Next Year's Seeds for GP

Seeds for next year's GP, or who we'll see with invites:

Guaranteed two:
*Ando, Asada, Kim, Meissner, Nakano, Kostner
*Joubert, Takahashi, Lambiel, Verner clap: ), Lysacek, Buttle
*Pang/Tong, Savchenko/Szolkowy, Volosozhar/Morozov clap: ), Zhang/Zhang, Marcoux/Buntin (although I've read breakup hints), Dube/Davison to replace the retiring Shen/Zhao. If Marcoux/Buntin do split, then Inoue/Baldwin are next in line, although the reason they gave for staying in this season was so that Inoue could skate in Japan. If M/B split and I/B retire, then Kawaguchi/Smirnov are next.
*Dance is another mess, with Denkova giving a "maybe" for returning, and who knows what D/L will really do, especially if Den/Stas stay in, and Delobel/Schoenfelder might throw in the towel in disgust. With no retirements announced, the top seeds are: Denkova/Stavisky, Dubreuil/Lauzon, Belbin/Agosto, Delobel/Schoenfelder, Domnina/Shabalin, and Virtue/Moir clap: ).


Guaranteed one, but if last year is any indication, will get two off the bat:
*Meier, Poykio, Hughes, Rochette, Marchei clap: ), and Sebestyen.
*Oda, Weir, Berntsson clap: ), Davydov, Preaubert, Lindemann
*So much depends on returning couples, but if everyone but S/Z stays in and together, it will be Inoue/Baldwin, Kawaguchi/Smirnov clap: ), Langlois/Hay clap: ), Murkhortova/Trankov, Castile/Okolski clap: ), and Piatkowska/Khromin clap: ). If any substitutes are needed, next in line are Pla/Bonheur and Pylkina/Hogner.
*If no retirements: Davis/White clap: ), Khoklova/Novitski, Faiella/Scali, Gregory/Petukhov, Kerr/Kerr, Pechalat/Bourzat clap: ). In case of retirement(s), next in line are Capellini/Lanotte, Zaretski/Zaretski, and Fraser/Lukanin (Watanabe/Kido are retiring).

And if they skate Seniors next year, World Jr. and Jr. GPF Medallists:
Ashley Wagner, Megan Oster
Stephen Carriere, Patrick Chan, Sergei Voronov, Brandon Mroz, Kevin Reynolds
McLaughlin/Brubaker, Bazarova/Larionov, Krassilnikova/Bezhmaternikh,Paetsch/Nuss
Bobrova/Soloviev, Gruenberg/Rand, Weaver/Poje, Hubbell/Hubbell, Samuelson/Bates

What reasons have been given in the rumblings that Marcoux and Buntin might break up? And by break up do you mean retire and skate professionally or do you mean "break up" all together? I would miss them.

There was some murmuring about them not looking very happy with each other, and that the "we're such great friends" attempt isn't panning out as expected. I haven't heard anything about retirement, and this could all be smoke and mirrors. But if D/D are healthy next season, M/B could have a hard time keeping their international standing above D/D's.

Pairs can do both GP and JGP, but Ice Dance teams cannot. Samuelson/Bates and Hubbell/Hubbell will remain Junior next year.

I am surprised that Denkova/Staviiski aren't sure about next year. It was my understanding that Albena has accepted the chairmanship of the Bulgarian federation and that job was expected to take the bulk of her time.

hockeyfan228 said:

Seeds for next year's GP, or who we'll see with invites:

Guaranteed one, but if last year is any indication, will get two off the bat:
*Meier, Poykio, Hughes, Rochette, Marchei clap: ), and Sebestyen.
*Oda, Weir, Berntsson clap: ), Davydov, Preaubert, Lindemann
*So much depends on returning couples, but if everyone but S/Z stays in and together, it will be Inoue/Baldwin, Kawaguchi/Smirnov clap: ), Langlois/Hay clap: ), Murkhortova/Trankov, Castile/Okolski clap: ), and Piatkowska/Khromin clap: ). If any substitutes are needed, next in line are Pla/Bonheur and Pylkina/Hogner.
*If no retirements: Davis/White clap: ), Khoklova/Novitski, Faiella/Scali, Gregory/Petukhov, Kerr/Kerr, Pechalat/Bourzat clap: ). In case of retirement(s), next in line are Capellini/Lanotte, Zaretski/Zaretski, and Fraser/Lukanin (Watanabe/Kido are retiring).

Click to expand...

According to the most recent announcement, http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vnavsite/page/directory/0,10853,4844-180657-197875-nav-list,00.html
skaters who finished 7 - 12 at the most recent Worlds are also guaranteed two GP assignments.

We'll also to have to wait and see if there are revised skater selection/invitation criteria when the 2007-08 Senior Grand Prix technical announcement is published by the ISU (anyone recall when it was published online last year?).

hockeyfan228 said:

And if they skate Seniors next year, World Jr. and Jr. GPF Medallists:
Ashley Wagner, Megan Oster
Stephen Carriere, Patrick Chan, Sergei Voronov, Brandon Mroz, Kevin Reynolds
McLaughlin/Brubaker, Bazarova/Larionov, Krassilnikova/Bezhmaternikh,Paetsch/Nuss
Bobrova/Soloviev, Gruenberg/Rand, Weaver/Poje, Hubbell/Hubbell, Samuelson/Bates

Click to expand...

The USA singles skaters & dance teams will have to notify USFS as to whether they want to compete on the Senior or Junior Grand Prix.
Unknown at this time (ready for Sr. GP, IMO): Wagner, Oster
Likely to be on Sr. GP: Carriere, McLaughlin/Brubaker
Likely to be on Jr. GP: Zhang (unless she changes her mind and wants to go senior internationally), Nagasu, Mroz, Paetsch/Nuss, Hubbell/Hubbell, Samuelson/Bates.

Patrick Chan and Sergei Voronov were on the Sr. GP this season.