Updated Team Canada Olympic Roster
This past summer I made projections for team Canada. With the Olympics fast approaching, here are my updated projections!
Forwards:
Chris Kuntiz Sidney Crosby Patrick Sharp
Matt Duchene Ryan Getzlaf Corey Perry
John Tavares Jonathan Toews Claude Giroux
Jamie Benn Tyler Seguin Martin St. Louis
Extra: Patrice Bergeron
*Notables left out: Thornton, Marleau, Hall, Eberle, Lupul, Kane
Assessment:
Team Canada brass and TSN commentators need to stop with the nonsense about experience and attitude. Seguin and Duschene are probably playing the best hockey of their careers; they deserve to be on the team. And don't worry, Seguin's entourage probably won't follow him all the way to Russia. Stevie Y is crazy if picks older and slower players over them just to make a statement about off-ice conduct or attitude. They're both speedsters and we need them on the big ice. The debates over Kunitz and St. Louis are ridiculous- just look at their numbers over the last two seasons. Kunitz is 8th in NHL scoring right now. He has 20 goals in 38 games and is a plus 20. Whether or not his numbers are inflated because he plays with Sid, he's earned a spot. And besides, he'll be playing with Sid in the tournament so why not keep the stat inflation going? Sharp gets to ride shotgun with Crosby because Stamkos is nursing a broken ankle. I almost cut Giroux because he had a terrible start to the season. But he's picked it up over the last 10 games and he is a game breaker when the puck is on his stick. The Getz and Perry selection should be obvious; they're dominating the league this year. Even the TSN panel has Toews and Tavares on the team so I guess I don't need to defend selecting them. Thorton and Marleau are older but they almost scored their way on to the team this year. Almost, but it's time to give the younger guys a chance. Hall and Eberle play on the worst team and that clearly hurt them. They have to show they can play well in a structured system (i.e. actually play defense) before earning spots on the Olympic squad. If Lupul could stay healthy, he would have given Yzerman something to think about; he dominates when he's on the ice. Evander Kane has game-breaking talent. But he didn't get invited to the orientation camp and he's been mediocre (and injured) so far this year.
Defense:
Duncan Keith P.K. Subban
Jay Bouwmeester Alex Pietrangelo
Drew Doughty Shea Weber
Extra: Dan Boyle
Assessment:
If PK doesn't make the team, there should be a criminal investigation launched over the selection process. He's easily the best two-way defensemen in the league. And he brings a physical dimension to the game that other guys don't. This isn't 3 years ago, he's not a defensive liability anymore. And we haven't heard anything negative about his off-ice immaturity in a few years. Not only does he deserve a spot, he should be playing big minutes. Babcock needs to give it a rest about how he only wants left shots playing the left side and right shots playing the right side. With that attitude it means taking a much worse defenseman on the left side. If you want to see a defensive liability then put Dion Phaneuf on the team just because he shoots left! The players I've selected are so talented that if they have to play on their off side they'll adjust.
Goalies:
Carey Price Roberto Luongo Mike Smith
Assessment:
I'm sick of hearing about the experience of Lu. Price plays in a crazy hockey market where he's had garbage thrown at him during warm-ups (at home, in the playoffs, because of a poor performance in a previous game). The Olympic environment isn't going to faze him. Plus, he's in a groove right now. Price is number one and plays every game unless something goes terribly wrong.
-Kirk Lougheed
Forwards:
Chris Kuntiz Sidney Crosby Patrick Sharp
Matt Duchene Ryan Getzlaf Corey Perry
John Tavares Jonathan Toews Claude Giroux
Jamie Benn Tyler Seguin Martin St. Louis
Extra: Patrice Bergeron
*Notables left out: Thornton, Marleau, Hall, Eberle, Lupul, Kane
Assessment:
Team Canada brass and TSN commentators need to stop with the nonsense about experience and attitude. Seguin and Duschene are probably playing the best hockey of their careers; they deserve to be on the team. And don't worry, Seguin's entourage probably won't follow him all the way to Russia. Stevie Y is crazy if picks older and slower players over them just to make a statement about off-ice conduct or attitude. They're both speedsters and we need them on the big ice. The debates over Kunitz and St. Louis are ridiculous- just look at their numbers over the last two seasons. Kunitz is 8th in NHL scoring right now. He has 20 goals in 38 games and is a plus 20. Whether or not his numbers are inflated because he plays with Sid, he's earned a spot. And besides, he'll be playing with Sid in the tournament so why not keep the stat inflation going? Sharp gets to ride shotgun with Crosby because Stamkos is nursing a broken ankle. I almost cut Giroux because he had a terrible start to the season. But he's picked it up over the last 10 games and he is a game breaker when the puck is on his stick. The Getz and Perry selection should be obvious; they're dominating the league this year. Even the TSN panel has Toews and Tavares on the team so I guess I don't need to defend selecting them. Thorton and Marleau are older but they almost scored their way on to the team this year. Almost, but it's time to give the younger guys a chance. Hall and Eberle play on the worst team and that clearly hurt them. They have to show they can play well in a structured system (i.e. actually play defense) before earning spots on the Olympic squad. If Lupul could stay healthy, he would have given Yzerman something to think about; he dominates when he's on the ice. Evander Kane has game-breaking talent. But he didn't get invited to the orientation camp and he's been mediocre (and injured) so far this year.
Defense:
Duncan Keith P.K. Subban
Jay Bouwmeester Alex Pietrangelo
Drew Doughty Shea Weber
Extra: Dan Boyle
Assessment:
If PK doesn't make the team, there should be a criminal investigation launched over the selection process. He's easily the best two-way defensemen in the league. And he brings a physical dimension to the game that other guys don't. This isn't 3 years ago, he's not a defensive liability anymore. And we haven't heard anything negative about his off-ice immaturity in a few years. Not only does he deserve a spot, he should be playing big minutes. Babcock needs to give it a rest about how he only wants left shots playing the left side and right shots playing the right side. With that attitude it means taking a much worse defenseman on the left side. If you want to see a defensive liability then put Dion Phaneuf on the team just because he shoots left! The players I've selected are so talented that if they have to play on their off side they'll adjust.
Goalies:
Carey Price Roberto Luongo Mike Smith
Assessment:
I'm sick of hearing about the experience of Lu. Price plays in a crazy hockey market where he's had garbage thrown at him during warm-ups (at home, in the playoffs, because of a poor performance in a previous game). The Olympic environment isn't going to faze him. Plus, he's in a groove right now. Price is number one and plays every game unless something goes terribly wrong.
-Kirk Lougheed
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