We're weeks away from what should be an incredible NHL season, thanks to the Olympic break.
On that theme, since it seems to be the most exiting thing to talk about these days, I'm revisiting my picks for Team Canada.
On June 11th, I posted a blog that put the team together as follows:
Giroux-Crosby-Stamkos
Eberle-Toews-Tavares
Perry-Bergeron-Sharp
Benn-M. Richards-Staal
Extra: St. Louis, Carter, Getzlaf
(Most notable omissions--Neal, Nash, Hall, Seguin)
Keith-Seabrook
Doughty-Weber
Subban-Letang
Extra: Pietrangelo, Staal, Boyle
Goalies (in no particular order): Luongo, Price... (Crawford, Smith, Ward all battle it out for a spot).
**********
Since then, TSN put together their team as follows:
Kunitz-Crosby-Stamkos
Nash-Toews-Staal
Couture-Tavares-Giroux
Carter-Getzlaf-Sharp
Extra: St. Lous, Bergeron
D:
Keith-Doughty
Staal-Weber
Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
Extra:
Subban, Boyle
Goalies:
Luongo, Price, Smith
Obviously, TSN had to have built their team based on the buzz around orientation camp and some other factors as well.
For instance, Chris Kunitz's inclusion as Crosby's linemate seems logical to them. Keeping Tavares at centre over Stamkos and Giroux is another idea. Everyone knows Mike Babcock loves Ryan Getzlaf. And the defense pairings certainly put emphasis on the importance of a balance of left and right-handed shooters.
Here's my new Team Canada, and some of the reasons I'm putting it together as such.
Line 1: Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos
Line 2: Nash-Toews-Sharp
Line 3: St. Louis-Giroux-Carter
Line 4: Couture-Bergeron-Staal
Extra: Thornton, Benn, Neal
D1: Subban-Weber
D2: Keith-Doughty
D3: Staal-Pietrangelo
Extra: Letang
Starter: Roberto Luongo
Backup: Carey Price
Third: Mike Smith
Notes:
-Obviously, Tavares and Stamkos are two of the best centremen in the game, but both of them are also natural goal scorers. I believe both of them can produce consistently and be go-to scorers from the wing.
-That puts Claude Giroux at centre. He may have experience on the wing, but his vision, his speed and playmaking ability make him a better fit at centre. He's not as natural of a goal scorer as Tavares and Stamkos are.
-I like the idea of a powerhouse first line. You couldn't find a better line in the Olympic tournament than the proposed line of Tavares-Crosby-Stamkos. On a regular team, you'd worry about balance. On this team, you're guaranteed balance given that all the players named can produce consistently.
-Primary factors are hockey sense, speed and skill. The latter factors there are crucial on the big ice. That said, this is built in the frame of having three scoring lines and a strong checking line that can also contribute. This lineup includes powerful penalty killers like Bergeron, St. Louis, Staal, Toews. Leadership is a factor not to be discounted.
You can't win without veteran presence to calm down an urgent situation, or to help build the confidence of the team. That's a main criteria for Martin St. Louis' guaranteed inclusion in the lineup.
It's also a big reason for why I think Joe Thornton has to be brought as an extra forward. Thornton is at the top of the league when it comes to hockey sense, he's got tons of International experience and has proven to be great on the big ice, and he's versatile to play any role--at the 2004 World Cup, he was phenomenal as a checking centre. Over the last couple of years, he's had great playoffs. Thornton offers Canada a large centre to rely on if they need to. He's a good option to have. And if he doesn't play, he's a good guy to have around the team as a veteran presence.
-If I had to look at players that are sure to challenge for a spot, my list includes: Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall. I've included Jamie Benn and James Neal because the team will have to carry natural wingers as extra forwards, with so many centres playing out of position. I think all these players will challenge Logan Couture, Jeff Carter and Patrick Sharp for positions up front.
The team can carry five extra players. I think you need three forwards in there (1 centre, 2 wingers), and you need one extra defenseman. Consensus may very well be that you need two extra dmen.
-I can appreciate the importance of having a balance of right-handed and left-handed shots on the blue line, but I don't agree that it has to be 50-50. You have to take the best players available, and also the ones that are best suited for the big ice.
I think each pair should have a strong offensive defenseman with a strong defensive defensemen. All players on the blue line need to be incredible at both ends of the ice.
Shea Weber is a beast at both ends, and Subban might be the most versatile defenseman on this blue line. They make for a very physical pair. They're both great puck movers, they both have incredible shots, and they are both very reliable in all situations.
-Doughty and Keith. Not much else to say.
-Let's face it, Staal's there because he shoots left. But he's also a great defensive defenseman who you can largely employ on the penalty kill. He's a veteran presence next to Petro or Letang.
-I believe Kris Letang may very well be a better option than Pietrangelo, but size is the distinguishing factor here. Bring him as an extra, and he could work his way in.
-The starting job is Roberto Luongo's to lose, in my opinion. But whoever plays the best between the start of the NHL season and the Olympics is likely to take the net when Canada starts their tournament. I believe Luongo and Price will establish themselves, but Mike Smith and Corey Crawford could very well work their way into the backup position.
-Everything depends on health and play between now and the start of the season for most of these players.
Locks I have are (in no particular order):
Crosby
Stamkos
Tavares
Toews
Giroux
Staal
Bergeron
Nash
Weber
Doughty
Keith
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»