Any thoughts? Guys you thought should be there and are not or vice versa?
Angelo Esposito FINALLY makes the team after being cut the last 3 years straight!!
ALSO......do you think any of the NHL players should have been loaned to their respective countries for the tourney (as far as I know you can still do this.....although maybe there is something in the new CBA)..........guys like Stamkos/Schenn/Doughty etc?
Update:Tom..I have always been of the thought that if the team wasn't going anywhere........the player will get a benefit out of going to represent his country and going for the gold and getting some added "big game" experience, it certainly can't hurt for the likes of Stamkos or Schenn (if he was healthy).....leaving their bottom feeder NHL teams for some meaningful games= a good thing.
Of course the owners have a vested interest but they are probably less likely to get hurt playing against juniors than playing in the NHL.
Update 3:How about Kyle Turris and Colton Gillies? They should be there.
Stamkos wasn't at Canada's Summer Camp.
Sam Gagner is still eligible.....only one goal this year........have him go find his game.....a change of pace!!
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I'm very excited about the makeup of Team Canada.
The issue with releasing players...another item on the table for the NHL and IIHF to discuss. If you look at soccer...players have to be released by their clubs for International games and tournaments. Hockey can and should follow this model (the IIHF can and should look to work out an agreement on insurance, and maybe even a limit to how many players from a club can be pulled for International duty).
As such, if a national federation (i.e. Hockey Canada) wants a player, they should be able to get that player.
With that being said, you have to have some form of dispensation available to clubs, and some sort of agreement as to the player's salary (clubs getting salary cap relief, player being compensated).
To your question...I have no drama with Team Canada selecting the players that they want, and if the player is playing in the NHL...so be it.
If they're eligible, fit (not injured), and are willing to represent their country, then it's done and dusted.
The Canadian team looks real good. As far as NHL teams loaning players to their respective country teams. Filatov is being made available by Columbus. I don't think any of the others are being made available because the tourney won't improve their development and may in fact be a conflict for the team management.
I know Schenn was considered but with his present injury the threat of greater injury might be a consideration.
The players have to get insurance releases to play for their respective countries and is the premium worth it for the federation or amateur body.