…for your getting Canada (God’s Country) right off the bat! LOL can’t believe this topic is already coming up for it’s early August 2009 and the Olympics are in February of 2010 so it’s a little ways away from that much-anticipated tournament, however it’s never too early for a little trash-talk to go on between American and Canadians.
With that said the Hawks (or any team for that matter) should have no worries of becoming the next 2006 Ottawa Senators. The Lockout season of 2005 did little in making things better for the participants in the Olympics at Turin, for many of the players from all countries didn’t play hockey during that season and if they did they probably didn’t compete at the same level as they would in the NHL. That one-year layoff alone should have been a main reason for some teams to not send some of their top-tier performers.
As for the fallout of the Senators that season the Olympics and Hasek’s injury were only a small portion of the problems that arised in Ottawa that season. It all started with the dismissal of very popular head coach Jacques Martin. Martin was very much loved within the dressing room, for many were very loyal to him for how far he had taken this once sad-saken franchise who far to often were competing for the first pick rather than the Stanley Cup. His dimissal wasn’t very popular with the core players like Alfredsson, Chara and Hossa. The Hossa trade for Heatley wasn’t exactly a jump-for-joy event either for Hossa for the past 3 playoff seasons carried the Senators offensively. Not to mention it was another sign that Muckler and Melnyk were giving into crybaby Spezza which was at the time demanding to be the #1 centre in Ottawa, which under Martin was earned with your 2-way play.
Then there was (It’s about me) Marty Havlat. Were to begin… First he gets injured and the Sens training staff begs him for rehabilitation, but Marty decides to listen to his agent Alan Walsh and takes the surgery which leaves him out for 4 months (great advice) for “he’s thinking about his future as a potential FA”. Problem was he wasn’t, he set to become a RFA which is entirely different status. FA means ‘your free to move about the country’, RFA means ‘we own your ass unless someone bids foolish’. Havlat’s antics basically threw Muckler under the bus to trade him. Muckler stands firm and doesn’t during the season (Not popular within the dressing room) but finally is backed into a corner and does during the off-season for virtually nothing along with Smolinski (another dressing room favourite).
The Senators for sure looked destined from the outside to capture Lord Stanley’s Mug before the Olympics but being from the Ottawa Valley I can tell you that it was only a matter of time before this team self-destructed from within. The tell-tale signs were there and it definitely seemed that the dressing room was in disarray and make no mistake Bryan Murray has never had, or ever will earn the respect in that dressing room that Martin once had, hence the Sens have never looked as the same organization as they did back when he was coach. Granted the 2007 Senators made the Finals but ask anyone here and they will tell you that the 2003 Senators were a far better team.
This is why I’m elated that Hossa (Hoss-is-Boss) is in a Hawks uniform for any heroics in th playoffs by Hoss is because he’s dedicated to winning the Stanley Cup. Marty only cared about getting the rich fat contract, sorry for all the JHC lovers out there but the Hawks were never really in his heart just the money. Dale could never see through it but Scotty and Stan could and that is the real reason why Hossa is here now.
The Olympics are going to be fun to watch yet very nerve-racking. Cheers to the victors or to Canada (we’re going to win). Hopefully Keith, Seabrook, Sharp (maybe?), and Toews (definitely) do us all Hawks fans proud and play the way we know they can and capture the Gold Medal for God’s Country.

It's never about the eventual destination, but rather the long journey and its challenging obstacles that are presented and what it takes to overcome them, that makes the taste of success all the more worthwhile!!!

by hawks61 on Aug 4, 2009 7:52 PM CDT reply actions

I thought

Ireland was “God’s Country”…at least that’s what Bono told me…

by Crease Monkey on Aug 5, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Hilarious

You know what is even funnier than that one year we lost to the Oilers… Its the four other years that I watched my team raise the Stanley Cup. But I’m sure you know what that feels like. I mean, the Hawks have won a cup in your lifetime haven’t they?

by mooka64 on Aug 5, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions

Just because it's summer..

doesn’t mean the trolls go away.

Second City Hockey

by Killion on Aug 5, 2009 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions

No it's okay

I can make these jokes because my sister is dating a Hawks fan. Which actually hasn’t really bothered any of us because I didn’t even know the Blackhawks and the Red Wings were considered rivals until this year.

by mooka64 on Aug 6, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions