Team Canada: In Position
Eric Duhatschek, Pierre Maguire, and Scotty Bowman recently made their selections for the 2010 Men's Olympic hockey team. Here is their projected roster:
GOAL: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Steve Mason
Others getting votes: Cam Ward, Carey Price
DEFENCE: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Green
Others getting votes: Robyn Regehr, Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Marc Staal
FORWARDS: Jarome Iginla (C), Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash, Mike Richards, Joe Thornton, Shane Doan, Jeff Carter, Martin St. Louis, Patrick Marleau, Eric Staal
Others receiving votes: Simon Gagné, Ryan Smyth, Jonathan Toews, Derek Roy, Corey Perry, Marc Savard, Brenden Morrow
There are a lot of things to like about this team. There's a solid mix of grit and skill, and there are enough specially skilled players included (ie. faceoff men, penalty killers). There seems to be a good mix of youth and veterans, and there are a number of intermediate veterans who have significant international experience but are still in the prime of their careers (Iginla, Lecavalier, Heatley, Bouwmeester). There are no "Rob Zamuners" on this team (over Mark Messier in Nagano? I still shake my head at that one), nor are there any players who are there because of their past (though Smyth and Gagné were still considered). It's a solid team from top to bottom.
There are a few minor things that are questionable, though. It's very heavy on centres and left-handed shots (as the analysts admit); though it likely will not pose a problem, it's something to consider. I think that Toews should be included, but I'm not sure at whose expense. More notably, one of the primary problems in Turin was our slow defense (which seems to have been addressed), but also the lack of a shutdown defender. This may lead to Regehr being included in favour of someone like Keith.
I think the that most important decision (not discussed there) is the coach. Pat Quinn was very outclassed in 2006, and I'm not sure that Ken Hitchcock is the man to do it in 2010 (though he has done well in Columbus). My vote is for Mike Babcock, with Hitchcock assisting. The only question that's left is who makes up the injury replacement squad. I like Ward, Boyle, Burns, Gagné, and Marc Savard.
GOAL: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, Steve Mason
Others getting votes: Cam Ward, Carey Price
DEFENCE: Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Dion Phaneuf, Shea Weber, Duncan Keith, Jay Bouwmeester, Mike Green
Others getting votes: Robyn Regehr, Dan Boyle, Brent Burns, Marc Staal
FORWARDS: Jarome Iginla (C), Sidney Crosby, Vincent Lecavalier, Dany Heatley, Ryan Getzlaf, Rick Nash, Mike Richards, Joe Thornton, Shane Doan, Jeff Carter, Martin St. Louis, Patrick Marleau, Eric Staal
Others receiving votes: Simon Gagné, Ryan Smyth, Jonathan Toews, Derek Roy, Corey Perry, Marc Savard, Brenden Morrow
There are a lot of things to like about this team. There's a solid mix of grit and skill, and there are enough specially skilled players included (ie. faceoff men, penalty killers). There seems to be a good mix of youth and veterans, and there are a number of intermediate veterans who have significant international experience but are still in the prime of their careers (Iginla, Lecavalier, Heatley, Bouwmeester). There are no "Rob Zamuners" on this team (over Mark Messier in Nagano? I still shake my head at that one), nor are there any players who are there because of their past (though Smyth and Gagné were still considered). It's a solid team from top to bottom.
There are a few minor things that are questionable, though. It's very heavy on centres and left-handed shots (as the analysts admit); though it likely will not pose a problem, it's something to consider. I think that Toews should be included, but I'm not sure at whose expense. More notably, one of the primary problems in Turin was our slow defense (which seems to have been addressed), but also the lack of a shutdown defender. This may lead to Regehr being included in favour of someone like Keith.
I think the that most important decision (not discussed there) is the coach. Pat Quinn was very outclassed in 2006, and I'm not sure that Ken Hitchcock is the man to do it in 2010 (though he has done well in Columbus). My vote is for Mike Babcock, with Hitchcock assisting. The only question that's left is who makes up the injury replacement squad. I like Ward, Boyle, Burns, Gagné, and Marc Savard.
Labels: Olympics, Team Canada
posted by Life of Turner at
12:09 PM
3 Comments:
I'm comfortable with the goalies. The third guy is highly unlikely to play so it really doesn't matter who the third guy is.
On defense I'd cut Pronger and put Boyle in and if Neidermayer doesn't retire I'd keep him but if he does I'd replace him with Brent Burns.
I'm not in agreement on the forwards, Gagne belongs there and so does Morrow. I'd cut Jeff Carter from this team and probably St. Louis. I like Morrow's toughness and I like Gagne's speed and penalty killing ability. Marc Savard could also make it but I think you'd see an injury or a really poor year to replace one of those mainstay centers. (Crosby, Thornton, Richards, and Lecavalier). My Guaranteed forwards are Iginla, Crosby, Heatley, Lecavalier, Nash, M. Richards, Thornton, Doan and Marleau (Marleau because he's now a winger).
I'd definitely have Babcock coach, though my second choice would be Todd McClellan in San Jose.
Spezza...? Just throwing that out there. I know a guys don't like him but I think his skill on the open ice would be a nice addition and if you're looking for right-handed shots... He was on the reserve at Turin and he loves playing in the big game. He's had a so-so year until Clouston came along and I think a full year under him could really help his chances. We'll see I guess.
I don't mind Spezza but I wouldn't include him on this team. There are simply too many players who are higher up on my list. He's also a center which canada has an overabundance of, and I don't mind some centers playing wing but I don't want a ton of them. Among centers I'd place him 9th on my list behind Crosby, Thornton, Lecavalier, Richards, Staal, Getzlaf, Savard, and Carter.
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