Olympics: Steven Stamkos won't return for Team Canada
Per TSN and other sources:
TAMPA, Fla. -- Steven Stamkos will not play for Team Canada at the Sochi Olympics after tests revealed Wednesday that his broken right leg is not completely healed. Tampa Bay Lightning doctors said they couldn't clear him to play after examining his most recent CT scan and will re-evaluate his condition again in two to three weeks.
The whole thing, including a few quotes, is here.
This just sucks to see. He's one of the easy-to-like stars out there, and he deserves to be in Sochi. Was really excited to see him play too
Guesses to who replaces him? St. Louis? Giroux? Neal?
February 5th, 2014 at 6:41 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 6:42 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 6:44 PM ^
Oh goodness, no. For whatever it's worth, I searched the Googles and couldn't find any link between him and Michigan.
But I did note on his Wikipedia page that one of his youth clubs was called "The Waxers." How splendidly Canadian!
February 5th, 2014 at 6:56 PM ^
it was splendidly Brazilian, but that's just me.
February 5th, 2014 at 6:47 PM ^
It will be between St Louis or Neal.
Claude Giroux won't break into the line chart at center. IIRC the staff for Team Canada wasn't comfortable playing him on the wing.
February 5th, 2014 at 7:04 PM ^
Well, shit. This stinks for Canada and for anyone who watches the Olympics to see the best athletes on earth in their respective sports. Stamkos is, in my opinion, probably the second best hockey player on the planet and easily the best goal scorer of the modern era.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^
Ovechkin.
February 5th, 2014 at 7:18 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 7:20 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 7:51 PM ^
Errrrrrr St Louis plays the wing, not center. And it was pretty well thought that Stamkos was penciled in to play the wing on Crosby's line.
February 5th, 2014 at 11:29 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 7:36 PM ^
:( as a Canadian, this is very disappointing news. Disappointed more for him than us, as fans. You could argue he got snubbed in 2010 and now he misses these games. Hope we can see him in 2018,
February 5th, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
Canada will be fine; we have a lot of talent available.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:05 PM ^
don't blow it off either though... we certainly don't have another 60 goal scorer available. Those don't grow on trees. There's a reason he still made the team despite having a broken leg and that's because he brings something to the table that no one else in the country does.
February 5th, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^
February 5th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^
Crushed for Stamkos. As the OP said, he is one of the most universally liked players in the league. He plays the game the right way and people respect that. It was terrible to see him suffer that freak injury and it's sad to see him miss the Olympics because, from all accounts, he did everything he could to get healthy for them.
As for who replaces him? Even though I'd love to see him there, Jumbo Joseph doesn't have the speed for Olympic ice. You've gotta think it's St. Louis or Giroux. Dark horse would be Eric Staal who has played better as of late. Not exactly slim pickens from the replacements.
February 5th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
I think the docs were pretty smart not to clear Stammer. I would NEVER suggest that they did it on purpose, but having him sit out one or two more regular season games is going to save his leg the stress that the Olympics would put on it and let him play the rest of the season in much better shape.
February 6th, 2014 at 4:04 AM ^
Im a big fan of the way St. Louis plays so i'm rooting for him.