Season Preparations

Bruins_GM · Post by **Bruins_GM** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:17 pm

Has any decision been made regarding simulating the Olympics?

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:24 pm

I'll make an Olympic file again. We'll draw names out of a hat for who will GM what team once I get a list of everybody interested.

Bruins_GM · Post by **Bruins_GM** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:31 pm

Count me in.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:36 pm

Doing the real-life rosters. Easiest way to do it. Means Canada will probably win, but we'll see what happens.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 7:18 pm

i am in

Commish Bub(NYR) · Post by **Commish Bub(NYR)** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:17 pm

I'm in. Got Latvia last time.

Post by **SharksGM** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 8:25 pm

Commissioner (CBJ) wrote:Doing the real-life rosters. Easiest way to do it. Means Canada will probably win, but we'll see what happens.

Too bad the real team USA picked Dustin '13 points' Brown over Kyle 'literally 3 times as many' Okposo, cause it would've been great to see EHEC Okposo on team USA.

I'm in too, I'll take team Algeria.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:03 am

How did they take some of those players over Bobby Ryan, and how did Keith Yandle not make the team?

Seriously, Paul Stastny?

Atleast Dustin Brown is good.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:41 am

This is from an article i was just looking at......

Scott Burnside was one of 2 writers who had unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the ‪#‎USAHockey‬ team selection process and some amazing quotes came from behind the closed doors:
- Brian Burke: ‪#‎Senators‬ "Bobby Ryan isn't intense. That word is not in his vocabulary. It's never going to be in his vocabulary. He can't spell intense. I should have taken Jack (Johnson over Bobby Ryan in the 2005 draft)".
- Dale Tallon ‪#‎BlueJackets‬ "Jack Johnson is having a bad year. He needs to get his s*** together".
- Burke: "I always assume a disaster's going to happen when ‪#‎Coyotes‬ Keith Yandle is on the ice. If Yandle goes in our top four, I think everyone we play is excited".
- GM David Poile ‪#‎Wild‬ "Jason Pominville and ‪#‎Islanders‬ Okposo "aren't built for big ice and have never been considered"
- Don Waddell "If ‪#‎Jets‬ Dustin Byfuglien is going to have to play minutes defensively, boy, right now he's a high-risk guy"
- Associate GM Ray Shero "I'm going to take my ****ing chances with ‪#‎RedWings‬ Jimmy Howard"

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 9:59 am

Bye bye Team USA..........it will be Canada vs Russia in finals
Love seeing USA gone......

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:24 am

Montreal Canadiens wrote:How did they take some of those players over Bobby Ryan, and how did Keith Yandle not make the team?

Seriously, Paul Stastny?

Atleast Dustin Brown is good.

Stastny was there in '10 and was pretty good in the tournament. Ryan's a snub.

Yandle's not the right type of defenseman for the big ice. That's why they took Faulk.

The brutal honesty coming from those comments is pretty eye-opening.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:42 pm

if those are true words, it seems kinda odd to me that a person would have access to some GM's shit talking players. What Burke said (if he said it) seems a bit true about Ryan, except for this is TEAM USA in the Olympics. Gotta have some sort of pride and intensity kick in. With the big ice, coulda seen some potential beautys from Ryan.

The USA juniors lasted probably as long as their Olympic team will.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:52 pm

I'm sure you won't read this, but here's the entire article: http://espn.go.com/olympics/hockey/stor ... -was-named

Very long article covering a six-month span of meetings to determine who was on the US Olympic team.

Their logic is sound all around. Big ice makes everything a completely different game. They paid attention to the details. Everything from defensive handedness to having to elevate a defenseman up the depth chart in case of injury or suspension to character makeup. Injuries are inevitable as well, so this probably won't be the final roster.

There's a hell of a lot more to the game than scoring "beautys".

US will go as far as Quick/Miller carry them. Miller was incredible in 2010. It'll take another performance like that to play for Gold. I think they'll be in the Bronze Medal game, personally.

Post by **SharksGM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:09 pm

Orpik is a lock over Yandle

Burke is a loudmouthed hack, I'm glad he had a big hand in picking that team. Should have taken Jack Johnson over Ryan, really? Johnson is a disaster, one of the worst defensemen in the league. Maybe Burke confused Yandle for Johnson, based on his nonsensical comments. And Poile, who wouldn't know a talented forward if Crosby sat in his lap, didn't even consider bringing Pominville or Okposo because reasons. Okposo played two college seasons on an Olympic-sized rink, for the record.

I think USA has enough depth at RW that snubbing Pominville and Okposo is fine, but immediately dismissing them does not sound like a deep thought process. And tell me how Brooks Orpik is better suited to Olympic ice than Yandle? What makes Yandle unsuited and Shattenkirk a perfect fit? Since they were paying attention to handedness, Faulk is not the guy who made it over Yandle - they play opposite sides. Not to mention that Yandle has been a better player than Fowler oh let's say every year, ever.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:22 pm

I didn't mean to imply that they took Yandle over Faulk, but I think they like Faulk's recoverability (new word?) over Yandle. Orpik was going to be a lock because of the need for some sort of physicality on D, and also probably because of his relationship with Bylsma.

The Okposo point is a good one. I'm surprised he wasn't seriously considered. Less so about Pominville.

Jack Johnson was pretty damn good in 2010. Burke lobbied rather hard for Johnson, but it was a group decision. I think they also want to get Fowler in there because he's a mainstay for the next few Games, if the NHLers continue to go.

There was support for Yandle. Somebody will get hurt and Yandle will probably go. I admit to not having seen much of Yandle, so I can't add my own opinions of his play. I was just going by what the collective group said when I read the article. That wasn't my personal opinion.

Burke picked most of the 2010 team too. Not like they had a bad showing.

Post by **SharksGM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:33 pm

I'm just surprised these great hockey minds didn't even need to think twice about including guys like Brown and Callahan, who are known for their gritty intangibleness, considering they have done just about jack shit in the last year, and that the Olympics really isn't a tournament where you need those kinds of players. Maybe they figure Brown will decapitate Crosby or something. Then they speak as if Yandle is a complete disaster defensively but name Fowler instead. It's not like Yandle will be old as dirt 4 years from now, he's just 27.

There's enough talent to go around USA that it's going to be a good team regardless, it's just some of the hyperbole that gets thrown around is ridiculous (and most of it is Burke). He still doesn't have the balls to admit he was wrong and his scouts were right about Ryan.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:34 pm

Orpik over Yandle makes zero sense. Paul Martin over Yandle is even more hilarious. Can not wait to see Russia, Sweden, and Canada just skate around those bums on the blueline.

How do you not take Ben Bishop??? Jimmy Howard has been a leaky faucet all year with Quick hurt...

I love how you have Suter, Faulk, Fowler, Shattenkirk, Martin, and Carlson and Team Canada gets to put this out:

Keith-Seabrook
Doughty-Subban
Pietrangelo-

My guess is Bouwmeester for the 6th, but could be him, Phaneuf, or Boyle.

Brown & Callahan on the big ice will be fun to see. Anybody else besides Bobby Ryan & Okposo get a major snub? If it was me I wouldn't have taken Pacioretty, Stastny, or Stepan. I'm assuming Stasnty & Stepan are the spares?

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:47 pm

Right or wrong, I don't think they wanted to rock the boat by even putting Brown or Callahan in question. I'm surprised they even hesitated about Kesler. There really aren't a lot of world-class players for them to choose from. There's a lot of good talent but not a whole lot of elite talent.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:49 pm

Montreal Canadiens wrote:How do you not take Ben Bishop??? Jimmy Howard has been a leaky faucet all year with Quick hurt...

The reasoning was that Bishop wasn't very good in the Worlds last year and John Gibson carried the team to a Bronze medal. Doesn't matter, the third goalie probably wasn't going to play anyway.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 1:54 pm

Yeah, will be interesting to see who they go with out of Miller/Quick. Quick has been hurt all year, is arguably the better goalie, but Miller has been pretty solid for Buffalo. If only they had a team to go around him.

Team Canada's starting goalie choice (if it's not Luongo) would be interesting.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:22 pm

Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:47 pm

Singin the BLUES wrote:Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.

Who you going to pick if you're not picking the best Canadian goalie (Lou) or another strong Canadian goalie.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:06 pm

[quote="Commissioner (CBJ)"]http://espn.go.com/olympics/hockey/stor ... amed[quote]

That's a pretty cool article, it's still shocking to me that you can pencil in guys like Brown, Callahan, Statsny, Stepan, Paul Martin, and Orpik, before the season even starts.

Would be cool if Canada had something like this to show.

Must be hard as a GM to hear some others blast your own players.

I'm so flabbergasted how they think Paul Martin is any good. Why would you be concerned if he was hurt in the first minute and Keith Yandle has to take over? Oh shit Burke, your defense just got better.

In that article, Burke showed why he's a numnuts and has been fired 3 times as GM already.

GM Office Q · Post by **GM Office Q** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:00 pm

Stastny is the least of USA's concerns.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:13 pm

Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.
Who you going to pick if you're not picking the best Canadian goalie (Lou) or another strong Canadian goalie.

Crawford, Harding, Smith.....hell even maybe Holtby over those 2. Price and Luo belong in about the same sentence as Bryz

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:34 pm

Commissioner (CBJ) wrote:Doing the real-life rosters. Easiest way to do it. Means Canada will probably win, but we'll see what happens.

Why not let each GM pick his team from whoever's eligible? The real-life rosters are gonna kinda suck for a lot of countries.

TorontoGM · Post by **TorontoGM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:49 pm

I understand why they took the players they did, and I'm a huge fan of teams who really focus on the handedness of the blueliners and even the forwards but some of those quotes in the article are a joke.

Burke says he should have drafted Jack Johnson over Bobby Ryan.......The same Jack Johnson who's been traded 3 times? and the first time was before he could even play a game for the Canes? The same fucken player you didn't select for this US team? Right.

USA finishes 5th

Also, Shero reminds me a lot our own Mr. Bern. Loud mouth fuck who was gifted a crazy good team.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:56 pm

Singin the BLUES wrote:
Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.
Who you going to pick if you're not picking the best Canadian goalie (Lou) or another strong Canadian goalie.
Crawford, Harding, Smith.....hell even maybe Holtby over those 2. Price and Luo belong in about the same sentence as Bryz

Crawford, Harding, Smith, Holtby are you fucking high????

Crawford has been hurt, same with Harding, and how do you trust any of them in an international level when they've never been there or done that. Holtby isn't even the starter for Washington and you want him to lead Canada? Get off the sauce.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:15 pm

Parker wrote:
Commissioner (CBJ) wrote:Doing the real-life rosters. Easiest way to do it. Means Canada will probably win, but we'll see what happens.
Why not let each GM pick his team from whoever's eligible? The real-life rosters are gonna kinda suck for a lot of countries.

I could consider this, but it's a lot less fun to be the GM of Latvia or Switzerland than it is to be the GM of US, Canada, Sweden, etc.

Bruins_GM · Post by **Bruins_GM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:25 pm

There are some interesting Swiss players out there, and if push comes to shove, all the Germans in the league can be Latvians for a week or so.

TorontoGM · Post by **TorontoGM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:59 pm

I still want Slovenia.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:06 pm

Bruins_GM wrote:There are some interesting Swiss players out there, and if push comes to shove, all the Germans in the league can be Latvians for a week or so.

Not ALL the Germans; Germany needs some players too.

I do see the point though; some of the also-ran countries might not have enough players in the file to ice a full roster.

Although, isn't that the case whether we go with real-life teams OR human CPU-selected teams? Or does the game generate additional players to fill out those rosters? I've never really paid enough attention to WJC tournaments in EHM to know one way or the other.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:11 pm

Not sure how EHM does WJC.

I can always make players for the smaller countries.

Bruins_GM · Post by **Bruins_GM** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:15 pm

Parker wrote:
Bruins_GM wrote:There are some interesting Swiss players out there, and if push comes to shove, all the Germans in the league can be Latvians for a week or so.
Not ALL the Germans; Germany needs some players too.

I do see the point though; some of the also-ran countries might not have enough players in the file to ice a full roster.

Although, isn't that the case whether we go with real-life teams OR human CPU-selected teams? Or does the game generate additional players to fill out those rosters? I've never really paid enough attention to WJC tournaments in EHM to know one way or the other.

Germany didn't make the Olympic tournament this year.

Group A: Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, USA
Group B: Canada, Finland, Norway, Austria
Group C: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 11:18 pm

Bruins_GM wrote:Germany didn't make the Olympic tournament this year.

Group A: Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, USA
Group B: Canada, Finland, Norway, Austria
Group C: Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia

Holy crap, really? I didn't know Slovenia, Switzerland, and Austria were such hockey powerhouses.

TorontoGM · Post by **TorontoGM** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 1:42 am

Swiss hockey has made huge strides in the last 5 years.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 8:35 am

Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:
Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.
Who you going to pick if you're not picking the best Canadian goalie (Lou) or another strong Canadian goalie.
Crawford, Harding, Smith.....hell even maybe Holtby over those 2. Price and Luo belong in about the same sentence as Bryz
Crawford, Harding, Smith, Holtby are you fucking high????

Crawford has been hurt, same with Harding, and how do you trust any of them in an international level when they've never been there or done that. Holtby isn't even the starter for Washington and you want him to lead Canada? Get off the sauce.

Goes to show how much you know. Harding hasnt been injured at all. He was placed on IR so that they can adjust his medication for multiple sclerosis. Luo MIGHT be able to do it for Team Canada, but in no way would i trust Price at all.

Commish Bub(NYR) · Post by **Commish Bub(NYR)** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 11:48 am

I don't know how the EHM game engine for junior tourneys runs, but I remember Riz saying it was very rudimentary. Which is why you almost always get nine-goal games, with the occasional crazy 1-0 six overtime game.

I do know that EHM generates new players every game to fill out rosters for the "other" countries. So when Lars von Ubermensch scores five times for Austria in one game, by the next game he's vanished into the EHM mists.

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:29 pm

Singin the BLUES wrote:
Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:
Montreal Canadiens wrote:
Singin the BLUES wrote:Bobby Ryans reaction to what was said
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=440211

As for Team Canadas goaltending, i hate to say it but i dont really want either Luo or Price in net. They arent really reliable at all when it comes to one and your out type of games, especially on the bigger ice.
Who you going to pick if you're not picking the best Canadian goalie (Lou) or another strong Canadian goalie.
Crawford, Harding, Smith.....hell even maybe Holtby over those 2. Price and Luo belong in about the same sentence as Bryz
Crawford, Harding, Smith, Holtby are you fucking high????

Crawford has been hurt, same with Harding, and how do you trust any of them in an international level when they've never been there or done that. Holtby isn't even the starter for Washington and you want him to lead Canada? Get off the sauce.
Goes to show how much you know. Harding hasnt been injured at all. He was placed on IR so that they can adjust his medication for multiple sclerosis. Luo MIGHT be able to do it for Team Canada, but in no way would i trust Price at all.

IR - INJURED RESERVE.

Doesn't matter if you have diahhrea and they placed you on IR, you are on injured reserve.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:02 pm

I would rather take a guy that is coming off of IR because of meds over a goalie that SHOULD be on a shitload of meds to begin with. Price is no good under pressure, he has shown that time and time again. And now Luo is starting to show that he isnt either within the past few years. A long time since his last Team Canada starting. I would almost even throw Marty in there instead.

GM Office Q · Post by **GM Office Q** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:37 pm

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:49 pm

Singin the BLUES wrote:I would rather take a guy that is coming off of IR because of meds over a goalie that SHOULD be on a shitload of meds to begin with. Price is no good under pressure, he has shown that time and time again. And now Luo is starting to show that he isnt either within the past few years. A long time since his last Team Canada starting. I would almost even throw Marty in there instead.

Yeah because Brodeur did so well in 2010.

Wasn't he pulled for Lou?

Oh yeah, that's right he was, and Lou was a big part in the gold medal.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 7:12 pm

And what has Luo done since beside choked? Marty carried his team to the finals and had it not been for a powerhouse team like LA, they might have had a chance. But the Nucks are a loaded team and Luo still choked........kinda about the same as Price does......a la Bryz

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:44 pm

Where did Lou choke? When he stood on his head for Canada and they won a gold medal?

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:30 am

I can tell that you cant read very well thru your rose colored glasses. I said what has Luo done SINCE then......not....a....fucking....thing

Montreal Canadiens · Post by **Montreal Canadiens** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:54 am

He's the best Canada goalie. period. stop. Has a gold medal to prove it.

TorontoGM · Post by **TorontoGM** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:53 am

Ya Lou had a pretty shitty December.

Singin the BLUES · Post by **Singin the BLUES** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:22 am

Jeff Glass also has a gold medal while being Canadas goalie. And where is he? Just cause a goalie has a medal, doesnt mean he is a great goalie.

Virtual Jarmo · Post by **Virtual Jarmo** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:40 pm

Nice win by Canada today.

Oh, wait.

Bruins_GM · Post by **Bruins_GM** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:44 pm

The World Juniors have been shit for years, and for the life of me I don't understand why people in Canada get such a hard-on for the tournament.