All approximate odds are from Pinnacle:
Gold Medal
Canada (1.5/1) ……. A team with no weakness. (with the exception of possibly being overconfident) A roster so loaded and complete they have Jason Speeza, Eric Stall, and Bryan McCabe on their taxi squad. Even the “Next One” had no spot to play here. It amazes me that a country with less people in it than the state of California could easily suit up two complete teams that would find themselves both on the podium during medal ceremonies. Makes me wonder what the U.S. could do if everyone wasn’t so busy playing football, baseball, and basketball.
Silver Medal
Sweden (5/1) ….. 19 quality NHL players on their roster. With names like Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, Daniel Alfredsson, P.J. Axelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Markus Nasland, Fredrik Modin, and the Sedin twins you have to believe this team will score with the best of them. The question remains will they keep the puck out of their own net with Lundqvist and Tellqvist being your 1 and 2. This lineup will devastate the bottom dwellers, edge out the Czechs and Russinas but falls short against the more complete squad in Canada.
Bronze Medal
Czech Republic (3/1) …… The New York Rangers, (east). Let’s see if the chemistry that has taken the New York Rangers to the top of NHL standings will translate to Turin. All but one player on their roster comes from the NHL including five from the Rangers. Dominic Hasek (gold medal winner in ‘98), will compete in his third Olympiad and is backed up by Tomas Vokoun. Solid team from top to bottom.
Also rans….
Russia (6/1) ……Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Alexei Yashin….what’s not to like? I think they look susceptible on defense. I’ve never been hugely impressed with Alexei Zhitnik or Darius Kasparaitis. Sergei Gonchar has looked lost this year in Pittsburgh. And they give three players their first Olympic appearance in Anton Volchenkov of Ottawa, Fedor Tyutin (Rangers), Andrei Markov (Montreal), and Dmitri Bykov (Dynamo Moscow). This roster will need to outscore the opposition in order to win.
I would love to see the Mighty Ducks Ilya Bryzgalov get a chance in net. He’s really something special but Nikolai Khabibulin will be their number one.
Finland (18/1) ……. This team’s hope hinges on Kari Lehtonen coming back from a year long groin injury and playing up to all the pre-season hype we’ve been listening to. With Kiprusoff taking the games off to heal his hip the Fins look thin in net. Personally I can’t understand these kind of short odds the linesmaker has placed on this team.
U.S.A. (15/1) .…… The Americans are so weak in leadership they choose to include a 44 year old defensemen, (Chris Chelios), that has a solid history in the Olympics. A history of trashing Olympic Village hotel rooms. At this time DiPietro and Esche in goal doesn’t breed confidence for another Miracle on Ice.
Slovakia (13/1) ……. 18 NHL players on this roster assures that Slovakia will make some noise in the early rounds but it’s difficult to consider them a medal contender.
Germany (500/1) ……. Olie the Goalie has had plenty of warm-up for this one. First he’s supported by a non-existant Washington Capital defense in front him and now a roster consisting of only 6 NHL players. None of whom are difference makers. Come to think of it Kolzig would be far better off with the Washington Capitals in front of him.
Latvia (400/1) ……. Two players on this team that I know anything about. One is goalie Arturs Irbe. At his very best he helped Carolina to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002. Other than that short moment in the sun he was nothing more than a sub .500 tender. Today he’s not even that.
Switzerland (400/1) ….. A team devoid of NHL talent including David Aebischer and Martin Gerber in net. Pretty said statement when you have 3 NHL players on your roster and their names are Aebischer, Gerber, and Mark Streit. (if you know who Mark Streit is without looking than you get additional points) 400/1 has little value.
Kazakhstan (500/1) ….. A grand total of one NHL player on their roster. Nik Antropov. He’s presently just short of being on pace to challenge his career high for goals scored in a season at 16. ’Nuff said.
Italy (500/1) …… If the games weren’t held in Turin the odds on Italy would be more like 5000/1. Even at that you’d be short changed. 18 of the 23 players are first time Olympians as Italy didn’t have the talent, (or the nerve), to field a unit for the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.
Let me sum up this team’s chances with one example. The only player on their roster that plays in North America is a career minor leaguer. 38 year old Robert Nardella, (born and raised in Illinois), who has a resume consisting of college level, (Ferris State), played two years in Italy, (13 years ago), had a stint in 1994 with the Chicago Cheetahs, (roller hockey) and currently plays in the United Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs. This can’t be a good thing…..can it? A IceHog gets his five minutes of fame in the land known for it’s wine and Christ’s Holy Shroud? Make them 50,000/1.
Gold Medal
Canada (1.5/1) ……. A team with no weakness. (with the exception of possibly being overconfident) A roster so loaded and complete they have Jason Speeza, Eric Stall, and Bryan McCabe on their taxi squad. Even the “Next One” had no spot to play here. It amazes me that a country with less people in it than the state of California could easily suit up two complete teams that would find themselves both on the podium during medal ceremonies. Makes me wonder what the U.S. could do if everyone wasn’t so busy playing football, baseball, and basketball.
Silver Medal
Sweden (5/1) ….. 19 quality NHL players on their roster. With names like Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, Daniel Alfredsson, P.J. Axelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Markus Nasland, Fredrik Modin, and the Sedin twins you have to believe this team will score with the best of them. The question remains will they keep the puck out of their own net with Lundqvist and Tellqvist being your 1 and 2. This lineup will devastate the bottom dwellers, edge out the Czechs and Russinas but falls short against the more complete squad in Canada.
Bronze Medal
Czech Republic (3/1) …… The New York Rangers, (east). Let’s see if the chemistry that has taken the New York Rangers to the top of NHL standings will translate to Turin. All but one player on their roster comes from the NHL including five from the Rangers. Dominic Hasek (gold medal winner in ‘98), will compete in his third Olympiad and is backed up by Tomas Vokoun. Solid team from top to bottom.
Also rans….
Russia (6/1) ……Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexander Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Alexei Yashin….what’s not to like? I think they look susceptible on defense. I’ve never been hugely impressed with Alexei Zhitnik or Darius Kasparaitis. Sergei Gonchar has looked lost this year in Pittsburgh. And they give three players their first Olympic appearance in Anton Volchenkov of Ottawa, Fedor Tyutin (Rangers), Andrei Markov (Montreal), and Dmitri Bykov (Dynamo Moscow). This roster will need to outscore the opposition in order to win.
I would love to see the Mighty Ducks Ilya Bryzgalov get a chance in net. He’s really something special but Nikolai Khabibulin will be their number one.
Finland (18/1) ……. This team’s hope hinges on Kari Lehtonen coming back from a year long groin injury and playing up to all the pre-season hype we’ve been listening to. With Kiprusoff taking the games off to heal his hip the Fins look thin in net. Personally I can’t understand these kind of short odds the linesmaker has placed on this team.
U.S.A. (15/1) .…… The Americans are so weak in leadership they choose to include a 44 year old defensemen, (Chris Chelios), that has a solid history in the Olympics. A history of trashing Olympic Village hotel rooms. At this time DiPietro and Esche in goal doesn’t breed confidence for another Miracle on Ice.
Slovakia (13/1) ……. 18 NHL players on this roster assures that Slovakia will make some noise in the early rounds but it’s difficult to consider them a medal contender.
Germany (500/1) ……. Olie the Goalie has had plenty of warm-up for this one. First he’s supported by a non-existant Washington Capital defense in front him and now a roster consisting of only 6 NHL players. None of whom are difference makers. Come to think of it Kolzig would be far better off with the Washington Capitals in front of him.
Latvia (400/1) ……. Two players on this team that I know anything about. One is goalie Arturs Irbe. At his very best he helped Carolina to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002. Other than that short moment in the sun he was nothing more than a sub .500 tender. Today he’s not even that.
Switzerland (400/1) ….. A team devoid of NHL talent including David Aebischer and Martin Gerber in net. Pretty said statement when you have 3 NHL players on your roster and their names are Aebischer, Gerber, and Mark Streit. (if you know who Mark Streit is without looking than you get additional points) 400/1 has little value.
Kazakhstan (500/1) ….. A grand total of one NHL player on their roster. Nik Antropov. He’s presently just short of being on pace to challenge his career high for goals scored in a season at 16. ’Nuff said.
Italy (500/1) …… If the games weren’t held in Turin the odds on Italy would be more like 5000/1. Even at that you’d be short changed. 18 of the 23 players are first time Olympians as Italy didn’t have the talent, (or the nerve), to field a unit for the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.
Let me sum up this team’s chances with one example. The only player on their roster that plays in North America is a career minor leaguer. 38 year old Robert Nardella, (born and raised in Illinois), who has a resume consisting of college level, (Ferris State), played two years in Italy, (13 years ago), had a stint in 1994 with the Chicago Cheetahs, (roller hockey) and currently plays in the United Hockey League with the Rockford IceHogs. This can’t be a good thing…..can it? A IceHog gets his five minutes of fame in the land known for it’s wine and Christ’s Holy Shroud? Make them 50,000/1.
