Team Canada 2010

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richie.rocket.cards

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Thought it'd be fun to think about who might be in the lineup for the 2010 Olympics for Team Canada. Many things can happen between now and then, and many players may improve enough by then to be considered (i.e. young players such as Doughty, Stamkos, even Tavares).

Either way, here are my picks (and I've included some Taxi squad players):

Goaltenders:

Roberto Luongo, Martin Brodeur (if he's still playing, quite certain he will be), Carey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury

Defensemen:

Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber, Mike Green, Dan Boyle, Chris Pronger, Brent Burns, Scott Niedermeyer.

Forwards (the hardest of them all to narrow down):

Dany Heatley Sidney Crosby Jarome Iginla
Simon Gagne Joe Thornton Rick Nash
Ryan Getzlaf Marc Savard Vincent Lecavalier
Brendan Morrow Mike Richards Shane Doan

spares: Jason Spezza, Corey Perry, Eric Staal

Looking at the lineup I just put up, I'm sure many players will come to mind that haven't been included (Jonathan Toews, Devin Setoguchi, Ryan Suter, and even goal scoring machine Jeff Carter). I also didn't consider many of this years' draft picks (Pietrangelo, Bogosian, etc) because I don't have a very good idea of how they play. Nevertheless, with enough improvement, they could all be fighting for a spot to play for the gold. What would your teams look like if you were to choose?
 
Pretty good picks, although I don't see Dan Boyle keeping his current pace and making it, and Niedermeyer is getting a little long in the tooth (Pronger, too). I know we like our veteran def on past teams, but I'd just as soon see a spot go to a younger, more hungry guy like Daniel Girardi. But you probably have it right.

Also, I don't know if Marty Brodeur gets an invite. It is time to move on to the next guys on your list, I think.

A couple of guys like Morrow could depend on the kind of year they are having at the time. I could forsee a guy like Lucic (yeah, I said it) passing Morrow on the depth chart because of the fact that he plays on the edge, and we need that on this team, a la John Tonelli in 1984 at the Canada Cup. We've gotten pushed around at the past few championships even when we have won, and I think we need a bit more grit (not that Morrow isn't gritty, but Lucic is a guy who could fit the bill).

With that lineup, I could play net and they have a decent shot at winning, though.
 
One things for sure, with a Phaneuf / Weber combo on the blueline, opponents will be keeping their heads up coming thru the neutral zone.......:):)
 
I don't think Thornton or Savard will garner much consideration come 2010....Spezza and Gagne would be on the bubble, although Gagne would be more likely than Spezza.....I love your 4th line, and I disagree with fly4apuckguy, I think Morrow has as good a shot of making the team as somebody like Nash or Heatley or even Crosby, since he's one of the toughest players in the NHL, and unlike Lucic, actually has some offensive upside...barring catastrophic injury or a severe downturn in his play, I think Morrow is a lock to make the 2010 squad....
 
If Marc Savard is there, Joe Thornton won't be, and vice versa.

Unless he gets hurt I'd say Mike Richards is a lock. I could see Perry easily being a starter instead of a spare
 
Phaneufarama said:
One things for sure, with a Phaneuf / Weber combo on the blueline, opponents will be keeping their heads up coming thru the neutral zone.......:):)
Click to expand...

Except for that one German player that Weber absolutely destroyed like 9 seconds in to their first game in the World Championships a couple years ago. Sucked for Shea though because they gave him a game misconduct and that came with an automatic 1-game suspension. So he essentially was out of two games.

The great thing about a Team Canada roster is that there are so many options available because we are such a factory at producing top notch players and teams. There will inevitably be guys that are overlooked despite their obvious talents and skill levels. It isn't a condemnation of them; rather, it is reflective of the management's decision to go with the guys that they feel will best represent the country as a team.

I think that there are several guys that are "locks" based on their past performances with Team Canada, leaving only a handful of spots for new faces to compete for in the coming months.
That said, I think the most important position of all, the goaltender, is wide open because there is just so much talent between the pipes in this country. Luongo is about as close as it comes, I'd say, and the emotional lift he'd get playing in front of the Vancouver crowd would surely be an impact. Beyond that, Brodeur's a question mark right now due to the injury, while Turco's not having the most stellar of seasons, leaving the door open to guys like Cam Ward (a Stanley Cup winner and has past Team Canada experience), Carey Price (who will ever forget his performance in the 2007 World Juniors? Not me!), and Marc-Andre Fleury as an outside shot (who will ever forget his performance in the 2004 World Junior finals? Not me).

Defense: wow, there's so much room for intimidation and strength here. Weber and Phaneuf should be locks. Mike Green and Brent Burns were sensational last spring in Halifax and Quebec City. That may leave two spots open if the veterans get passed over for some spring chickens.

Up front: the gold mine of talent and skill. There are locks: Heatley (nobody has scored more goals in history for Team Canada), Iginla, Thornton, Nash, Lecavalier, Doan. There are guys right on the bubble depending on how their health holds up: Gagne, Morrow. There are the young stars: Crosby (probably a lock too), Getzlaf, Richards, Carter. There's guys who will be looked at to fill the sandpaper role.

It's going to be a tough choice in all three areas for Steve Yzerman and company. Pretty much no matter who they end up selecting, you may not think they're right, but you'd have a hard time saying they're wrong.
 
You've got to remember that in spite of what Yzerman said, CAnada will still have an extreme bias to those that have played before. It will be a great roster regardless, but here's my take (guys with asterisks are absolute no-doubters that I don't think anyone can debate - barring injury).

Goal: Luongo*, irrelevant 1, irrelevant 2

Unless Brodeur is still around, then he probably plays as well. I would suggest that it be worthwhile to take two younger guys, which I suppose lends itself in favour of Price. I haven't seen him enough to make a judgement. Don't discount Turco taking the #3 spot because he's been there before (see note above).

Defence: Phaneuf*/Weber*, Niedermayer*/Bouwmeester, Pronger*/Regehr, Burns

With Boyle, Green and several others getting consideration if Pronger/Niedermayer don't play long enough. I think that, frankly, Bouwmeester is a no-doubter because of his experience and role - but I can't put an asterisk since he was omitted from someone else's list. I think the possibility of Regehr being passed is there - but he hasn't lost anything and is still one of the top shut down guys in the league and he has played for Canada before (which counts). Green doesn't make it if Niedermayer and Bouwmeester are both there - already have guys who fill the role who take precedence. In honesty, with all due respect to the initial poster - I think D is the toughest position to fill on the roster (in terms of the decision being VERY difficult).

Forward: Getzlaf*/Crosby*/Iginla*, Nash/LeCavalier*/Heatley*, Gagne*/Thornton*/Staal, Doan/Mike Richards*/St. Louis, Spezza, Perry

Here's the trick. I think that Doan is also a lock - he really is a great player. I don't think Stamkos/Doughty/etc have a chance. They're too young, and Canada doesn't need to develop 18/19 year olds for the Olympic Roster. They'll be there in 2014 and beyond, but not this year. Frankly, I think Nash could get left at home and replaced with Perry. I don't think it will happen though. SAvard has almost no chance (as skilled as he is) - the biting incident soured alot of people. Gagne is a lock in my mind, because he's been there already. IF this roster ends up being the one, don't be surprised to see Staal moving up over Nash in the line precedence. I tried to keep people in their natural positions where possible (I think Getzlaf/Doan are the only ones who moved).

Iginla wears the 'C' regardless of the Pronger/Niedermayer situation. If Niedermayer plays he wears an 'A', as do Thornton and Crosby (yes, I went there - he will be the Captain at some point I think) although I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Richards or Shane Doan wear and 'A'.

Very subjective exercise - but wow is that a good team regardless.
 
The way he's playing, Patrick Sharp should get some serious consideration.

Anyone remember the Nash-Getzlaf-Heatley line at the worlds? They were beyond dominant (if thats possible). They are all young enough, and still developing that I say that line sticks. In a short tournament you want guys that already have chemistry and it looks like these 3 are instant chem when put together. Not to mention they would all be playing their natural positions so thats an added bonus.
 
Marc Savard? Marc Savard? If he EVER makes an Olympic team, I will eat a hat of Bruce's choosing. I could name 20 forwards I'd put on this team before I'd get to a 1 dimensional player like him... he's NOT EVEN CLOSE to being at that level.

*checks his calendar* I'll come back in a year.
 
I think that LEcavalier has a chance at wearing the "C" as well.
I'm not convinced Iginla is a lock.
Any chance Joe Sakic plays? IF so, doesn't he have to be the captain?
 
If Carter, Gagne, and Richards keep playing like they are this year, they will be a lock for the Olympics. Thats IF they keep playing like they are right now.
 
DXFlyers said:
If Carter, Gagne, and Richards keep playing like they are this year, they will be a lock for the Olympics. Thats IF they keep playing like they are right now.
Click to expand...

I also think Lupul, Hartnell, Briere, Biron, Coburn, Jones, Upshall, and Knuble are good bets. ;)
 
DredJAw said:
I also think Lupul, Hartnell, Briere, Biron, Coburn, Jones, Upshall, and Knuble are good bets. ;)
Click to expand...

Yea right. Biron and Lupul are one foot out of Philly already. No one hits in the Olympics for Hartnell and Upshall. Briere is constantly on the injury list. Coburn is not playing like last year. Jones has not seen the ice yet. Knuble is too old.
 
My Guesses:

Goal: Luongo, Fleury, Turco The job is likely Luongo's to use. Fleury showed last year in the playoffs that he is a legitimate #1 in the NHL, and Turco is there because while getting experience for the young players is all fine and good - no one is going to be happy with a 5th place finish and good 'experience' for whatever goalie tagged along

Defense: Pronger, Niedermayer, Phaneuf, Weber, Burns, Bouwmeester Some of the lists above have too many offensively inclined d-men on them, also Ryan Suter and Zach Bogosian are American. Team Canada should lean towards the guys who can provide offense (Weber has 10 goals, Burns was amazing during last year's WC) while not sacrificing the defense. Guys like Mike Green are fun to watch - as long as you aren't trying to protect a lead. He's a great player, but he's not what the team needs on the blue line.

Forwards: Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Dany Heatley, Eric Staal, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash, Brenden Morrow, Mike Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, Joe Thornton, Shane Doan, Corey Perry Really tough to narrow the list down here. Morrow, Richards and Doan would be the most likely candidates for the grind line here. All defensively responsible. Not particularly fun to play against. Morrow is definitely an upgrade on a guy like Lucic. I love Lucic - but I'm not sure he's enough of a skill upgrade to offset the fact that he would likely be taking the place of a player with more defensive acumen. Most of the names on the list are self-explanatory. Perry and Staal both get a spot on my actual roster. Big, fast, strong and young - they are exactly what Canada didn't have enough of last time. Too many patronage picks on Gretzky's '06 roster. Hockey Canada is always going to lean towards the guys that have suited up in the past (have in fact strongly insinuated that players need to go the WC, if they think they are on the bubble), but there's a difference between being loyal and picking Todd Bertuzzi because you are Wayne Gretzky and you want to.
 
andhicks said:
I think that LEcavalier has a chance at wearing the "C" as well.
I'm not convinced Iginla is a lock.
Any chance Joe Sakic plays? IF so, doesn't he have to be the captain?
Click to expand...

Iginla will be there, barring injury of course. Iginla is the most complete forward in the game today, and one of the best leaders. We would be stupid to not have him on the team. Lecavalier has no shot at the "C" as long as Iggy is showing up. Even if Sakic doesn't retire, I see him getting passed by, like Messier was for Nagano.
 
I meant I didn't think Iginla was a lock for being Captain.
Hes clearly a lock for being on the team.
Passing on Messier back in 98 was a mistake, but thats a whole nother thread.
 
Yea, figuring the roster I posted orginally was difficult. I tried to put some veteran presence on the blueline in Niedermeyer and Pronger, but for sure, guys like Bouwmeester should be considered as well. It was only that Bouwmeester had never played a playoff game, in a high-stakes situation, whereas Pronger and Niedermeyer have played in every type of championship you can think of.

Patrick Sharp is certainly a good story, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to beat out some of the other names mentioned. As for Lucic, I love his play, but I feel (at the current time anyhow), that Morrow has more to offer. And we're all speaking as Canadian fans here...in the NHL, I have to admit I actually 'hate' when the Canucks play Iginla or Morrow.

I guess Savard could be in question as well, because they already have a world-class passer in Thornton. Perry, a goal scorer will be considered over him for sure.

As for netminders, I really can't say too much about Turco, because he seems to have a tendency to crumble in the playoffs...not saying he will at the Olympics, but personally, i feel we'd have a good chance with Fleury or Price, who have gone deep into the playoffs, or even Cam Ward, who has won a Cup.

The guy I most want to make the team, but looks likely will end up being a spare, is Spezza. He scores nice goals, he can pass so well, but someone more adaptive like Thornton can do the same, and more. I think Thornton is a pretty much sure fire selection.

Great opinions here, keep them coming =)
 
Just so people know, I'm not the guy standing on a soapbox yelling out, "Lucic over Morrow!" I was just throwing that out there.

There are some guys who are average to very good juniors who somehow find their niche in the pro game, and I think Lucic is one of them, much like Jordan Staal. Both guys have a huge pro game upside.

Jordan Staal...let's not leave him off the list altogether, either. If there is a better defensive hockey player in the game right now, I'd like to know who it is. Doesn't mean he'll make the team, just that he's a possibility.

Canada needs to have a line of those type of guys, and Morrow's offensive upside is not something that will put him over the top (his leadership and grit might). They have more than enough firepower, anyway. They need to make sure they can intimidate and take care of their own end. It is what has killed us a few times in the past. It is sexier to take another scoring line, but defense wins championships.
 

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