Oh, Canada: Assembling the Ultimate All-Canadian NHL Team

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

There may not be a sport that is more closely associated with its country than Canada and hockey. 

Whether it's the national team or club teams, Canadians are always proud of their stick wielding, puck handling heroes.

For the most part, Canadian hockey fans think of all hockey players fondly, unless of course they play on a rival team, but they hold their own kin most closely in their hearts.

Canada has had the greatest crop of hockey players to come out of one country. That fact then raises the  question - who are the greatest of the great?

It's time to think about an all-time Team Canada. 

After much scrutiny and much debate here is the All-Canada Team.

First Line: Luc Robitaille, LW

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Some may be surprised to see Luc Robitaille on the first line. Fortunately for him, he played the left wing position where depth is a little thinner compared to other positions for the All-Canada team.

Robitaille is an eight time all star, hall of fame inductee and finally won a Stanley Cup in 2001 with the Detroit Red Wings, among many other accomplishments.

Robitaille would prove to be a great finisher on this first line, especially with who he's playing with.

First Line: Wayne Gretzky, C

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

This should come as no surprise to anyone.The greatest player in hockey is obviously going to be on the first line on the greatest hockey team ever assembled.

There is nothing more to say about the 'Great One,' that hasn't already been iterated. There may not be a bigger standout player in team sports.

He's won multiple Stanley Cups, holds nearly every record and has won every award imaginable.

First Line: Gordie Howe, RW

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

Mr. Hockey rounds out the first line. Imagine him playing alongside Gretzky. Two 1800 point scorers on the same line. The closest thing we've ever seen to that was Gretzky and Mark Messier playing together in Edmonton 

The opponent wouldn't stand a chance against this line. Should we start shaking hands now?

Second Line: Brendan Shanahan, LW

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Already the second Red Wing to make the roster. Shanahan would prove to be a very big asset to the squad.

He could do it all. Play offense, defense, play on the power play and kill penalties. His versatility would be well utilized. 

Second Line: Mario Lemieux, C

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Super Mario is the next choice at center behind Gretzky. 

Lemieux is one of the most efficient players to ever lace them up. He would be able to use his big frame to battle along the boards and dig out the puck to set up his line mates. 

Second Line: Guy Lafleur, RW

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

The player receiving many of those pucks from Lemieux would be Guy Lafleur. 

The "Flower" comes to this team with a number of his own achievements including being the all time leading scorer for the great Montreal Canadiens franchise. 

Third Line: Dave Andreychuk, LW

Brad White/Getty Images

Like Shanahan, Dave Andreychuk is a great two-way player that would prove to be very valuable for Team Canada.

He would likely share penalty killing duties with Shanahan as well as post up in front of the net to get the dirty goals.

Third Line: Mark Messier, C

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Mark Messier playing on the third line goes to show the depth that Canada has at the center position. There were a number of great centers left off of the roster such as Marcel Dionne, Joe Sakic and Ron Francis.

Mark Messier has always been a great leader that would do anything to win so he would have no problem with reduced ice time.

Third Line: Mark Recchi, RW

Harry How/Getty Images

Mark Recchi's name has seemed to pop up everywhere over the last two decades. Here he is again appearing on the All-Canada roster.

The ageless wonder that is Mark Recchi would be bring his winning ways to a roster filled with guys that know how to get it done.

Recchi would bring some second-tier scoring to the lineup as he has quietly collected over 1500 points in his career.

Fourth Line: Bobby Hull, LW

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

On the fourth line Team Canada gets some tenacity with the selection of Bobby Hull.He would prove to be the closest thing to a fourth line type player an all-star team would get.

He could certainly add a spark to the lineup and be an energy guy when the team needed a little boost. 

Fourth Line: Steve Yzerman, C

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Stevie Y on the fourth line? Again, there are just so many great Canadian centers. Not only are all four centers 1700 point scorers, they are all former captains on Stanley Cup winning teams. How's that for leadership?

I wouldn't want to be the coach who has to designate a captain on this team. Maybe each line could have its own captain.

Fourth Line: Mike Bossy, RW

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The selection of New York Islanders great Mike Bossy finalizes the forwards for All-Canada, Sorry if your favorite player didn't make the cut. The talent pool was deep so a lot of hard choices had to be made.

Not only does Mike Bossy bring 1100 points to the table, he was a very impressive plus-381 for his career. Imagine what his numbers would have been like if he played more than 752 games.

First Defense Pairing: Bobby Orr

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Just like Gretzky as the number one center, this is a pick that cannot be debated. The greatest defenseman to play the game just has to be part of the number one defense pairing on the greatest team ever assembled.

Like Gretzky, there are just too many things to say about Bobby Orr.

First Defense Pairing: Ray Bourque

Elsa/Getty Images

It only makes sense to pair Bobby Orr with another all-time great Boston Bruins defenseman. I don't think there is any debate about which franchise has the all time best defense pairing.

Bourque isn't paired with Orr just because he is a fellow Bruin. Bourque, among many other things, is the NHL career record holder for points by a defenseman.

Second Defense Pairing: Paul Coffey

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Right behind Bourque in career points by a defenseman is Paul Coffey.Bourque and Coffey would be a lethal pairing along the point on the power play. 

Although Bourque eclipsed Coffey in points, Coffey has several scoring records of his which include: most goals in a season for a defenseman with 48 and a 25 game point streak as a defenseman.

Second Defense: Al Macinnis

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Continue with offensively talented defenseman, Al Macinnis is the next selection for Team Canada.

Macinnins will forever be remembered for having one of the hardest shots the game has seen. Macinnis gives All-Canada yet another option for the point on the power play.

Third Defense Pairing: Scott Stevens

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

We transition from one the hardest shooter in hockey to one of the hardest hitters in the games.

Scott Stevens will bring some much needed toughness to the defensive corps. The blue line should be safe with Stevens patrolling it.

Third Defense Pairing: Larry Robinson

Elsa/Getty Images

Not that the team needs anymore leadership, but why not add a former coach to the mix?

After all you can never have too much leadership. That rounds out the selection of defenseman and skaters. Now onto the goalies.

Starting Goalie: Martin Brodeur

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Team Canada has the greatest forward to ever play the game and the greatest defenseman to ever play the game so the natural progression of things would bring the greatest goalie to play the game to the squad. 

Whether its regular season or postseason, Martin Brodeur owns just about every goaltending record there is. 

Backup Goalie: Patrick Roy

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

Before Brodeur came along, Patrick Roy was the holder of many of his records. Quite a team having Roy as a backup.

If Brodeur cannot get it done, Team Canada is fortunate enough to have Roy take over. He is too good to be riding the pine though.

There may have to be a two-goalie system put into place.