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Who will make Team Canada? We have the answers

November 17, 2009 04:18 PM | Posted by   Scott Morrison  

No one has bothered to ask - especially not Steve Yzerman and Mike Babcock, the brain trust for the Canadian Olympic team - so we will offer a little free advice.

There are six weeks and a couple of days before the roster must be confirmed. That's plenty of time for someone to play their way on, or off the roster, but it's also not that much time. It will fly by for Yzerman, general manager of the team, and Babcock, the head coach, and the rest of their staff.

So here is how we see the roster barring the unforeseen, such as serious injury, of course.

GOAL (3):

This is the easiest area to identify the final three, though not necessarily who will be the starter.

Doubt too many would find complaint with Martin Brodeur, who already owns Olympic gold and championship rings; Marc-Andre Fleury, who now as a Stanley Cup win on his resume; and Roberto Luongo.

A starter? Brodeur. He is playing well and he is the most experienced of the group. It's his job to lose.

DEFENCE (7):

This might not be as difficult as feared, either.

You start with the experience of Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Dan Boyle. With that group you have great puckhandling, speed and in the case of Pronger, toughness. Remember, they are playing on an NHL rink. Discipline, of course, is also key.

The next wave should include Duncan Keith, who is solid all around; Shea Weber, who is a great hitter and has a terrific shot and big Jay Bouwmeester.

Who is the seventh man? Drew Doughty, Dion Phaneuf, Mike Green ...?

Phaneuf struggled last year, Green is haunted it seems by a bad playoff (though he was injured) and Doughty just keeps getting better. We go with Doughty.

FORWARDS (13):

Now the fun begins. For our money there are a large handful of players who can be written in ink, not pencil. Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Mike Richards, captain Canada Ryan Smyth, Shane Doan and Patrick Marleau.

There are equal parts skill, speed, grit, scoring, playmaking and experience. That leaves two spots and a wealth of candidates. We'd add Jonathan Toews and Brad Richards.

That leaves the likes of Brenden Morrow, Jeff Carter, Steven Stamkos, Eric Staal, Dustin Penner and Vinny Lecavalier, to name a few, on the outside looking in. But that's what tough decisions are all about.

All that’s left is actually winning the gold.

Thoughts?

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