I just compiled a list of predictions for the U.S. team in 2010, which was a far easier task. The following list is going to be incorrect by a landslide, but it sure would be fun to see this group on the ice together in any format:
Forwards:
(Player / Position / Height / Weight / Age in 2010 / Current NHL Team / Hometown)
Sidney Crosby C 5'11" / 200 / 22 (PIT, Cole Harbour, NS)
Shane Doan RW 6'2" / 216 / 33 (PHO, Halkirk, AB)
Simon Gagne LW 6'0" / 195 / 29 (PHI, Ste-Foy, PQ)
Ryan Getzlaf C 6'4" / 221 / 24 (ANA, Regina, SK)
Dany Heatley LW 6'3" / 200 / 29 (OTT, Freiburg, West Germany [Dual Citizen])
Jarome Iginla RW 6'1" / 205 / 32 (CAL, Edmonton, AB)
Vincent Lecavalier C 6'4" / 219 / 29 (TB, Ile-Bizard, PQ)
Rick Nash LW 6'4" / 218 / 25 (CBJ, Brampton, ON)
Mike Richards C 5'11" / 195 / 24 (PHI, Kenora, ON)
Joe Sakic C 5'11" / 195 / 40 (COL, Burnaby, BC)
Marc Savard C 5'10" / 196 / 32 (BOS, Ottawa, ON)
Jason Spezza C 6'3" / 214 / 26 (OTT, Mississauga, ON)
Eric Staal C 6'4" / 205 / 25 (CAR, Thunder Bay, ON)
Joe Thornton C 6'4" / 235 / 30 (SJ, London, ON)
Reserves:
Jeff Carter C 6'5" / 200 / 25 (PHI, London, ON)
Jonathon Toews C 6'2" / 203 / 21 (CHI, Winnipeg, MB)
Defencemen:
Rob Blake 6'4" / 225 / 40 (SJ, Simcoe, ON)
Dan Boyle 5'11" / 190 / 33 (SJ, Ottawa, ON)
Brian Campbell 6'0" / 191 / 30 (CHI, Strathroy, ON)
Mike Green 6'1" / 200 / 24 (WAS, Calgary, AB)
Scott Niedermayer 6'1" / 198 / 36 (ANA, Edmonton, AB)
Dion Phaneuf 6'3" / 215 / 24 (CAL, Edmonton, AB)
Chris Pronger 6'6" / 213 / 35 (ANA, Dryden, ON)
Reserves:
Jay Bouwmeester 6'4" / 212 / 26 (FLA, Edmonton, AB)
Shea Weber 6'3" / 213 / 24 (NAS, Sicamous, BC)
Goaltenders:
Martin Brodeur 6'2" / 215 / 37 (NJ, Montreal, PQ)
Roberto Luongo 6'3" / 205 / 30 (VAN, Montreal, PQ)
Marty Turco 5'11" / 189 / 34 (DAL, Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
Reserves:
Jean-Sebastian Giguere 6'1" / 201 / 32 (ANA, Montreal, PQ)
Marc-Andre Fleury 6'2" / 180 / 25 (PIT, Sorel, PQ)
Notes:
Obviously this is too many, but I honestly don't know who to take off.
And if Jeff Carter only scores 10 more goals all year, he still finishes with 36 this year. If he reaches 50, which is certainly possible considering we aren't even at the half-way point, I don't see how you keep him off this roster.
Regardless of his numbers, I don't think you could find anyone who wouldn't want Toews on the team either.
The only forwards I wouldn't be absolutely shocked not to see on the roster would be Gagne and Staal.
Blake and Niedermayer are certainly question marks due to their age, but I think that if they want to play, they will not be turned away. Same with Joe Sakic.
The goaltending trio is identical from 2006, and why wouldn't it be. The only controversy is whether or not they will let Luongo take over as the starter. Thank Christ I don't have to make that decision.
Possible Line Combinations:
Heatley-Thornton-Iginla
Lecavalier-Crosby-Getzlaf
Nash-Sakic-Gagne
Richards-Savard-Staal
Pronger-Green
Niedermayer-Campbell
Boyle-Phaneuf
Um, are you kidding me? The only problem with all of this is that anything less than a Gold is a complete and utter disappointment. In fact, if they don't dominate like the U.S. Basketball team in China, it's a let down. This squad is ridiculous.
Speaking of the U.S. hoops team, some might say of this squad that there are no role players, much like the group put together on the hard-court for the U.S in 2008. But players that are good enough and know the game can do anything they are asked.
Dwayne Wade did everything you could think of last year, from taking charges, diving for loose balls, and rebounding like crazy, and I think that any of these talented skaters could do the same—on the ice that is.
Just for fun:
The "Who would shoot the puck?" line:
Savard-Thornton-Sakic
Ok obviously these guys can score, but they are probably also three of the best playmakers to ever take the ice.
The "Who would pass the puck?" line:
Nash-Heatley-Carter
Again, obviously they can pass, but when you can shoot like these three, why would you? Though this is completely a joke, I still guarantee you'd never see the three of them together.
The "Will probably get too fancy for his own good" line:
Nash-Lecavalier-Getzlaf
OK they probably won't at the Olympics, but I hope they do.
And finally:
The "Dear God, I'm not going out there" line:
Iginla-Getzlaf-Richards -backed up by- Phaneuf-Pronger (or Weber)
All of these guys have a mean side that I don't personally want to be introduced to first hand. Though Richards isn't big in stature, he is as gritty as they come. And if he is on the ice with these other guys, you'd let him do what he wants too.
12 comments Last one added 7 days ago — Leave a Comment
Harani T. 6 months ago
Hey Buddy! Where is Carey Price? He is heaps better than ancient Marty Turco and right now, he is proving to be better than Fleury! I'm tellin' you Pricey will play for Team Canada!
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Reed Kaufman 6 months ago
I also wrote a section on the U.S. Olympic Team, and got the same questions regarding Mike Komisarek, presumably from Canadiens' fans. I respect the fans overwhelming passion, but they have a tendency to to view the league with red and blue blinders. Mike Komisarek does not belong in the all-star game, let alone the starting line up. Good enough player, I'd want him on my team, but still.
As for Carey Price- he is no doubt talented, and will be the Team Canada goalie-- in 2018. He is too young for that kind of pressure, as clearly demonstrated in last year's playoffs, and though Turco is having a bad year, he is tied with Carey Price in wins at 14. Granted, he has started 8 more games and his GAA is a dismal 3.27 compared to Price's 2.38, but there's a lot to be said about the loss of Sergei Zubov in that. So, compare their performances in the playoffs last year and Price is backing up Turco, Giguere (OK maybe from 2006) and Fleury. His time will come, but not in Vancouver. Thanks for the comment.
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Harani T. 6 months ago
Not able to handle pressure? Having a shootout and winning gold at the World Juniors doesn't seem to be like pressure for you? The simple fact of playing in Montreal is pressure! When Pricey gets on the roster for 2010. I'll talk to you! And anywayz...he's takin' the Habs to a Lord Stanley this year!
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Christopher Leone 6 months ago
Price is big and... well... that's about it. Like Reed said, he did a terrible job in that Boston series, even with those shutouts. It took all he had to win that series, and with nothing left in the tank for Philly, it's safe to say that Boston and Montreal took each other out.
As for the WJC, when you have guys like Jonathan Toews, Kris Letang, Bryan Little, James Neal, Steve Downie, and the late Luc Bourdon playing in front of you, anything less than a third straight gold medal is a disappointment.
Price is an overrated, so-so goalie who's played behind some damn good defenses and is the product of good luck... until it runs out.
And the Habs winning the Cup? Doubt it. Not with Boston playing the way it is. Three losses total (one in OT) over the past two months... the Habs have 13 (five in OT). I don't think so.
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Reed Kaufman 6 months ago
If he does he won't start outside of exhibition play. We shall see.
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Nelson Santos 6 months ago
Nice article Reed.
Gagne is healthy is probably a SHOE-IN....Canada loves experience and he has that...also in 2002 he was the 1st line LW and in 2006 was again the 1st line LW.....he is a very very very intelligent and reliable player that compliments offensive stars amazingly well and thus always a coach's dream to add to a scoring line.....if he goes concussion free until 2010 you'll again see him in Red and White....this time however he will not be on the top line but will be paired with his NHL centreman in Mike Richards as 2/3 of Canada's checking line
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Mike ike 6 months ago
Scratch Spezza for Jordan Staal. This kid can play, and Spezza is shitting the bed this season.
I think Justin Pogge could play for the 2014 Olympic team once he gets a chance to play in the NHL. Pogge is a highly skilled goalie with tons of potential, and when the Leafs finally make him a starting tender, he's gonna be turning heads. Remember, playing for the Canadian JR team, he gave up y 1 even strength goal in the entire tournament, and had 3 shutouts to win Gold.
I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I'm a Maple Leafs fan, I can only hope for the future of this franchise hahaha.
GO CANADA GO!
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Briannne Seamans 4 months ago
GO CANADA GO
this is a solid prediction for the olympics.
it would sure be great winning another gold medal.
and im so glad im not making the decision of whose going to be starting goalie lol
out of this list who could you see being captain? going with a veteran like sakic or a new player like crosby
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Reed Kaufman 4 months ago
It won't be crosby, definitely one of the vets, Sakic would be a good choice but he almost cut his arm off with a snowblower so who knows what his status will be. Probably someone like Scott Neidermayer or Joe Thornton if not.
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Paul Shindelus 4 months ago
This team is scary good, especially on defense. There is no one in the world that can match Canada's defensemen. I actually project Phaneuf/Bouwmeester/Weber/Boyle/Green/Pronger as the back line, which means they'll be leaving guys like Souray, Campbell, Neidermeyer and Wideman at home. Any one of those guys would be at least the #2 on any other team in the world, and even the #1 in some cases. This is the one area where Canada has a huge advantage over the rest of the world.
That being said, what I'd project as the top two lines for Russia (Ovechkin-Malkin-Kovalchuk and Semin-Datsyuk-Federov) may be the two scariest lines ever put together in hockey history. With all due respect to whomever ends up on Canada's top two lines, I fear these two Russia lines much more. It's a good thing Canada has strong defensemen, because they're going to need it against Russia.
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Reed Kaufman 4 months ago
2-16-09 - TSN.com Pierre McGuire:
McGuire's Team Canada Lines
Goaltenders
Brodeur
Luongo
Price
Defence Pairings
Bouwmeester - Niedermayer
Phaneuf - Weber
Burns - Green
Boyle
Forward Lines
Crosby – Lecavalier - Iginla
Heatley – Getzlaf - Nash
Carter – Thornton - Gagne
Morrow – Richards - Doan
Savard
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Reed Kaufman 7 days ago
Don't see any Canadiens players invited:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/hockey/news/newsid=12421.html?cid=rsstsn
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