(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Note: I wrote this before the USA roster for training camp was announced. I promise.
Team Canada
Gagne-Crosby-Iginla
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Carter-Savard-Richards
Heatley-Spezza-Doan
Green-Weber
Boyle-Niedermayer|
Pronger-Phaneuf
Brodeur
Luongo
Mason
On paper, this is most likely the strongest team in the Olympics. However, we have said that many times, ultimately watching Team Canada fall short at the Olympics. As Herb Brooks always said, “All-Star teams fail because they rely solely on the individual’s talent.” Will this year be the difference?
Team USA
Parise-Gomez-Drury
Kessel-Modano-Kane
Brown-Kesler-Ryan
Booth-Backes-Stastny
Rafalski-Suter
Whitney-Komisarek
Johnson-Johnson
Thomas
Miller
Team USA has not had a good showing at many Olympics in years past. Other than the silver medal in 2002, the USA has not placed higher than fourth since the 1980 Miracle on Ice. With a potential all-Devils’ first line and a Vezina winner in net, the United States has the best shot they’ve had in years to win a medal. However, the competition is fierce, so coach Ron Wilson better have a few tricks up his sleeve.
Team Switzerland
Ryan Gardner-Romano Lemm- Roman Wick
Thomas Ziegler-Raffaele Sannitz-Martin Pluss
Thierry Paterlini-Sandy Jeannin-Thomas Deruns
Andres Ambuhl-Kevin Romy-Ivo Ruthemann
Mark Streit-Yannick Weber
Luca Sbisa-Mathias Seger
Roman Josi-Raphael Diaz
Martin Gerber
Daniel Manzato
Although not the weakest team in these Olympics, Switzerland is not sitting pretty at all. With only a few NHL players on their roster, it will have a tough time making it to the medal round. Switzerland has not finished higher than sixth place since 1952.
Team Norway
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen-Kristian Forsberg-Patrick Thoreson
Martin Roymark-Morten Ask-Anders Bastiansen
Marius Holtet-Mads Hansen-Peter Lorentzen
Per-Age Skroder-Andreas Martinsen-Tore Vikingstad
Jonas Holos-Lars Erik Lund
Anders Myrvold-Alexander Bonsaksen
Mats Trygg-Tommy Jakobsen
Ruben Smith
Pal Grotnes
Norway seldom qualifies for the Olympics, so simply being in Vancouver next year is a great achievement. Norway has never won a medal and has not participated in the Olympic games since the 1994 games in Atlanta. It has an unbelievably weak team with just one current NHL player (Tollefsen). Look for Norway to finish at the bottom of the standings.
Team Finland
M Koivu-S Koivu-Miettinen
Hagman-O Jokinen-Selanne
Peltonen-Filppula-Ruutu
J Jokinen-Nokelainen-Lehtinen
Timonen-Pitkanen
Salo-Numminen
Koistinen-Lydman
Kiprusoff
Backstrom
The silver medalists in Turin in 2006, Finland still has much of the talent they had then. With a solid netminder in Kipper, some great defensemen and a full NHL roster, expect it to qualify for the medal round.
Team Sweden





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