Bob McKenzie speculates on what the forwards for Team Canada might be like.

[joe_shannon_1983*]

Bob McKenzie has speculated on what he thinks Team Canada will be like at the forward position for the 2006 Olympics.

http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_story.asp?ID=144260&hubName=canadian_hockey

Here are his forwards:

Sakic
Iginla
Gagne
Heatley
Thornton
Nash
Lecavalier
Richards
St.Louis
Doan
Smyth
Draper

And possibly Lemieux and/or Yzerman.

He has Bertuzzi as an injury replacement in case Nash can not go.

Anyways, he thinks that the only way one of Crosby, Spezza, or Staal get on the team is if both Lemieux and Yzerman decline their invitations.

Click to read more...

 

[helicecopter]

Anyways, he thinks that the only way one of Crosby, Spezza, or Staal get on the team is if both Lemieux and Yzerman decline their invitations.

 

[puck57]

"Anyways, he thinks that the only way one of Crosby, Spezza, or Staal get on the team is if both Lemieux and Yzerman decline their invitations."

Exactly what I have suspected for awhile. The only way Crosby or the other two mentioned have a chance is if both Lemieux or Yzerman don't go and turn it down. The ball is really in their court because Gretz is not telling them they are not on the team- they are going to have to decline themselves. Interesting scenerio- especially with Lemieux- will he step aside for Crosby to go?

 

[therealdeal]

Tell me how Doan and Draper on are that list? Both are playing like ****.

 

[TORRUS]

Why are you so sure that it would be Crosby? I say Spezza. I think he is doing better + you put him on the line with Heatly.

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

Tell me how Doan and Draper on are that list? Both are playing like ****.

Doan gets on because of the fact that he is Gretzky's 'pet'. There is obviously some conflict of interest going on, like I feared there would be after Gretzky took over the coaching duties of the Phoenix Coyotes. But there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Draper gets on for two reasons. First, Canada always takes a checking line centre/ defensive specialist, and I would be completely shocked if this is not the case this time around. Second, Draper has won for Canada many times in the past, and this factors in huge in the minds of Team Canada management.

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

Why are you so sure that it would be Crosby? I say Spezza. I think he is doing better + you put him on the line with Heatly.

Because Crosby is the new 'Golden Boy' of Canadian hockey. I think that Crosby would make the team ahead of Spezza and Staal any day of the week, due to the politics of Hockey Canada.

Especially if Crosby gets on because Lemieux turns down his spot. I think it would be heavily implied by Lemieux that he would only be turning down his spot for Crosby. Lemieux would probably only turn down his spot if he could be guaranteed that Crosby would be the one to replace him. Thus, it is fair to say that Lemieux's spot would automatically go to Crosby.

 

[puck57]

I don't think it is a given that Doaner will be on the team this year. As a Yotes fan, I have been disappointed in Doaner's play so far even though I think he is a great guy and it pains me to think he wouldn't be on the team. Gretz will not be partial to a Yotes player- we have seen that with Burkie in the last Olympics. That said, I think it still comes down to what Yzerman and Lemieux ultimately decide.

 

[trahans99]

i'd rather spezza, crosby and staal all over st louis.

 

[Crosbyfan]

i'd rather spezza, crosby and staal all over st louis.

When is the deadline? If things continue as they have been it would be hard to leave off any of Spezza, Crosby, or Staal.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

The deadline is the 10th/11th of December.

 

[therealdeal]

Actually its the 22nd of December, the team is being named on the 21st.

I think it says it right in the article.

http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_story.asp?ID=144247&hubName=canadian_hockey

Canada will announce its final 23-player roster Dec. 21 in Vancouver, one day before the deadline, but wants to shorten its list before that.

Unless you guys were talking about a different deadline. I think the Team Canada execs are getting together on the 11th though.

 

[Big Phil]

I worry a bit about Gretzky's influence. You might say he didnt put Burke on the team back in '02 but if you watch the DVD called "Gold Rush" you can see that he pushes for Burke pretty hard which makes no sense since Joseph, Broduer and Belfour were all clearly better. But this time I worry he'll put Joseph ahead of Theodore. Hey he's already guaranteed yzerman a spot and he has 6 POINTS! Gretzky makes me nervous sometimes.

 

[arrbez]

Because Crosby is the new 'Golden Boy' of Canadian hockey. I think that Crosby would make the team ahead of Spezza and Staal any day of the week, due to the politics of Hockey Canada.

Especially if Crosby gets on because Lemieux turns down his spot. I think it would be heavily implied by Lemieux that he would only be turning down his spot for Crosby. Lemieux would probably only turn down his spot if he could be guaranteed that Crosby would be the one to replace him. Thus, it is fair to say that Lemieux's spot would automatically go to Crosby.

The problem is that the space opening up won't be for a top-six offensive player, which I believe Spezza would have to be to be effective. Crosby is a safer pick because I think he'd be a more effective 3rd or 4th liner than Spezza (which is where I would see this spot going to)

 

[wilka91*]

I guess Bob has been reading these boards a lot the past 2 months. he's just copied the things we've said here and there ... and he actually got paid for it!!! let's sue him!

 

[Roy G Biv*]

Bob McKenzie has speculated on what he thinks Team Canada will be like at the forward position for the 2006 Olympics.

http://www.tsn.ca/canadian_hockey/news_story.asp?ID=144260&hubName=canadian_hockey

Here are his forwards:

Sakic
Iginla
Gagne
Heatley
Thornton
Nash
Lecavalier
Richards
St.Louis
Doan
Smyth
Draper

And possibly Lemieux and/or Yzerman.

He has Bertuzzi as an injury replacement in case Nash can not go.

Anyways, he thinks that the only way one of Crosby, Spezza, or Staal get on the team is if both Lemieux and Yzerman decline their invitations.

Why is Shane Doan on this list. Pure homer-pick by Gretzk... I don't even know if Draper should be based on this year.

 

[coppernblue]

until gretzky does not pick a winning team i dont think we should be second guessing his decisions

 

[helicecopter]

I guess Bob has been reading these boards a lot the past 2 months. he's just copied the things we've said here and there ... and he actually got paid for it!!! let's sue him!

 

[helicecopter]

i'd rather spezza, crosby and staal all over st louis.

This is the point. Or better, this is one of the points (as other players in place for Crosby and Staal would be questionable as well.. )

 

[Max Power]

No way Canada wins gold if they go with (almost) the same crew as last gold medal.
What I don't understand is why we need three or four somewhat over the hill veteran centreman on the team. I know egos will be hurt but this is about winning and about country pride. No other Olympic sport would have the lesser competitor compete. Only one of Yzerman, Sacik or Lemieux should be invited. Doan, Draper and St Louis should all be on the bubble if not right off the list and same goes with Bert.
What irritates me about this speculation if it materializes is the teammate factor. You have two guys like Spezza and Heatly already playing together on the same line and both in the top five in points. How can they not be a sure thing!? One of the biggest problems is players getting used to each other in a short period of time.

 

[therealdeal]

No way Canada wins gold if they go with (almost) the same crew as last gold medal.
What I don't understand is why we need three or four somewhat over the hill veteran centreman on the team. I know egos will be hurt but this is about winning and about country pride. No other Olympic sport would have the lesser competitor compete. Only one of Yzerman, Sacik or Lemieux should be invited. Doan, Draper and St Louis should all be on the bubble if not right off the list and same goes with Bert.
What irritates me about this speculation if it materializes is the teammate factor. You have two guys like Spezza and Heatly already playing together on the same line and both in the top five in points. How can they not be a sure thing!? One of the biggest problems is players getting used to each other in a short period of time.

Well, I agree with your line of thought, but this team will look very very different from that in 02, and it will be a lot better as well. Older vets that were just tailing off in their career are being replaced by new aces, Thornton, Lecavelier, Richards, Heatley, etc.

 

[Max Power]

Well, I agree with your line of thought, but this team will look very very different from that in 02, and it will be a lot better as well. Older vets that were just tailing off in their career are being replaced by new aces, Thornton, Lecavelier, Richards, Heatley, etc.

True and I meant to say combination of gold and world cup win

 

[therealdeal]

True and I meant to say combination of gold and world cup win

Yeah, I personally love Rick Nash and think he'll be sensational for years to come, but if they put him on the team I'll be a little pissed, they claim they take the best players at the time, well he's been injured all year, so he really doesn't deserve to be there based on those qualities.

And the fact that Draps and Doan are being considered is very, very strange. Maybe, maybe, they can take one of them, but I doubt either would get any time to play anyways.

I really want to see one of Crosby, Staal, or Spezza on the team, preferably all of them, but its not gonna happen.

 

[HfxMoose]

i'd rather spezza, crosby and staal all over st louis.

Likewise. Gotta get rid of that international grind line too. Nash? If they plan to take the best players at the current time no way they even think about putting him on.

 

[Rob]

I hope Yzerman declines his invite. Forget loyalty this is about winning.

Question, who would be the best player to replace Draper as a checker?