My Team Canada
Posted 2:45 PM ET | Comments 11
With the NHL finally agreeing to send their players to Sochi, I began thinking of the potential roster Canada could put forth. It is crazy to think that while most of the defending gold medalists could be back, the 2010 Olympic team did not have current superstars like Stamkos, Tavares and Giroux. The firepower on this upcoming team will be extraordinary.
One big change going into this Olympics is going back to the big ice. I think its no coincidence Canada has won gold twice in NA size rinks, but have failed to even medal when played on the international ice surface. (For the 4 Olympics which NHLers have gone). I believe Team Canada has to have a different approach this year, emphazising speed and skill over toughness and grit.
With that being said, here is my Team Canada at this point.
Stamkos - Crosby - St. Louis
I've always wanted to see Stamkos play alongside Crosby. With St. Louis showing he still has plenty left in the tank last season, and and his natural chemistry with Stamkos, putting him on here is a no brainer. I really like this line, but I wouldn't be surpised if they put the two bolts players with someone else and play Crosby with a different sniper.
Hall - Tavares - Giroux
This is another deadly offensive line. I don't think people quite realize how good Hall is as I have talked to people who don't even think he belongs on the team at all. He was top 10 in league scoring last season and has been steadily improving every year. His killer speed on the big ice will be frightening. I think giroux's speed and vision will look great next to Hall and Tavares was nominated for the Hart for a reason. He is one of the most dangerous players in the slot and he can provide some more size to that line. I wouldnt be surprised if all three of these guys posted 90 point seasons if playing a full 82 games next season.
Nash - Toews - Perry
This line really has it all. I would match this line against the other team's top defenders as it could really wear them down. Toews is one of the best to way players in the league and he wil probably get a lot of D- zone starts. Perry is only here if he is having a good season. The big ice will no doubt make him less effective. Same thing goes for Getzlaf, who I feel might be a little slow to be dominant on the big ice. The center depth is just too much and thats why I don't have him making it. Both those guys might have to depend on a solid start to the season to make it, despite being such great players. (Note, if we were playing on NA ice, they both make it easily.) Feel Perry makes it because the lack of natural wingers and the role he can play on the PP in front of the net. Nash's size and speed on the olympic ice makes him hard to leave off.
Duchene - Bergeron - E. Staal
This is where it gets really tricky. 4th line center is almost guaranteed to be Bergeron who will be relied on for a defensive role. The wingers are tricky. Would like to see both Couture and Duchene on the team. Couture because he has really grown into a star player than continues to get better yearly, and Duchene because of that lightening speed and the way he dominated the WC this spring. But are they the best options for 4th line wingers? Thats why I could see Ladd or Benn (despite being snubbed) make it. Guys like Bergeron, Toews and Giroux can kill penalties so that is not as much as an issue. I leave Couture off because I think Duchene has proven more internationally so far. Staal I think only makes it if he has another strong season, not if he starts poor like he did 2 years ago.
Extras
To my knowledge, the roster will be 25 players instead of the usual 23 allowing for 2 spare forwards and 2 spare dman. Keeping this in mind,
Ladd
Sharp
Ladd, because in games agianst a team like USA, he could be valuable and better suited as a role player.
Sharp, because he is a very versatile player, playing all three forward positions, not to mention he has experience playing with Toews.
Really hard to leave off guys like Spezza, Couture, Benn and the list goes on. Would gladly trade one of those guys to Finland for a goalie..
Onto Defense:
Keith - Weber
This would be my top pairing to shutdown other team's top offensive lines. I feel Keith's great two way play and skating ability on the big ice surface will make him Canada's most valuable Dman. Weber is a beast and these two should be able to handle anything thrown at them.
Doughty - Letang
Doughty turned out to be a great addition last olympics and has really developed his game into a two way defender. He would be relied on to be a steady presence along side a dynamic Letang. Speaking of Letang, I can't wait to see his ability on the big ice surface.
Bouwmeester - Pietrangelo
AP many consider a lock as he has steadily devloped into one of the best two-way dman in the NHL. J-bo may come as a surprise to some but I think he is a real solid Dman who's blend of mobility and size will really benefit this D-core. Not to mention he will have developed some chemistry playing along side AP in St. Louis.
Extras:
Subban
Seabrook
Ah yes, our young Norris winner. (Suter should have won that by a landslide)Regardless, Subban is one of the most dynamic young Dman in the league. For this tournament, I would have him more as the offensive dman and PP specialist, but I could see him taking J-Bo's spot.
Seabrook is here in case we need the chemistry between him and Keith or another physical dman in the mix. Otherwise, I don't think he will earn a regular spot.
Goalies:
Luongo
Price
Holtby
Really open race right now, but I would have Lu starting if the Olympics started tomorrow. He's not the same goalie as he was in 2010 but I still think he is a solid option. Price could start if he is hot going into the Olympics. I would personally choose whoever is having a great season, so it could be a number of goalies. For third string, I would choose Holtby, ho won't touch the ice probably, but would gain valuable experience for a possible starting position down the road.
So that's my team, and no doubt many of you will object, but that's what makes this fun. I don't envy Yzerman, as he has a lot of tough calls to make. Would be interested to know what you all think.
Thanks for reading!
One big change going into this Olympics is going back to the big ice. I think its no coincidence Canada has won gold twice in NA size rinks, but have failed to even medal when played on the international ice surface. (For the 4 Olympics which NHLers have gone). I believe Team Canada has to have a different approach this year, emphazising speed and skill over toughness and grit.
With that being said, here is my Team Canada at this point.
Stamkos - Crosby - St. Louis
I've always wanted to see Stamkos play alongside Crosby. With St. Louis showing he still has plenty left in the tank last season, and and his natural chemistry with Stamkos, putting him on here is a no brainer. I really like this line, but I wouldn't be surpised if they put the two bolts players with someone else and play Crosby with a different sniper.
Hall - Tavares - Giroux
This is another deadly offensive line. I don't think people quite realize how good Hall is as I have talked to people who don't even think he belongs on the team at all. He was top 10 in league scoring last season and has been steadily improving every year. His killer speed on the big ice will be frightening. I think giroux's speed and vision will look great next to Hall and Tavares was nominated for the Hart for a reason. He is one of the most dangerous players in the slot and he can provide some more size to that line. I wouldnt be surprised if all three of these guys posted 90 point seasons if playing a full 82 games next season.
Nash - Toews - Perry
This line really has it all. I would match this line against the other team's top defenders as it could really wear them down. Toews is one of the best to way players in the league and he wil probably get a lot of D- zone starts. Perry is only here if he is having a good season. The big ice will no doubt make him less effective. Same thing goes for Getzlaf, who I feel might be a little slow to be dominant on the big ice. The center depth is just too much and thats why I don't have him making it. Both those guys might have to depend on a solid start to the season to make it, despite being such great players. (Note, if we were playing on NA ice, they both make it easily.) Feel Perry makes it because the lack of natural wingers and the role he can play on the PP in front of the net. Nash's size and speed on the olympic ice makes him hard to leave off.
Duchene - Bergeron - E. Staal
This is where it gets really tricky. 4th line center is almost guaranteed to be Bergeron who will be relied on for a defensive role. The wingers are tricky. Would like to see both Couture and Duchene on the team. Couture because he has really grown into a star player than continues to get better yearly, and Duchene because of that lightening speed and the way he dominated the WC this spring. But are they the best options for 4th line wingers? Thats why I could see Ladd or Benn (despite being snubbed) make it. Guys like Bergeron, Toews and Giroux can kill penalties so that is not as much as an issue. I leave Couture off because I think Duchene has proven more internationally so far. Staal I think only makes it if he has another strong season, not if he starts poor like he did 2 years ago.
Extras
To my knowledge, the roster will be 25 players instead of the usual 23 allowing for 2 spare forwards and 2 spare dman. Keeping this in mind,
Ladd
Sharp
Ladd, because in games agianst a team like USA, he could be valuable and better suited as a role player.
Sharp, because he is a very versatile player, playing all three forward positions, not to mention he has experience playing with Toews.
Really hard to leave off guys like Spezza, Couture, Benn and the list goes on. Would gladly trade one of those guys to Finland for a goalie..
Onto Defense:
Keith - Weber
This would be my top pairing to shutdown other team's top offensive lines. I feel Keith's great two way play and skating ability on the big ice surface will make him Canada's most valuable Dman. Weber is a beast and these two should be able to handle anything thrown at them.
Doughty - Letang
Doughty turned out to be a great addition last olympics and has really developed his game into a two way defender. He would be relied on to be a steady presence along side a dynamic Letang. Speaking of Letang, I can't wait to see his ability on the big ice surface.
Bouwmeester - Pietrangelo
AP many consider a lock as he has steadily devloped into one of the best two-way dman in the NHL. J-bo may come as a surprise to some but I think he is a real solid Dman who's blend of mobility and size will really benefit this D-core. Not to mention he will have developed some chemistry playing along side AP in St. Louis.
Extras:
Subban
Seabrook
Ah yes, our young Norris winner. (Suter should have won that by a landslide)Regardless, Subban is one of the most dynamic young Dman in the league. For this tournament, I would have him more as the offensive dman and PP specialist, but I could see him taking J-Bo's spot.
Seabrook is here in case we need the chemistry between him and Keith or another physical dman in the mix. Otherwise, I don't think he will earn a regular spot.
Goalies:
Luongo
Price
Holtby
Really open race right now, but I would have Lu starting if the Olympics started tomorrow. He's not the same goalie as he was in 2010 but I still think he is a solid option. Price could start if he is hot going into the Olympics. I would personally choose whoever is having a great season, so it could be a number of goalies. For third string, I would choose Holtby, ho won't touch the ice probably, but would gain valuable experience for a possible starting position down the road.
So that's my team, and no doubt many of you will object, but that's what makes this fun. I don't envy Yzerman, as he has a lot of tough calls to make. Would be interested to know what you all think.
Thanks for reading!
Duchene wont make the team
Ya, he probably wont. Too bad considering how well he did at the WC and the big ice.
I think Duchene will make the team. Yzerman said a large factor was going to be skating/speed. They are building a team for the big ice.
I hope he does, but yzerman also said the need for making a real team, not an allstar team. Where perhaps we have say ladd and richards flanking bergeron on a truer 4th line. He also said that he puts a lot of value in experience, but i hope he adds a lot of youth. onn the big ice, spped and skill are so important.
4th line to me would be a bruin line....marchand bergeron lucic....pesty with alotta grind and great D zone presence. Seems like a natural fit with chemistry to boot. 4th line is suposta be a grind line, we gotta build this team like a team not like were gonna throw a bunch of superstarts on the ice and hope for the best (see russia 2010)
St.Louis, Duchesne, JBo, Seabrook and Nash are not deserving.
Price are you serious? no way!
walk-talk: I could see that happening, but Lucic doesnt play regularly with those guys. He also might be a little slow on the big ice. Marchand would be a fit IF he tones down his play. A lot of the stuff he gets away with in the NHL will get called in international play.MirkoJ: St. Louis not deserving? You mean that guy who won the art ross last season? And has natural chemistry with Stamkos? The rest you can make a case for, but St. Louis deserves to be there. Duchesne is just because I like his potential on the big ice surface and J-Bo because he is a good skater, one of the very few natural left sided dman and he has chemistry with AP. Seabrooke, he probably wouldnt play unless there are injuries. Nash, because Hockey Canada loves him and will include him anyhow.
Shamdusky: Goaltending as of now is pretty wide open. I think Lu has a spot that is his to lose if he is having a bad season or injured. The rest is a toss up between guys like Ward, Price, Holtby, Crawford, ect. I would choose whoever is having a great season.
Get rid of Nash and put Eberle on that second line. The kid is gold on the mational stage! Get rid of Duchene and put Marchand and i like the team. Familiarity is everything in this tournament....
Not sure about Eberle, seems a bit of a stretch. I want duchene over there, even if hes just the 14th forward, think he could be a real good player to step in. Marchand maybe, as he better fits the 4th line role, plus chemistry with bergeron like you said