For someone like RNH I would agree playing in the WJC is pointless. He's already proven himself at the NHL level. But someone like Zibanejad is yet to do that....I think another year in the tourney getting big game experience against the better junior age players could do some good for him. On the other hand, with it being on the bigger ice surface this year I can definitely understand the Sens not wanting him jumping back and forth.

I think that's the bigger issue, compared to the 15 or so AHL games he would be missing. Like EV said, if the tourney was being played in Buffalo this year, I would totally agree he should be playing.

__________________
20 Team Dynasty (points per) - G (25, 50 for defense) A (25) PIM (3) +/- (5) PPG (15) SHG (25) OTG (15) GWG (25) HTr (50) GP (2) HIT (1) BLK (1) Use actual NHL salary

F: Malkin, Tavares, E. Kane, Parenteau, Havlat, Tarasenko, Galchenyuk, Brunner, Boyes, Kruger, Helm, M. Martin, Bergenheim, Carcillo, Stajan

D: Green, Ehrhoff, Ekman-Larsson, Coburn, Daley, Postma

G: Fleury, Mason, Montoya

Farm: Grigorenko, Grimaldi, Kucherov, D. Shore, Hartikainen, Stransky, Kerdiles, Joensuu, Pageau, Murphy, Ceci, Klefbom, Thrower, Donovan, Ekholm, Lehner, Dansk, Poulin, Nilsson, Andersen

there is no excuse for a kid who has yet to shine in any professional league not to attend this tournament......case closed

That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

Seriously though, no need for me to even argue this since this decision is made by hockey people who know a thing or two about prospect development. Erik Karlsson was held out of the tournament too. Guess that really hurt him.

Karlsson was held out after dominating the AHL, and playing well in the NHL. Something Mika has yet to do.

No point to argue because Im sure you would have agreed with the decision no matter what the outcome would have been.

Obviously Mika has yet to do that, that's exactly why he's NOT GOING to the tournament.

I see now that the Swedish National Team is getting Bill Daly involved. They are slightly pissed at Ottawa for not releasing Zibby.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Jun.../20405226.html

__________________
10 Team, Points Only, $$ League, Keep 20/25 at seasons end
25 Man Roster, top 20 monthly point getters count
Goalie points W=2pt L=-1pt SHO=2pt

Stamkos, Tavares, Hall, Couture, Hanzal, Wheeler, Stastny, Versteeg, Fisher, Hornqvist, Eriksson, Hodgson, Setoguchi, Turris, Steen, Letang, DRoy, Yakupov, Grabner, Byfuglien, Baertschi

G-Rask, Halak, Schneider

Tough decission , being a Sens fan I respect their decission and know that they have consulted the player before making this choice.
The big thing I'd say that a player gains in these types of tournys is leadership skills , + there's always that one guy who emerges from out of the blue to become the next guy to watch.
The reality is that the player has a contract to play professional hockey , it's now his job , he's an employee and his employer has to decide his workload/schedule , in this case it's to continue improving the North American style game ; besides he's going to be a Stanley Cup champ in the future playing for the Sens!
POOL ON!

__________________
Roto type keeper league.We keep any 6 ;15 teams , 3 div. of 5.We play 3 lines , 3 def. and start 2 goalies.6 BN.Stats are 1pt. for goals and assists , 2pts. for W , tie(O.T. or S.O. loss) 1pt. S.O. 1pt.Weekly line-up from Mon. to Sun.

LW - Malkin
LW - J. Skinner
LW - T. Ennis
LW - Conacher
LW - Raymond
C - Matthias
C - M. Richards
C - V. Filppula
C - Vermette
RW - B. Schenn
RW - M. Read
RW - J. Huberdeau
RW - M. Gaborik
Def. - Pietrangelo
Def. - B. Smith
Def. - Diaz
Def. - OEL
Def. - Stoner
G - Louongo
G - Markstrom
G - Neuvirth

Zibanejad has said to Swedish papers that he wants to play but that he's doing what he's told by the guys in charge.

If he were Canadian, he'd be released to play in a heartbeat.

__________________
GO WINGS!

12 team H2H dynasty, most categories under the sun, incl. hits/blocks. Main team, farm

C: Kopitar Backstrom Stepan Cammalleri Little Bolland Laich Johnson
LW: Parise Lupul Erat McDonald Martin Silfverberg Nyquist Schwartz Morin Nieto Conacher
RW: PKane Doan Pominville Nash Clowe Lupul Rinaldo Stafford Rattie Stone Chiasson Ritchie
D: Green Suter Seabrook Dillon Beauchemin Schenn Letang Schultz Hamilton McNabb Rielly Harrison
G: Bryzgalov Pavelec Holtby Neuvirth Nihlstorp Lack CalPickard Andersen Stalock Sateri Eriksson
IR: Halak

I agree it seems odd that he's not being released. I seriously don't get why he wouldn't be.

However the "If he were Canadian" bit seems awfully conspiracy theory ish.

Not really about any conspiracy theory, it's just that the pressure from the general Canadian hockey fans would be too great for Ottawa.

__________________
GO WINGS!

12 team H2H dynasty, most categories under the sun, incl. hits/blocks. Main team, farm

C: Kopitar Backstrom Stepan Cammalleri Little Bolland Laich Johnson
LW: Parise Lupul Erat McDonald Martin Silfverberg Nyquist Schwartz Morin Nieto Conacher
RW: PKane Doan Pominville Nash Clowe Lupul Rinaldo Stafford Rattie Stone Chiasson Ritchie
D: Green Suter Seabrook Dillon Beauchemin Schenn Letang Schultz Hamilton McNabb Rielly Harrison
G: Bryzgalov Pavelec Holtby Neuvirth Nihlstorp Lack CalPickard Andersen Stalock Sateri Eriksson
IR: Halak