| Projecting Canada's 2014 Olympic Roster | Tweet |
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| Written by Jeff Angus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, 13 February 2013 18:38 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I have been looking forward to publishing this piece for a while. Selecting Canada’s roster for any international hockey competition is never an easy task. There were a number of quality forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders that didn’t make the cut. I made sure to cover the “why” for each selection and omission. There may be a surprise or two as well....
Other teams to check out:
Harrison Mooney’s Team (Puck Daddy) Scott Burnside/Pierre LeBrun’s Team (ESPN) Farhan Devji’s Team (Freelance Writer)
The 2010 Gold Medal Winning Roster:
My Roster: The Forwards: The forwards are listed in proper line combinations, as there are several players playing out of position (the problem that tends to arise is many of Canada’s top forwards play center in the NHL, and they have to adjust to the wing at tournaments such as the Olympics). Claude Giroux and Jonathan Toews are both more than capable of playing on the wing. Jamie Benn was a winger in the WHL. I have no doubts that John Tavares and/or Steven Stamkos can transition over to the wing either.
Jamie Benn – Sidney Crosby (A) – Rick Nash John Tavares – Steven Stamkos – Martin St. Louis Eric Staal – Jordan Staal – Jonathan Toews (A) Jordan Eberle – Patrice Bergeron – Claude Giroux The Why I consider Crosby, Nash, Stamkos, and Toews as absolute locks. Benn will play his way onto this team – he’s a responsible two way player, and he has one of the best wrist shots on the game. He can play both wing and center, and I’d be very curious to see how his puck protection skills would mesh with Crosby’s.
Nash always plays great for Canada internationally, and playing under the spotlight in New York has revitalized his effort level in the NHL. He will be a load to handle on the big ice – for a 6-4 power forward Nash can absolutely fly. Tavares will be a p uck hawk with snipers like Stamkos and St. Louis on his line. He is the most prolific scorer from within 10 feet in the league, and there will be a lot of scoring opportunities off of deflections and rebounds with Stamkos and St. Louis flying around. St. Louis will be the elder statesman on this team, and he was a surprise omission back in 2010. I don’t see how Stamkos makes this team without St. Louis, and I don’t see his age being an issue. He keeps himself in phenomenal shape.
Staal-Staal-Toews is my idea for a two-way/checking line. Eric can play the left side, Jordan covers a ton of ice with his wingspan and rangy skating style, and Toews is arguably the smartest hockey player on the planet. This line could end up being Canada’s best – size, skill, and defensive awareness.
The fourth line features a bit of a mishmash of players. Patrice Bergeron is so good – as a Canuck fan it took the 2011 Stanley Cup Final for me to find that out. His offensive game is vastly underrated and he is capable of shutting down any player in the league. Eberle has already scored enough big goals for Canada to last him his entire career, and I could see him finding a spot on this team as a power play specialist. Giroux is versatile and can play anywhere – he is struggling a bit without Hartnell/Jagr on his wings in 2013, but he will be on this team. Giroux, Bergeron, and Eberle are all right-handed shots, and that may be overkill on one line.
Tyler Seguin (another righty shot) is a great skater and on the big ice his ability to fly up and down the ice will come in handy. There are a ton of contenders for the final few forward spots on this team. Speaking of….
Need to Play Way Back Onto Team: Richards is still a very good two-way forward, but he won’t be on this team. Too many talented young Canadian forwards have developed over the past few years.
Perry needs to play his way back onto this team, and it is very likely he does just that in Anaheim (or elsewhere, as he is a free agent this summer). His game has regressed a bit in recent years, but he is still one of the most prolific scorers in hockey.
Getzlaf also needs to play his way back onto this team, and it is also very likely he does just that in Anaheim (or elsewhere, as he is a free agent this summer). He isn’t a great skater, and he isn’t as comfortable on the wing as some of the other natural centers on the roster above, and those two things will work against him.
Great skater, smart player, respected voice in the room – Marleau will have a spot on this team if he has a great next year of hockey in the NHL. Like Richards, he hasn’t regressed as much as other players have caught up to him.
Is Iggy done? Jarome has looked like a shadow of his former self to start the 2013 season, but that could be due to the overall struggles in Calgary more than any decline in his own game. I don’t see him making this team, but as a 13th forward he could bring a lot of experience (three Olympics, including two gold medals). It is crazy to think that Iginla was such an integral part of the 2002 team. 12 years is a long time ago.
Thornton’s experience and veteran presence may be a nice bonus for this team, but I see the likes of Crosby, Toews, Nash, and Stamkos emerging as the new generation of leaders. Jumbo Joe doesn’t get enough credit for his overall game, but his lack of foot speed may hurt his chances at playing in Sochi.
The Contenders:
The Nuge is a slick distributor and he was dominant for Canada at the 2013 WJC. Is he ready for the Olympics? I think he will be by the time 2014 rolls around.
Skinner has taken another step forward with his game in 2013 – he plays a lot like Crosby, and I wonder how those two would look skating on the same line together?
A poor man’s Toews, Couture can do it all – score, pass, hit, run the power play, and play responsible defensive hockey. His versatility could come in handy when Canada is selecting the final few forwards for the Sochi roster.
Duchene is one of the best skaters in the game, and he is an incredible offensive talent. However, his game in the NHL has gone off the rails over the past few years (mostly due to injury).
Carter, a great skater for a 6-3 forward, is a natural goal scorer, but this team already has enough of those.
See above.
Spezza’s recent back surgery puts a bit of a damper on his Olympic hopes, although the tournament is still a year away. Like Thornton, he isn’t a great skater, and also like Thornton, he doesn’t get enough credit for his overall game. He does so much for the Senators, they are really going to miss him over the next few months.
A small part of me wanted to include Hall on the above roster. Imagine Doughty and Pietrangelo zinging breakout passes to Hall while he is skating in full stride? Hall needs to beef up his resume a bit more before Canada should consider him for a scoring spot with this team.
I made the joke on Twitter last week – if Canada picks Brad Marchand, I’ll start cheering for the Americans. I respect his ability to play hockey – he is really talented with and without the puck, and he was dominant in Boston’s Stanley Cup run – but he plays the game with a lack of respect for opposing players. I doubt Canada would want to bring that on board (although they have made some curious selections in the past).
The Defensemen: Alex Pietrangelo – Drew Doughty
I consider Keith, Weber, Doughty, and Seabrook as locks at this point (and all would be holdovers from the 2010 team). Dan Hamhuis may be a surprise to some of you, but I think he is the perfect fit for this team, for a few reasons:
I do get to see Hamhuis play a lot, and that may skew my opinion of him relative to other steady defensemen (other names that come to mind include Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Jay Bouwmeester). I am curious if Pietrangelo/Doughty/Letang (one or all of) could make the transition to play on the left side. In general defensemen who shoot right play on the right and those who shoot left play on the left, as it allows them to handle passes on their forehand, and they don’t have to retrieve pucks off the boards on their backhand. The odd defenseman enjoys playing on his off-side (Buffalo’s Christian Ehrhoff is an example, and Dion Phaneuf in Toronto is another).
The Contenders: Boyle was solid back in 2010, but I think he has been passed over by younger and better defensemen. The fact that he shoots right doesn’t help him much, either.
Staal appears to be over the concussion issues that have plagued him in recent years. He is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game, and he’s a great skater, too. I see him competing with Hamhuis (they are very similar defensemen).
If Schultz keeps improving as fast as he has in the past year, he could be on this team. His defensive game isn’t great, but it isn’t bad for a rookie defenseman on a mediocre defensive club. He is a sensational skater, and his offensive exploits speak for themselves. The thought of him handling the point on a power play with Crosby and Stamkos on it should make any hockey fan giddy.
Campbell plays the left side, he is the best skating defenseman in the league and he would bring experience and leadership to this back end. He has been playing great hockey since coming to Florida, and people (for the most part) have begun to respect him for what he is – an overpaid, but very good NHL defenseman.
Like Campbell, Bouwmeester has received a heavy dose of criticism for being overpaid. However, he has brought the exact same game to Calgary that he displayed in Florida – offense if given prime PP minutes, great skating and outlet passing, and the ability to eat up a lot of tough minutes. Bouwmeester would make this team primarily for his defensive play and skating.
The man with two first names has quietly developed into one of the best defensive defensemen in the game. He plays a lot like Hamhuis, relying on great mobility and instincts to shut down opposing stars.
PK Subban Subban is a right-shooting, right-side defenseman, and he isn’t as good as Doughty, Seabrook, Letang, or Pietrangelo (right now, at least). A lot can change in a year, though.
Green was a contender to make Canada’s Olympic team about three coaches ago in Washington. He has been better this year, but his game still has a ways to go if he wants to be playing in Sochi in 2014.
The Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur/Cam Ward/Marc-Andre Fleury/Mike Smith
First off, Scott Burnside picked Corey Crawford. Really, Scott? Nothing against Crawford, but that could be the worst selection I have seen on any of the projections from those in the hockey media.
Luongo and Price are 100% locks. Luongo is playing the best hockey of his career right now, and he has at least three or four more years of elite hockey left in him. Price is a great goalie stuck on a not-so-great team. He has won almost everything possible (except for the Stanley Cup), and he is well-known for his big game heroics. Ice water in the veins applies perfectly to Price.
As for the third goalie, Canada could go any number of directions. They could bring Fleury back, but that choice wouldn’t be based on his recent play (especially in the 2012 postseason). Cam Ward is a solid, if inconsistent, goaltender. And Smith has been playing great hockey in Phoenix, but how would he fare outside of Dave Tippett’s system?
And the ageless Brodeur will still be playing in the NHL next year, but would he be willing to swallow his ego and come over as the third goaltender? Canada would probably be better off giving the experience to a new and/or younger guy.
Let’s hear your thoughts – how would you construct Canada’s 2014 roster for the Winter Olympics in Sochi?
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Comments (13)
Stunaman
said:
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... Actually, I'm gonna also say no to Seguin, Eberle and J Staal. I'd rather have Iggy, Neal and Duchene - all three bring more to the team NOW. Iggy started produce right away when he got to pitts, he has gas left in the tank, and he's all heart. Neal is a goal scorer. Duchene is completely understated after a poor 2011/12 season. Seg, Eb and J.S maybe next olympics. |
Stunaman
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... Nice post. I would only add that if Subban plays the way he did to close the season, they will make room for him on the them. He does everything well, is physical and plays with heart. |
Rollie1967
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... i dont think Hall is ready, and I think St.Louis's time has may have passed. Id put a healthy Duchesne over St.Louis, and either Campbell or Schultz over Seabrook, unless your sold on the Keith/Seabrook pairing as being a must have. |
The Guvnah
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... Say that that's the team. Who gets the 'C'? Does it just automatically go to Crosby? I think Toews would have to receive serious consideration there, and would be my choice over Crosby. Either that or St. Louis gets it due to seniority. |
Username
said:
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... Price has won almost everything possible? That's a curious statement since he hasn't won anything besides junior hockey stuff (which doesn't even matter). No Cup, no Olympic gold, no World Cup gold, no WHC gold, and no individual NHL awards. |
number54
said:
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Backes is from Minnesota.. my bad. But, you could stick Benn in that slot, then. Strange -- I'm sure I looked his nationality up yesterday when I did it. I must have misread something. I still can't justify leaving James Neal or Patrick Sharp off the roster. They just look too good to pass over. |
Zorro
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... "number4", if Canada and the USA combine teams, then maybe Backes can play on their 3rd line.. As far as I know, Backes is American. |
number54
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Not too Impressed. You're glaringly missing Patrick Sharp and James Neal. I also don't think Perry needs to 'play his way back'; he offers so much in the way of physical and defensive play that he'd be ideal in a checking role. Also, he's a natural RW. I'd take Backes over Eberle as well. No sense putting a scorer on a shut-down line. Likewise with Giroux -- lose St. Louis and stick G on the 2nd line next to Stamkos on the RW. On D, I take Campbell over Hamhuis to have more speed on the back end -- it's a commodity that's extremely rare and underrated. And who exactly gives a hoot if he's overpaid? There's no salary cap on an Olympic roster. As far as Getzlaf goes, again he's a big body with great defensive awareness, very useful in a depth role. I can respect the argument for Bergeron to take that spot, though. Otherwise, disappointing. Nash Crosby Neal Tavares Stamkos Giroux Sharp Toews Backes E.Staal Getzlaf Perry Pietrangelo Weber Campbell Doughty Keith Seabrook Letang |
joee
said:
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... I like the roster. I never thought of left and ride side defensemen and find Hamhuis a good choice. I'd probably keep Perry though and maybe take out J. Staal. I thnk the Stamkos St. Louis chemistry is a good idea and have a feeling St. Louis would play like he has something to prove after being off the 2010 squad. |
mats thomassen
said:
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... It's obvious that skating should be important, but after watching a lot of the big ice games this holiday season, just as important (if not more so) is passing ability. I'd love to see Bouwmeester on the team (I'm a big fan), but I don't think he's a slick enough passer. Ditto for Seabrook. If Justin Schultz can continue to improve he'd get my vote. And as much as I really want to see Iginla on one more Olympic team, I don't think he makes that criteria either. Frankly just from the Flames I would say Tanguay would be a better choice on big ice. I'd like to see if Duchene can get more fire in his game in the next year because his skillset is custom made for the international game. |
mormerod
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... I would like to see Hall in. He may be the fastest north-south skater Canada has right now. On the big ice, that could be huge. He is also rounding out his game quite nicely to be more than a one dimensional player. Also, Team Canada does like their pairs so a line of Bergeron-Hall-Eberle could really be an excellent little bit of everything line. It may be St. Louis who loses out for that addition, a year can be a huge difference for a player at that age. And don't under rate the possibility of Dubnyuk as the 3rd goalie. He was very good at the WC and has a .923 s% on a team where most of his defensemen seem to have a restraining order against him. I'd say that 2 or 3 of them have never even met him:0). 3rd goalie doesn't play anyway, and there are no other young goalies right now who could be moulded into the next guy for them. Unless Bernier gets dealt and shows he's a starter by then. |
hawkdog
said:
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should be interesting - good write up. I like the hamhuis choice. And I think Shultz plays his way onto the team. As much as I hate that whiner Perry, i think you have to take him or Marleau over Nash. Lou is playing like he should get a chance to repeat. |
ross10019
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... Very interesting, nice job Angus. But I think you're off your rocker if you think Luongo is going to start ahead of Price. We shall see though. |
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