If this was an NFL betting blog and I said something like “Cowboys will go 0-16 this season,” would I risk as much negative backlash as I am with today’s Pucking Bets headline?
It’s too early to truly commit to an Olympic prediciton without rosters fully set, but I have a few growing concerns. Here are a few reason why Canada could disappoint in Vancouver.
BAD, BAD HISTORY AS THE OLYMPIC HOST
Canada hosted the Summer Olympics in 1976 (Montreal) and the Winter Olympics in 1988 (Calgary). Guess how many gold medals it won? ZERO. In both Olympics combined. For whatever reason, Canada has an embarrassing history of totally choking as the host nation. The Canadians are dumping money into their development program this time around, but don’t you think they worked hard the last time they hosted? Now, the hockey team faces more pressure than perhaps any Canadian team since the 1972 Summit Series squad. Would it be that big of an online betting shocker if they crumbled in 2010?
BIG-GAME EXPERIENCE AT FORWARD
Perusing Canada’s list of candidates to make the team, it suddenly seems like the forwards could be short on Stanley Cup experience. Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Eric Staal — all are cup winners and all are considered long shots to make the team right now. Aside from Sidney Crosby, many of Canada’s big guns haven’t won the big game yet, including Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Mike Richards, Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have Cups but weren’t depended upon to be the top stars on the Ducks that season.
QUESTION MARKS IN GOAL
Martin Brodeur is the only “sure thing” between the pipes for Canada but age and injuries are starting to creep up on him, as he missed significant time to injury last season. Roberto Luongo hasn’t gone deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs; Cam Ward is battling back pain; Marc-Andre Fleury has a cup now but has choked in international play before. There’s no shortage of talent, but dont’ you think Sweden (Henrik Lundqvist) and USA (Tim Thomas) seem at least more secure right now?
THE RUSSIANS ARE ATTACKING!
I’m betting management of team Canada is having nightmares about the Russia forwards. There are just…so…many…superstars. It’s hard to imagine Canada stopping all of Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk, Semin, Kovalev and so on…someone will find the net.
There you have it — a few reasons why Canada’s hockey odds aren’t so stable for the Olympics just yet. Something to consider.
