bure's triple deke Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I've started a Canucks blog (please hold your eye rolls) and was hoping to get some discussion from the appropriate audience... It's an admittedly sensationalized premise to an article, but like I say at the beginning of the post below, I'm merely taking an interesting/ridiculous proposition, going with it and seeing what comes out. The post is copy and pasted below or you can see it in the actual blog here: http://www.burestrip...ke.blogspot.com. (Also, sorry if this isn't the appropriate place to post this...) Alex Burrows: Olympic hopeful (...Right?) Ever engage in a thought experiment where you consider the merits of a ridiculous proposition, then slowly start to believe it? Depending on who you ask, Alex Burrows is either one of the most overrated or underrated player in the NHL. If you’re a devoted hockey fan anywhere outside of Canada’s west coast, chances are the Canucks forward is nothing more to you than a pest whose stat line is generously inflated by his linemates. The fact he’s achieved 20-plus goals in each of the past four seasons only means Vigneault provided Daniel and Henrik a warm body to pass to while the gifted Swedes cycle their way through the entire league. Granted, Burrows’ career was undoubtedly jump-started by his place on the Canucks’ top line, but the past season has seen him maintain the same pace while playing large chunks of time without them. With this in mind, is Burrows a candidate for Canada’s Olympic roster in 2014? The answer, anywhere in the NHL, is a resounding…no. I must be that rare breed of Canucks fan – overzealously loyal, even after their latest playoff disappointment. Your average Canucks devotee will always be quick defend Burrows honour against Ron MacLean and the rest of the world, but few will go so far as to say he is among the top 12 or 13 Canadian forwards in the game. I’m here to argue that as of yesterday, which marked Canada’s third straight quarterfinal exit from the IIHF World Championships, Burrows has played himself into Steve Yzerman’s consideration for the national team’s fourth line in 2014. Here’s the short story: After missing the first week of competition with a suspected concussion, Burrows was slotted into the team’s fourth line with fellow grinders Andrew Ladd and Teddy Purcell. In five games with limited ice time, he recorded three goals and no assists, ranking second-last among Canadian forwards in point-scoring. Admittedly, his numbers aren’t overwhelming by any stretch. Even at the NHL level, his points totals haven’t cracked the to forty among Canadian forwards in either of the past two seasons. In 2009-10, he ranked fourteenth, but many would see that as an outlier. At face value, Burrows still seems as well-suited for the Olympics as Mark Messier in a Canucks uniform. But here’s where the argument naturally begins: Canada doesn’t need twelve superstar forwards, all capable of scoring at a point-per-game pace. They require about nine of those; the remaining three or four have to fill a defensively-responsible energy and provide the intangibles in a low-profile fashion. Starting to sound more like number 14 in blue and green? Burrows has always played key minutes on the Canucks penalty kill, which has been perennially top-ranked. His role was no different on Team Canada these past two weeks. Intangibles? For the past four years, his plus-minus (a stat that is questionable in merit, but does measure to some degree a player’s impact at even strength) has been in the top 10 among Canadian forwards. In two of those years, so have his takeaway totals. Burrows is underrated as a defensive forward and while maintaining the same level of tenacity, his penalty minutes have decreased from 179 in 2008-09 to 90 this past campaign. A good fourth-liner is also timely. Enter Burrows' proverbial and in last year's playoff run. In 2011-12, he scored seven game-winners, tenth among Canadian forwards. At the World Championships, his first goal of the tournament started Canada’s 5-3 comeback win against Finland. The next game, he scored shorthanded against Kazakhstan (I know… it’s Kazakhstan) when a powerplay goal against would have cut the lead to just 2-1 in the second period. Finally, his quarterfinal goal in the third period would have stood as the game-winner against Slovakia had Canada not collapsed into itself to finish the contest. When you look at what Canada’s gold-winning fourth line was in 2010, however, imagining Burrows as a replacement for the likes of Patrice Bergeron and Mike Richards once again seems ludicrous. But the history of Canadian rosters at high-profile tournaments reveal selections that seem far more unlikely than Burrows. Rob Zamuner, anyone? Kris Draper ring any bells? (1998 Olympics and 2004 World Cup, respectively.) Both stand out as players who, on paper, seemed out of place, but subjectively, they filled a need for the sort of player that I think Burrows meets and exceeds. The reasons against are many and the likelihood is minimal. Nobody will really complain when he isn’t even short listed, including me. But you cannot say that Burrows doesn’t play the game in a way that could benefit Team Canada's Olympic team if it was chosen today. Who knows? Maybe Yzerman will throw us all a curveball. Then we'll see if Burrows can wrap around Tim Thomas in an American uniform too, come 2014. -HC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spotted Zebra Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 sorry didn't read the whole thing yet, but I didn't like the last sentence. Is there a chance Burr makes it? ya but it's probably the same probability of the Isles winning 16 playoff games next year. Not a knock against Burr, It's his nationality, team Canada just has so many options for "role players" which Burrows would have to play. Guys like E.Kane, Iginla(if his game deteriorates), Benn,Perry etc etc. Will all be competing against Burr and even as a canuck fan I'd take them over Burr on team Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeak Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 It's possible. He acquitted himself quite well in the WHC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spotted Zebra Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 It's possible. He acquitted himself quite well in the WHC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheels22 Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 After playing well in limited games and limited ice time in the tournament, his chances of making the 2014 team definitely went up a lot. He will probably be considered, partly depends on 2012-13, 2013-14 seasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pablo Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Love burr but no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xbox Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 No wayyyyy. Hamhuis is quite likely though because other than Keith we have no left-handed stud d-men. Doughty, Weber, Seabrook, Pietrangelo, Letang, Wideman, Green, (Subban?), Boyle are all right-handed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjkaemingh Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Wishfull thinking, but no. too much talent in Canada already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grape Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Burrows barely made team Canada's world champion hockey squad, I doubt he'll make the Olympics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure's triple deke Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 i agree, it's extremely unlikely. naturally, you gotta suspend your disbelief to take the article seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fateless Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 For the record... there are 2 seasons before the roster is selected. I don't think anyone can make an argument for anyone making the olympic team this far out. The fact is that every single "top foward" that wheres red and white could easily all have terrible years and not make the team, while new stars could rise to fill those slots. I hope Burrows makes it. Way to early to predict ANYTHING. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2016 Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 IMO Canada just has way too much depth for burr to make it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 a guy like him will be fighting for the 4th line checking winger position. He will probably have a chance at that, because the last 2 winger spots I think they will give it to a checking type of player. But of course Kevin Lowe will probably find a way to give that spot to undeserving players. Upcomming season is pretty much a tryout for team Canada. 2013 will be the year, that will reflect on a players last performance in a full season. Despite Luongo having a bad 2012 season, if he had a very good 2013 season, he will have a very good shot at being the starter again. That's how Crucial it is for Canadian players and Alex Burrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surtur Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 i know the chances are slim considering the amount of talent in canada and that he was a last pick for WHC.....but let us see how his next 2 seasons go i am going to predict a break out season with or with out the twins . i am sure he will have so much more confidence coming from the WHC games. but either way he would make the team better with his clutchness but i am sure Crosby will get his spot on the team....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 there are a lot of forwards out there who have played for team Canada that I wouldn't consider in a class with a two-way, puck pursuing, scoring, penalty killing beast like Burrows... Heatley, Spezza, Getzlaf, Thornton = over-rated, passion-free guys would take Burrows over any of them in a heartbeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navyblue Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 The notion that Burr is inflated by the Sedins would be okay, if those same assclowns didn't claim the sedins to be over rated at the same time. Too bad accountability isn't a requirement for opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKariyaALH Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 HAHAHA, Burrows is a product of the twins, and is a 3rd line grinder without them. He barely made the WHC roster, so what makes you think that he would make the olympic team? Although, i think that he might be able to make the diving team in London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justsayin Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Maybe, but only if he gets a Swedish passport so he can play with the Sedins. Zero chance he will be on Team Canada. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bure's triple deke Posted May 22, 2012 Author Share Posted May 22, 2012 HAHAHA, Burrows is a product of the twins, and is a 3rd line grinder without them. He barely made the WHC roster, so what makes you think that he would make the olympic team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirensong Posted May 22, 2012 Share Posted May 22, 2012 Neal Crosby Stamkos Tavares Giroux Perry Benn Toews Eberle Staal M.Richards Nash Keith Weber Staal Letang Pietrangelo Doughty Luongo(same situation as Marty in 2010, his job to lose) Price Smith Extras: Burns, Seguin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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