Hypothetical Team Canada 2

[ravens_creed]

Well, with all of the buzz in the hockey world right now on the selection of Team Canada's Dream Team roster for the Olympics, there are inevitably those who are thrilled, and those who are disappointed. Personally speaking, I'm content with the roster. I think TSN analyst Bob McKenzie brought up some excellent points whilst explaining that you simply can't select the biggest names and go with that. The idea that players will fill certain roles and playing styles, rather than being do-it-all types like they often are for their NHL teams is valid, but I think his point about the limitations that positions and chemistry play can't be overlooked. There were too many great centers to choose from, and not all centers convert to the wing well, and I think that's the great point to be made with regards to the forwards selected for this year's team.


At any rate, I thought I'd have some fun and, in the same spirit as Bob's position-based mentality, I've come up with, without putting too much thought into my initial selections, a hypothetical Team 2 for Canada. I've even included a small list of players who could be selected in lieu of some of my own choices. But hey, in my world, I get to play GM, and this was my team. Comments, debate and constructive criticism welcome!



GOAL:
Cam Ward (IR)
Steve Mason
Marty Turco
Carey Price


DEFENSE:
Jay Bouwmeester
Mike Green
Dion Phaneuf
Sheldon Souray
Marc Staal
Robyn Regehr
Kevin Bieksa

** I even considered Tyler Myers as my number 7!


FORWARDS:
Jeff Carter
Steven Stamkos
Martin St.Louis
Brad Richards
Ryan Smyth
Mike Fisher
Shane Doan
Dustin Penner
Patrick Sharp
Derek Roy
Danny Briere (because he can play wing!)
Vinny Lecavalier
John Tavares

honorable mentions: Paul Kariya, Simon Gagne, Dan Cleary, Jason Spezza, Jordan Staal.



MY ANALYSIS:

The situation in goal is dependent on injuries. Ward makes it if he's healthy. If not, I think Mason is in there, despite having a shakey sophomore year, and this could be a prime opportunity for Carey Price to find some glory in the Canadian net again (ala his junior run). Marty Turco has to get consideration, even though I'm not a personal big fan, and I can't discount JS Giguere as being a capable guy with big game potential.


On D, I think Team 1 rejects Green and Bouwmeester are lock-ins. I think AFter that point there are short-comings to be argued about the remaining selections. I would want a dependable, sturdy defense, and granted spots to Robyn Regehr and Marc Staal for that reason. Dion is a do-it-all type whose frantic play is something I'd watch for as far as his ice time was concerned, but he's capable of big things, and can change a game's momentum in your favor with one great play. He's in. Sheldon Souray was another fairly easy choice, as I'd need some offensive punch to go with my stay-at-home types. I like his big shot from the point in a PP situation, and he's experienced logging big minutes. The number 7 spot was a tough one, with consideration going to Tyler Myers, Kevin Bieksa, and then I got scared of what other selections might render... Del Zotto is offense-only, Jovanovski is likely too slow, Beauchemin has been a shadow of his Anaheim self... I guess there are the often-forgotten likes of Eric Brewer, Brent Burns and others as well. I never thought Wade Redden's name would fall off like it has. What happened?!

As for my forwards, it was very much a position-based selection for me, with consideration going to the fact that, as much as scorers look sexy on your roster, you have to have some strong backcheckers for shut-down purposes when you factor in what kind of offensive studs you're going to be playing against. I started with the must-have centers and went from there. Carter, Stamkos and Richards were my top 3 for where their games are at right now. That only leaves one spot open for a centerman, and I had to give it to Mike Fisher, with his two-way play and checking being too strong to ignore. The next thing that I considered were the wingers who were pretty much guaranteed spots... St.Louis had to make Team 2, so did Ryan Smyth and Shane Doan, both excellent checkers as well (and natural wingers). Then it came down to position vs. talent for the remaining spots. Dustin Penner has been a beast this year, and with a guy that big playing that dominantly, and being a natural winger, he was in. Then it got tricky. I like having some more speed in a player like Derek Roy, although he plays mostly down the middle now. Still, he transfers to the wing better than others, which gives him an edge there. Danny Briere's ability to play the wing was also a huge push for his cause, as was the fact that I've always been a big fan, can't forget how dominant he was in Buffalo, and, if you can believe it, is probably less injury-prone than Simon Gagne, to whom I also gave consideration, Danny got a spot. On the basis of his play over the last few years, and his combination of speed and scoring, I gave a spot to Patrick Sharp. He's in his playing prime, and the guys he was up against for the final spots are not, so age played in here. My 13th spot was awarded to Vinny Lecavalier, simply because it would have been a travesty for him to not even make the second squad. He's capable of much better than he's shown this year, and we all know that.

Who was left out? Obviously, Jordan Staal didn't make my cut. It was largely a positionally-based decision. I liked the scoring that Carter and Stamkos provide, and Brad Richards has simply played a lot better this year. Fisher is a better checker than Jordan, and has even shown better scoring as of late. The problem in moving Jordan to the wing to crack the team is that I'd have to bump a natural winger out of a lineup spot. Would Jordan Staal contribute more in an off-position for him than a Derek Roy or Patrick Sharp would? I'm thinking not...
I already mentioned Gagne, and Paul Kariya should get an honorable mention. At the end of the day, Paul is older, slower, and past his prime compared with other player who could fill his role on my team more admirable (Roy, St.Louis, Briere). Dan Cleary got some consideration, but his play this year was a strike against him. Jason Spezza has also played himself out of the picture, aside from the fact I've always hated his guts.

The only choice I have a hard time defending is that I took John Tavares in favor of some of these more established guys. His powerplay prowess obviously comes to mind. I don't mind having him see limited 5-on-5 ice time, and using him for offensive purposes only as much as possible. I also see John as a sort of enigma. He'd probably be the slowest player on my team, the youngest and most inexperienced, and his young frame is still growing... but he gets it done, almost always, despite his shortcomings. If I'm down a goal with less than 2 minutes to go in the 3rd, he's out there. It's that simple.


My brain hurts from all this over-analyzing! I'm sure I've missed an obvious player or point somewhere along the way.


- P

[ravens_creed]

I missed Nathan Horton... he'd have a significant shot at cracking that second team, and can also play both down the middle and the wing...

[30ranfordfan]

Without getting into who you picked, and who you let get snubbed for a 2nd time..... you've just illustrated a point that I've tried making to friends over the years.

Every time someone starts to insist that Canadian hockey is getting worse, and the other countries are going to pass us..... I always suggest: "Look at the 'B' squad".

While I think any of Canada, Russia, USA, Sweden, or Finland have a legitimate shot at winning the Gold.... imagine if you forced each country to ice their 'B' team. Force Canada to play with the roster you just made up, and have the other nations pick a roster that does not include anyone who they're naming to the Olympic teams.

The result? Canada would steamroll over everyone.

Many other nations have caught up to us in top-end talent. No one can touch Canada's depth.