Goligoski on Olympic Short List
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 3:56 pm
Injuries to the US Olympic Hockey Team’s defensive squad have left one or two open positions on their roster. Defenseman Paul Martin of the New Jersey Devils withdrew yesterday and Mike Komisarek has been injured and did not play yesterday even though US GM Brian Burke thought he would. Komisarek has been out since January 2nd with a shoulder injury and as anyone who knows hockey, knows that Komisarek was a political pick for GM Burke so he would not look bad with to his Toronto Maple Leaf fans for not selecting a player from his team.
Alex Goligoski is once again a front runner to be selected and has the numbers to back himself up. The US Team is short on offensive defensemen to the point that even though Goligoski has missed 12 games this season he still leads all of the players selected to be on the roster in points this year. Anyone who has seen Goligoski’s last two assists on Sidney Crosby goals knows that this kid deserves the spot.
NHL.com’s – Managing Editor – Shawn P. Roarke had this to say about Goligoski: “Injuries have taken some luster off this youngster’s star, but I still like what I see. It is his versatility — as well as his offensive potential — that buys him the final spot among the defensemen on my roster”
The US Olympic Hockey team has up until midnight February 15th to replace injured players on its roster.
Current Roster:
Erik Johnson, St. Louis
Brian Rafalski, Detroit
Ryan Suter, Nashville
Brooks Orpik, Pittsburgh
Jack Johnson, LA
Mike Komisarek, Toronto Injured – withdrew
Paul Martin, New Jersey injured – withdrew
Open Spot Contenders:
Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh
Ryan Whitney, Anaheim
Zach Bogosian, Atlanta
Rob Scuderi, LA
Matt Carle, Philadelphia
Andy Greene, New Jersey
Ron Hainsey, Atlanta
John-Michael Liles, Colorado
Additional Reading: ” Goligoski Deserves a Spot on USA Olympic Team“
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By Jean Pronovost, February 5, 2010 @ 4:40 pm
I got no problem with Ryan Whitney making the team, but Tim Gleason? Come on, Hurricane Tim is a solid player, but he’s definitely not Olympic caliber.
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By DR Hook, February 5, 2010 @ 10:58 am
You give way too much credit to Goligoski IMHO. He’s still learning. You also give some credit to how weak some of the Olympic teams are by suggesting Goligoski is a front-runner (which he obviously wasn’t). It must have been real sad for you to hear that Ryan Whitney got selected over him!
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There are really but three real good teams in the Olympics. Canada, Russia, and Sweeden. The USA team is placed in a division with Switzerland and Norway so as to increase the odds they are the fourth team in the final 4.
Three points to the winner in regulation and zero points awarded to the loser in regulation. If the game is tied at the end of regulation one point is awarded to each team with another 1 point given to the team that wins in the 5 minute OT. If tied after that they go to the “shots-procedure” which is a bit of a joke to award the extra point. Maybe someone here can explain that?
As to the USA Team and Goligoski– I think Goligoski has as many good moments as bad moments with the puck and that’s is not a compliment. The Pens need something to replace the Skoula/McKee who haven’t replaced the Scuderi/Gill of last season. If Goligoski can bring that I think that’s where Shero should concentrate his efforts. We have one too many with Goligoski, Letang and Gonchar.
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By Penguin871, February 3, 2010 @ 7:34 pm
Everyone knows Burke just put Komisarek on the team to up his trade value. You forgot to mention Goligoski’s name it on the Cup.
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Can’t see Burkie wanting to trade Komisarek. He is the one who signed him after all, and that would be like admitting a mistake, and Brian Burke doesn’t make mistakes, just ask him.
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