For canada I'd go:

Stamkos-Crosby-St. Louis
Bergeron-Tavares-Giroux
Hall-E. Staal-Benn
Ladd-Toews-J. Williams

Doughty-Weber
Garrison-Hamhuis
Subban-Pietrangelo

Luongo
Price
- kaptaan

You're going to cut Perry, Giroux, and Neal?

You're going to cut Perry, Giroux, and Neal?
- Jeffmt

He has Giroux second line, but I see your point.

He has Giroux second line, but I see your point.
- StayTunedMTC

Oops! My bad.

No offense, and I will step away just for the sake of saving arguments, but thats blind homerism.

Hall is like a fart in a windstorm compared to many of the players that will be selected ahead of him. The Leafs used to overrate their players for years as well, that got them nowhere.
- flyer_nutter

If anything hall is underrated. Look at his numbers

Who would you take out to put Hall into the top 12?

Kid hasnt even played a game in the playoffs, and needs work on his defensive game.
- flyer_nutter

First. Stevie has already said they prefer players that will be in their natural position. Hall is the best LWer in hockey period today. He will be on the team.

Second. Don't comment on things you clearly don't know anything about. Needs to work on his defense? Can't play in playoffs? You're clearly one of those that has never watched the kid.

To slow not enough offense
- Oilers42

Are you on crack? Boyle at age 36 is still one of the better offensive defensman in the NHL and Pietrangelo is the exact opposite of slow.

Eklund: For Gold in Sochi: USA vs. Canada. Who Wins This Time?
- Eklund

Carey Price leads Canada to Gold.

Carey Price leads Canada to Gold.
- AGalchenyuk27

Dream on, we haven't even seen him rebound yet. If he does, then he may compete with Luongo to be Canada's #1.

Are you on crack? Boyle at age 36 is still one of the better offensive defensman in the NHL and Pietrangelo is the exact opposite of slow.
- tomburton99

I didn't bold Pietrangelo

You're going to cut Perry, Giroux, and Neal?
- Jeffmt

Giroux is there, Ladd and Williams are clutch do anything to win players.they have heart and get the big goals. Perry and Neal don't measure up.

I didn't bold Pietrangelo
- Oilers42

you absolutely did, check your comment on page 8.

So rookie of the year doesn't get an invite from Canada? But Bjugstad gets one for USA? How is that even possible. Bjugstad blows

So rookie of the year doesn't get an invite from Canada? But Bjugstad gets one for USA? How is that even possible. Bjugstad blows
- floridapanthers4ev

I was shocked when I read that as well.

Eklund: For Gold in Sochi: USA vs. Canada. Who Wins This Time?
- Eklund

Canada has better forwards and defense, USA has way better goaltending. I think it will boil down to whether or not Canada's goaltending can keep up.

Both teams will have to fight their way through the officiating at times when dealing with the IIHF refs. I imagine the Russians will be getting some extra love from them. I read there are 13 NHL officials being used in Sochi so that helps.

Which non-NHL leagues are better than this "terrible league"?
- 1979AD

The AHL.

you absolutely did, check your comment on page 8.
- tomburton99

Sorry I have glitchey (frank)ing Internet and am on my ipod

So rookie of the year doesn't get an invite from Canada? But Bjugstad gets one for USA? How is that even possible. Bjugstad blows
- floridapanthers4ev

Because usa does not have depth

Sorry I have glitchey (frank)ing Internet and am on my ipod
- Oilers42

Ok, I was about to freak out. I'm american but i can recognize that Pietrangelo is on the up and up when it comes to talent level. Every team would love to have him.

I could be wrong but did they also not invite Kunitz?
- flyer_nutter

So?

U.S.A.
- tpd11

Are you even serious? Canada could put together two teams here and both would be the americans. I am thinking it will be a Canada Russia final. I would even give the edge to Sweden with Lundquist in net.

USA. Kesler? Kessel? Kane? Parise? Ryan? Arguably top 5
Canada Stamkos, Crosby, Toews, Giroux Getzlaf Enough said on the offense

Defense
USA Suter? Yandle? maybe a Johnson or Byfuglien off chance on Martin but he is only good with Crosby and Malkin. I don't even know who the bottom 4 will be. Maybe they will pick random fans like some sort of lottery.

Canada Doughty, Weber, Keith, Pietrangelo, Letang, Hamhuis, Subban, Seabrook, Boyle I don't even know where to stop. They didn't invite players bet than the US's bottom 4.

Goalie Quick vs Lou - I do give Quick the edge but with the d in front of lou I could play net. Plus if either have a bad game or are injured, Price is the best back up.

If US beats Canada it will be due to 30 players being injured or the refs fixing the game like they tried to do to the women's gold in Salt lake.

I can fully understand how Eklund gives USA the edge in goal, but to say they have the edge in defense as well is border line retarded. Canada's potential D going into this tournament is ridiculous IMO. The forwards aren't even close as Canada could probably ice two teams like Eklund suggests and meet in the gold medal game. As for the D, with the exception of Ryan Suter (International ice will be a little more challenging for him) who do they have compared to: Drew Doughty, Duncan Keith, Kris Letang, PK Subban, Shea Weber and Alex Pietrangelo. Please name me a team with 6 better D than that who can wheel one the big ice. Canada 4 Sweden 3 in the final. USA 3 Russia 2 for bronze. Lock! GFY

Are you even serious? Canada could put together two teams here and both would be the americans. I am thinking it will be a Canada Russia final. I would even give the edge to Sweden with Lundquist in net.

USA. Kesler? Kessel? Kane? Parise? Ryan? Arguably top 5
Canada Stamkos, Crosby, Toews, Giroux Getzlaf Enough said on the offense

Defense
USA Suter? Yandle? maybe a Johnson or Byfuglien off chance on Martin but he is only good with Crosby and Malkin. I don't even know who the bottom 4 will be. Maybe they will pick random fans like some sort of lottery.

Canada Doughty, Weber, Keith, Pietrangelo, Letang, Hamhuis, Subban, Seabrook, Boyle I don't even know where to stop. They didn't invite players bet than the US's bottom 4.

Goalie Quick vs Lou - I do give Quick the edge but with the d in front of lou I could play net. Plus if either have a bad game or are injured, Price is the best back up.

If US beats Canada it will be due to 30 players being injured or the refs fixing the game like they tried to do to the women's gold in Salt lake.
- Hall Fan

Yeah, because upsets never happen.

We should have just handed Pittsburg the cup this year, the Canucks the cup the last couple of years, etc.

The D is closer than you think. It is pretty damn even as far as talent goes. Maybe if you didn't have your Canadian colored glasses on you could see that.

A goaltender can steal a game on his own, and your guys are either great or shaky, Quick is about as consistent as they come.

Will Canada win? Most likely. Can they lose without your dumb excuses given? Absolutely.

And I know you are not a true Canadian because you didn't use sorry once in your post so your whole point is null and invalid from the get-go.

Are you even serious? Canada could put together two teams here and both would be the americans. I am thinking it will be a Canada Russia final. I would even give the edge to Sweden with Lundquist in net.

USA. Kesler? Kessel? Kane? Parise? Ryan? Arguably top 5
Canada Stamkos, Crosby, Toews, Giroux Getzlaf Enough said on the offense

Defense
USA Suter? Yandle? maybe a Johnson or Byfuglien off chance on Martin but he is only good with Crosby and Malkin. I don't even know who the bottom 4 will be. Maybe they will pick random fans like some sort of lottery.

Canada Doughty, Weber, Keith, Pietrangelo, Letang, Hamhuis, Subban, Seabrook, Boyle I don't even know where to stop. They didn't invite players bet than the US's bottom 4.

Goalie Quick vs Lou - I do give Quick the edge but with the d in front of lou I could play net. Plus if either have a bad game or are injured, Price is the best back up.

If US beats Canada it will be due to 30 players being injured or the refs fixing the game like they tried to do to the women's gold in Salt lake.
- Hall Fan

That's why Canada dominated the competition in 2010.... or somethin.

Yeah, because upsets never happen.

We should have just handed Pittsburg the cup this year, the Canucks the cup the last couple of years, etc.

The D is closer than you think. It is pretty damn even as far as talent goes. Maybe if you didn't have your Canadian colored glasses on you could see that.

A goaltender can steal a game on his own, and your guys are either great or shaky, Quick is about as consistent as they come.

Will Canada win? Most likely. Can they lose without your dumb excuses given? Absolutely.

And I know you are not a true Canadian because you didn't use sorry once in your post so your whole point is null and invalid from the get-go.
- StayTunedMTC

And considering that Canada has medaled outside of North America since 1994(1974 was the last USA medal outside North America) I could see both teams flopping.

If any of you are really into NHL prospects, check out NHL Young Guns Daily on twitter @YoungGunsDaily. They post daily scouting reports with NHL player comparisons and lineup projections. They also talk about draft eligible players as well as all the 2013 1st round draft picks.

In other news, Canada will win the Olympics. Too big. Too strong. Too fast. Too good.