If your Gretzky, crosby, staal, or spezza

it looks like only one of these players will get chosen for team canada if any. Now, which one of these three young superstars would you take?

 

well staal does a lot him self, but Spezza and Staal were both in the AHL last year and Spezza oblitorated everyone in points. It looks like hes more of a playmaker then sniper and he is but i would be too if i had alfredsson and heatley on my line. I say put spezza and heatly on Canada.

 

Easily Spezza, due to his chemistry with Heatley and the likelyhood he'll be leading the lead in scoring (which i think he is tied for now). I don't belive his defence is that big of a question, he's taken many strides in defensive awareness lately. Yes he still has the drop pass but that is because his job is to create offence. I'm sure if you stick him on a team filled with Canadas best, he wont try and pull the doozy out as often. Frankly, I don't think Staals and Crosbys are much better defensivly then Spezza is. I'd rank Staal first, Spezza second and then Crosby.

Gagne-Spezza-Heatley.

Gagne can be defensive.

 

Staal isn't really a goal first guy either. He's just been like that this year.

Also, I'd say Staal or Spezza should be there, but Crosby will.

Man, do I hate Crosby.

 

If I was picking the team, I personally would take Spezza. He is the one who seems like he has the most polish and would be the most ready to play at this tournament. Plus, he has proven that he plays well with Heatley.

However, since I am not the one picking the team, if one of these guys makes the team, it will be Crosby. He is the new 'Golden Boy' of Canadian hockey, and thus they would be inclined to pick him in order to create a 'buzz'. Plus, with the influence of Mario Lemieux (who likes Crosby) and Jacques Martin (who dislikes Spezza), it would be hard to see politics not playing a factor.

 

Mario may give up his spot for Crosby. He has talked about it in the Pittsburgh papers. In any event, choices like this one are pretty nice to have, aren't they?

 

If Crosby makes the team and the stats stay in roughly the same proportions then do now, then Gretz should be fired. I hate to say it but you can't hand Olympic team jobs to people that arn't the best. Spezza or Staal would both help Canada alot more then Crosby would. Crosby being on the team as a starter (I wouldn't argue with him sitting in the press box for "experiance" would just be total bias. Gretz should be fired if Crosby makes the starting lineup. Simple.

 

Easily Spezza...instant chemistry with Heatley. Because of the big ice they're gonna need a linemate with some speed though. Gagne is a good choice.

 

Definitely not being a homer.. if anyone has seen my posts before they should know I'm anything but a homer.

However, I think Crosby should take it over Staal or Spezza

Why?

Because he's gonna end up there anyway, sooner OR later. Make it sooner so he can develop quicker.

Also, it would be quite probable that one of these 3 would play the 4th line right... like.. an energy/checking/grind line?

Then I think skating & strength is very important. I don't think it's far off to say that in the skating the department, Crosby gets the nod? Do you?

 

At a short tournament, there's a lot to be said for chemistry if you can find it. If Team Canada were willing to go with a Spezza-Heatley line, then Spezza is the choice I think. Otherwise, I wouldn't take Spezza right now if I'm Gretzky. Crosby is obviously the political choice, and may well get the call on account of his speed and the 'gaining experience' argument. Ironically, Staal may be the most impressive individual player of the three right now, but might be overshadowed in the whole selection process due to the Sens sublime start and the incessant Crosby-mania. If I'm picking the team, I put Spezza with Heatley and let them go at it... if I'm a betting man, I put my money on Crosby making it.

 

I disagree completely. If anything, Crosby is the one player of the 3 that can be moved to the wing which will be very important in making this team. As much as I love Spezza, and as good as Staal has been, they arent making this lineup as a center which might be sad, but who do you kick off? Crosby's points may be lower, but hes been on fire in the past month and does it all. He would be the who I choose of the 3, based on need and adaptability.

 

Personally i would go for the player that's best defensively(because this team will have tons of firepower already, people with good 2 ways games will be needed), which i would consider Staal. But they arguement that Spezza and Heatley have good chemistry makes alot of sense.

 

For my 4th line, I would go with something like: Smyth-Draper-Doan. That is a true energy/checking/grinding line.

Crosby, if not on a top scoring line, loses a lot of effectiveness in my opinion. And I don't think he deserves to be on a top scoring line at this point in time.

However, saying all of this, I still bet that Crosby ends up playing at the Olympics, due to the publicity and political reasons I mentioned in an earlier post in this thread.

 

Both Spezza and Staal will "be there eventually" as well, but they are both better right NOW. Thus, they should get a spot over Crosby.

Oh and are you seriously trying to argue that Crosby is more of a grinder? Big Joe would probobly be playing the fourth line anyways. But all the lines should be roughly equal.

Lemieux-Sakic
?-Vinny
?-Spezza
?-big joe

Richards can play wing.

 

The more I think about it, it's probably not a bad idea taking Crosby as the 13th forward. He can play center or wing when need be and it fulfills the 'political' aspect of everything. Also gets his feet wet. Then again, saving the 13th spot for a defensive specialist would probably be smarter - seeing that Canada's already loaded offensively.

 

Crosby is definitely not deserving of getting on the team. If he gets on, it will be only because of poitics and stupid **** like that.

Ill be very very very disgusted if Crosby is on the team, unless hes an injury replacement.

 

If your choice for the last player to make your team is between crosby, staal, or spezza . . . why would you all really care to get so fired up about this? That is one loaded team. That last slot will make little difference whichever of these three you choose.

 

hard to break up the spezza/heatley tandem the way they're playing. Throw Iggy on the wing and now you've got a line :p

 

I will lose alot of respect for Wayne if any of these guys misses and Doan, Bertuzzi or Mario are included.

 

Spezza.

Chemistry with Heatley does it for me, rather easily.

 

I do like Crosby, but you're reasoning is kinda ******, you say Crosbys gonna be there eventually, but so is Staal and Spezza, they'll be on the team in 2010 as well.

Management team should pick the best player at the time.

 

If you are picking the best team now all three make it.

If you are picking who will be the best come February it's a little tougher. Sid could be on the top two lines easily by then or some of the underachieving "who seemed like locks" prior to the season starting might have turned their games around.

Sid seems the most adaptable of the three and best for the big ice and pressure situation but I think we have to wait and see if these guys are still dominating consistently up until the deadline. If they still are they all deserve to go.

 

i really don't see how mario can be allowed to 'choose' who replaces him in the team. he can decide for himself whether or not he wants to play, but shouldn't appoint anyone to take his place should he decide not to.

i'd love to see spezza there... his chemistry with heatley is enough of an argument in itself. although i'm about 98% sure that crosby will be there instead.

 

Mario has publicly stated that Crosby should be given a serious look (which I think most would agree with) and that it would be a great experience for him (which I think most would see as not relevant to picking the best possible team for the 2006 Olympics).

But none of these guys, whether it's Crosby, Spezza or Staal, should be left off the roster in favour of picking the best possible team of 2004.

 

Good points here.