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Leafs81
PickupHockey Pro
735 Posts |
 Posted - 11/25/2009 : 12:34:24
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A lot of talk lately about who should play for what country. All right so for the 7 leading countries in hockey, who do you think will be in goal?
Canada - Martin Brodeur
Russia - Evgeni Nabokov
Sweden - Henrik Lundqvist
USA - Ryan Miller
Finland - Miikka Kiprusoff
Czech Republic - Tomas Vokoun
Slovakia - Jaroslav Halak
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Tiller33
PickupHockey Pro
389 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 12:58:15
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Brodeur, Nabokov, Kiprusoff, Vokoun, Halak, and Lundqvist are all locks to be starters as I see it the only legitimate goaltending race is Miller and Thomas, I hope Miller gets the recognition but I think it may go to Thomas. Burke and Wilson get a great look at both with them both being in Toronto's division.
There's a lot of dirty old occ's around thats the problem |
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HawkinOilCountry
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
318 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 13:10:49
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Kind of agree with Tiller. The only big question mark up there is Team USA. I'd be seriously considering Thomas, Miller, and even Anderson (longshot). Could go either way for Thomas and Miller I think.
Personally, I'm still not sure I'd start Nabokov for Russia, but I think he's most likely going to get it.
The arena wall in chicago should be credited with a goal. |
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sharksfan44
Rookie
Canada
228 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 14:44:59
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quote:
Originally posted by HawkinOilCountry
Kind of agree with Tiller. The only big question mark up there is Team USA. I'd be seriously considering Thomas, Miller, and even Anderson (longshot). Could go either way for Thomas and Miller I think.
Personally, I'm still not sure I'd start Nabokov for Russia, but I think he's most likely going to get it.
The arena wall in chicago should be credited with a goal.
who would you start in place of nabokov though? khabibulien would be the next goalie in line and i just dont see him taking nabokovs spot as the #1 guy. |
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HawkinOilCountry
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
318 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 15:14:49
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I put up a poll about Russian goalies a couple weeks ago. Cast my vote for Bryzgalov. But like I said, Nabokov is most likely to get it, he's just not my pick.
The arena wall in chicago should be credited with a goal. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 20:08:40
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Well, not all locks here - Khabibulin could take it away from Nabakov, depending on who's hot. You know how these tournaments go - one bad game, then the other guy plays like Tretiak, and they ride him. And do not discount Varlamov . . . he won't be the first choice, but if he keeps this up, he'll be one bad game (another guy's bad game) away from the starter.
Miller, I see him getting it ahead of Thomas, but it's a battle still.
Finland - now here is a battle no one is talking about, but things are getting tight. Despite the loss tonight, Nittymaki has been playing lights out at times, and he is a solid goalie who has stolen the starter's job in TB from . . . who was it, Smith? If young Antero goes on a run, the Finns could have a goalie battle - which is good for anyone. And did I mention Pekka Renne, who is playing for the Preds? Don't know him, eh? Well, he's 10-4-0, .918 save percentage, 2.29 GGA, and 2 shutouts so far. Yeah, this kid is also very, very good. Still, Kipper's job to lose obviously, but being pushed by these guys is a good thing.
Man I am getting excited about international play.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 22:25:51
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Antti Niemi (Chi) is another Finnish goalie playing well, however, he's a backup and doesn't get a lot of games. He's 4-1 in 5 starts and you can throw in 2 shutouts as well!
Def don't see him getting any playing time, but maybe the 3rd keeper role for experience for the future? He's only 26 however, Rinne, who's a really good goalie is only 27? Be interesting to see as Nittymaki will likely get the 2 spot (he's 30).
One thing i did read somewhere was kinda interesting. I read somewhere that Kipper has stated that if he's not the starter for Finland, he doesn't wanna go? So, my question is, what does he do if he gets the job, sucks for two games and is replaced by the backup? Does he quit, fly back to Calgary and get ready for the NHL to resume? Or does he man up and stick with the national team? |
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Tiller33
PickupHockey Pro
389 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 22:34:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
One thing i did read somewhere was kinda interesting. I read somewhere that Kipper has stated that if he's not the starter for Finland, he doesn't wanna go? So, my question is, what does he do if he gets the job, sucks for two games and is replaced by the backup? Does he quit, fly back to Calgary and get ready for the NHL to resume? Or does he man up and stick with the national team?
Patrick Roy much?
There's a lot of dirty old occ's around thats the problem |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 06:12:04
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Well . . . frankly, I can understand Kipper's position in this regard. He doesn't want to get the shaft of being a back-up, where you basically won't play unless someone gets hurt, and yet you have to do the practices, you have the extra travel, etc etc - instead, he could be spending that time with his family.
For a guy who has accomplished a lot, nearing the end of his career, I can understand it. In the scenario Alex116 suggested (a couple of bad games, plays back-up the rest of the way), I wouldn't have sympathy if he left . . . but, it's a volunteer's tournament, so really, it's his right. Just not very . . . er, dedicated.
Hmm. Looking up Kipper's past with the Finnish team, he has backed out of service before . . . declined in 2006 because of a nagging hip injury, but kept on playing with Calgary at the time. He had previously declined service in 2002 as well.
I changed my mind - he does seem a bit . . . prima donna-ish.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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BizzerB
Top Prospect
4 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 06:37:31
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Switzerland is in the top 7
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Mikey Boy
Rookie
Canada
103 Posts |
Posted - 11/26/2009 : 07:54:55
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Don't count out Bryzgalov for russia yet. great start to the season on a poor team.
MP |
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Tiller33
PickupHockey Pro
389 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2009 : 12:54:56
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So here's an interesting fact that I personally never knew, maybe I'm the only one. Nikolai Khabbibulin has already won a gold medal in Men's hockey at the 1992 winter games in Albertville, France as a member of the Unified team (the name of a coalition of former Soviet Bloc countries following the collapse of the Soviet Union).
Sergei Zubov was also on that team.
There's a lot of dirty old occ's around thats the problem |
Edited by - Tiller33 on 12/11/2009 12:56:02 |
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Mikey Boy
Rookie
Canada
103 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2009 : 14:19:38
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I am a true Brodeur fan...i wore a devils jeresy to my own wedding! I also find it very interesting how at the end of last season lots of people wrote off Marty. Even at the start of this season guys talking how Luongo should be the starter, Marty is getting old and slow. Wow, how time has changed...he must have gotten younger and faster somehow.
MP |
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Guest9655
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Posted - 12/13/2009 : 15:41:07
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Create a Brodeur using steroids rumour. In all seriousness, Fleury should backup Marty rather than Bobby Lou. One has come up big in the playoffs, one hasn't.
Thomas is barely staying as Boston's #1 over Rask, so lol to whoever thinks Miller wont be starting for the Americans. Kipper wins the finnish job rather easily, and his 'threat' is completely justified. |
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Tiller33
PickupHockey Pro
389 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2009 : 14:40:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Guest9655
Create a Brodeur using steroids rumour. In all seriousness, Fleury should backup Marty rather than Bobby Lou. One has come up big in the playoffs, one hasn't.
Thomas is barely staying as Boston's #1 over Rask, so lol to whoever thinks Miller wont be starting for the Americans. Kipper wins the finnish job rather easily, and his 'threat' is completely justified.
It was written a month ago before thomas got hurt and Miller started shutting out just about every team he plays, it's definately Miller starting for the USA now.
There's a lot of dirty old occ's around thats the problem |
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Tiller33
PickupHockey Pro
389 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2009 : 09:35:28
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http://www.coppernblue.com/2009/12/14/1200807/khabibulin-done
Article reporting that Khabbibulin may be done for the year due to surgery needed to repair a herniated disc in his back. If that is the case then I'd say Russia's goaltending situation becomes pretty straight forward as Nabokov, Bryzgalov, and Varlamov.
There's a lot of dirty old occ's around thats the problem |
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Topic |
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2010 Olympic Goaltenders 
