Forwards are too hard to call right now. I'm interested in who will make the defense. I'd say Pronger, Neids, Green, Bouwmester, Weber, and Regher are my guys right now. But your 'd' is pretty nice. Keith vs. Regher. Keith will likely be a better option on the big ice so either one works.
On a side note, I can go without Joe Thornton. Crosby, Getzlaf and Richards are locks for #1,2 and 4 centers. I don't think Joe is a good fit with those guys. I think E. Staal would be an awesome fit at that #3 spot and Joe isn't a winger.
Made one change. For some reason I just think that line would mesh so much more with Vinny in there.
Dunno, I see those three to have almost as good of a chemistry as Heater-Getz-Nash line.
I would actually love to see Marleau - Thornton - Iginla line cuz they were awesome at the All-Stars (which doesn't say much, but they had some sweet chemistry)
Now I"m gonna have to give the kid some credit (lord knows I've bagged on him for a while here)
THIS season... he seems to have actually gotten stronger and goes into the corners harder and stronger (As opposed to letting his famous anaconda like reach do all the work)
I still don't think he's anywhere close to being deserving of a team canada spot
I know his fanboys will jump all over me and cry,.. claiming that he's the greatest defensvie forward in the history of the game... sorry not sold. His brother Eric would play a more intense game and if asked focus on defense. IF I had to chose of the two it wouldn't even be a contest. There're far better candidates for the third line of team canada than a still learning to skate as a solid nhl'er jordan staal
you forgot St.louis... but thats ok alot of people do.
He's virtually a lock right now, the only way marty doesn't make this team is if he goes pointless in November, gets injured, or disses out yzermans wife during an interview.
Did you purposefully try to throw together the forwards so they would have as little chemistry as possible?
Nash-Crosby-Iginla will almost certainly be the top line. They have experience together and more importantly they've been succesful together.
E Staal-Getzlaf-Perry will probably be our second line. The logic here is that Getzlaf and Perry have ridiculous chemistry together and I kind of just threw E Staal in there. He should give getzlaf another legitimate outlet to pass to. IF E Staal doesn't pick up his game by the olympics you would have to think either Smyth or Penner will get a call from Yzerman. Both are gritty players that would really compliment Getzlaf and Perry.
Heatley-Thornton-Carter should be our third line. Call me crazy but the extra 3 months of playing together will do wonders for the success Heatley and Thornton will have at the olympics. Adding in another heavy sniper again gives the center another option to make the play. For all those who are going to say "But Carter doesn't know the heimlich, he won't be able to save thornton from choking!" - Thornton is PPG in international play over 27 games. There's no reason to think he's going to disappear.
Morrow-Richards-Doan - This line bleeds grit and responsible play. Nothing more needs to be said.
13th forward: Toews
On the radar:
Spezza - People who don't watch spezza won't have taken anything away from his play this year except for the fact his points are down but Spezza is back checking like a man possessed this year. He has taken a massive leap forward.
St. Louis - If he keeps up his play, he's basically going to force Yzerman to put him on the squad.
Marleau - Depends entirely on his play. He could slot in nicely next to Getzlaf-Perry.
Lecalvalier - He's really played himself off the team at this point. Only time will tell if he picks it up though.
As an outside observer (American) I think Canada would be making a big mistake if they dont have Seabrook and Keith on the team.
Those 2 are amongst the best dman in NHL and they have been playing together for years.
Going into an international event it is best to have some chemistry on your team.
I think chemistry is something that past failures (98 US/Canada and 06 US/Canada) have lacked
The US Failure in 2006 was because the team was so poorly put together, and that was because it was all veteran players as the younger talent had not really broke out yet as it has with 2010 obviously. I mean Mark Parrish was on the team for cryin outloud.
The US Failure in 2006 was because the team was so poorly put together, and that was because it was all veteran players as the younger talent had not really broke out yet as it has with 2010 obviously. I mean Mark Parrish was on the team for cryin outloud.
To be fair to Mark Parrish he was a quality 2 way player in 2006. Cant fill a team up with superstars (98 US team for example)
I don't know how Fleury wouldn't be at least the #2 right now behind Brodeur, how on earth are people putting Ward in front of him? Has he even won a game this year?
Lecavalier should be no where near this team, he's been terrible this year.
Toews? Really? He'll be injured for a while and wasn't looking great before that.
At some point if their paces continue Canada will have to consider guys like Penner and Smyth. If they're playing great I don't see why you would leave them off when guys like Staal aren't playing well.
