It's time for Staal and Spezza

[Spero]

RK Player Pos Team GP G A P +/- ESP SHP PwPP HmP RdP ODvP DvP P/G
1 JAROMIR JAGR R NYR 58 40 48 88 24 51 0 37 42 46 52 36 1.52
2 PETER FORSBERG C PHI 42 15 47 62 20 37 0 25 34 28 44 18 1.48
3 JOE THORNTON C SJS 55 21 60 81 15 48 1 32 48 33 53 28 1.47
4 KEITH TKACHUK L STL 16 11 12 23 -4 13 0 10 13 10 17 6 1.44
5 DANIEL ALFREDSSON R OTT 52 34 39 73 28 36 6 31 43 30 32 41 1.40
6 JASON SPEZZA C OTT 43 14 45 59 21 34 0 25 36 23 24 35 1.37
7 ILYA KOVALCHUK L ATL 54 37 35 72 -12 29 1 42 33 39 46 26 1.33
8 ERIC STAAL C CAR 57 36 39 75 2 43 3 29 42 33 55 20 1.32
9 DANY HEATLEY L OTT 56 34 37 71 29 38 4 29 40 31 37 34 1.27
10 ALEXANDER OVECHKIN L WSH 55 36 33 69 0 35 2 32 38 31 48 21 1.25
11 MARC SAVARD C ATL 58 24 48 72 0 31 3 38 45 27 36 36 1.24
12 SIMON GAGNE L PHI 51 37 26 63 24 40 4 19 32 31 42 21 1.24
13 PATRIK ELIAS C NJD 18 7 14 21 7 13 0 8 12 9 15 6 1.17
14 PAVEL DATSYUK C DET 57 21 45 66 15 33 0 33 33 33 40 26 1.16
15 PATRICK MARLEAU C SJS 56 25 39 64 -6 33 1 30 32 32 40 24 1.14
16 PAVOL DEMITRA C LAK 50 22 35 57 22 27 6 24 31 26 36 21 1.14
17 ALEX TANGUAY L COL 58 24 42 66 5 40 0 26 41 25 40 26 1.14
18 CORY STILLMAN L CAR 48 15 39 54 0 29 0 25 30 24 40 14 1.12
19 MARIAN HOSSA R ATL 58 28 37 65 4 31 4 30 32 33 37 28 1.12
20 SIDNEY CROSBY C PIT 58 28 37 65 -9 33 0 32 34 31 38 27


It's finally time for Team Canada to go with these two creative/offensive guys. Staal has tremendous strength and gets those timely goals in the big games; Spezza is so creative with the puck and can create lightning quick scoring chances.
I think its time Quinn, Gretzky, and Martin should get some more explosive players out on the international ice.
They're more or less sticking with the team that won 4 years ago... it's been FOUR YEARS. Canada couldn't beat the Czechs in the World Cup of Hockey either. I can't see why anyone thinks this team can compete if they're essentially WORSE than in salt lake.
Finland has new faces, Slovakia has a whole bunch of new faces and they're a perfect 4=0.
Team Canada needs to take a chance and quit being so damn "safe" all the time. Sure they added McCabe but that's hardly an upgrade.

It's time.

Click to read more...

 

[Silvercup Returns]

But it won't happen.

 

[HackandLube]

So who do we drop with imaginary flu. I believe that for taxi squad members to get on the team, they have to come up with an injury and then the original player can't play anymore.

 

[Regency]

Maybe we should bring back Nolan, Lindros, Fleury, Peca, and Nieuwendyk.....

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Staal -yes
Spezza - no

But won't happen unless someone pulls out with an injury.

 

[ARS]

Maybe we should bring back Nolan, Lindros, Fleury, Peca, and Nieuwendyk.....

Well, those players were the best Canadian players in 2002 and that's why they were chosen for the team, Gretzky didn't go for the same philosophy this time around, instead of choosing the best, he chose the most experienced.

 

[NCSENSFAN]

As long as JM is coaching there is now way Spezza will get in.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Remember when Rob Zamuner was selected to represent Canada? Kris Draper and Shane Doan don't belong on the Olympic roster. The old guard needs to step aside, although they did deserve a spot on the team this year.

 

[muffin with tentacle]

Staal -yes
Spezza - no

Originally I agreed with this, but right now I want to shake up this team as much as possible. Remember game five of the 03 conference finals? Spezza could be the deciding factor. I say get Staal, Spezza, and Boyle in if possible.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Originally I agreed with this, but right now I want to shake up this team as much as possible. Remember game five of the 03 conference finals? Spezza could be the deciding factor. I say get Staal, Spezza, and Boyle in if possible.

I think Canada needs a bit of energy, and Spezza might provide it, but this team's major problem is they aren't really working, and Spezza is definately not known for his work ethic.

 

[LeHab]

Dagenais!

 

[hifk88]

Metropolit

 

[Caz]

So who do we drop with imaginary flu. I believe that for taxi squad members to get on the team, they have to come up with an injury and then the original player can't play anymore.

You know, as strange as it sounds, I think
this thought has already crossed Quinn's mind.
I wouldn't be surprised if it actually happened.

Let's say Nash, who hasn't been very productive,
gets 'injured' and Pronger gets a 'stomache flu'.

 

[Hedberg]

The problem isn't the players for Canada, it's that they aren't playing as a team.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

The problem isn't the players for Canada, it's that they aren't playing as a team.

 

[khy206]

Staal? Yes.

Spezza? Not yet.

I'm a Sens fan and I love Spezza but he doesn't deserve a spot in Team Canada yet.

 

[PapaBear*]

The first guy I would bring over would be either Tanguay or Kariya, a toss up.

 

[NAI77]

A little strange when 7 of the top 20 players in the league in terms of PPG are all healthy and not on your roster.

 

[Dig Out Your Soul]

A little strange when 7 of the top 20 players in the league in terms of PPG are all healthy and not on your roster.

But I thought Canada just picked all of the "stars" and didn't think about chemistry or role players?

Oh right...they did.

Honestly folks, it's one or the other. Criticize them for bringing stars or criticize them for NOT bringing the current stars...one or the other.

 

[MOGiLNY]

But I thought Canada just picked all of the "stars" and didn't think about chemistry or role players?

Oh right...they did.

Honestly folks, it's one or the other. Criticize them for bringing stars or criticize them for NOT bringing the current stars...one or the other.

Clearly Canada tried to pick a team and not an all-star team. They haven't gelled yet, but I think once the medal rounds start, they'll be back to their usual dominating ways..

 

[God Bless Canada]

Spezza's play was deteriorating before his injury. He had the dynamite first month, but his production has been sporadic since. And he's had a penchant for no-showing big games in the past. Outside of Game 5 in the 2003 playoffs vs. NJ, I've never seen him elevate his play in the post-season, between junior, the AHL and the NHL.

Staal's a fine player, but would he make a difference right now? No. Our team is having a hard enough time as it is adjusting to the international game, and a player who's never played a game of international hockey for us in his life is going to make a difference? No. They have to start playing like a team. The coaches have to get them on the same page tomorrow. Somebody besides Sakic has to step up in the locker room. This team really misses the leadership of Shanahan, Yzerman, Lemeiux, Peca and MacInnis. (Major props to whoever pointed that out in the Canada/Finland thread. Further proof that you can't underestimate leadership).

They have to make their adjustments to the international ice and game by Wednesday, and start playing like a team, or we're finished. They've done it before, three times before as a matter of fact, so I have every reason to believe they can do it again. Eric Staal is not going to be the guy who pushes us over the top.

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

A guy like Kariya would help the team much more than Staal or Spezza would.

Staal, for some reason, reminds me a lot of Dany Heatley. And Heatley has been invisible thus far this tournament.

Spezza is one of the laziest players in the NHL. He would not help a team already struggling with bouts of laziness. If anything, he would make things worse.

Canada needs more experience, not more youngsters who would have no clue as to how to play on the big stage. All of Canadian youngsters (25-26 or younger players) have been brutal this tournament (Nash, Heatley, Thornton, Lecavalier, Bouwmeester, Regehr, etc.)

Canada doesn't seem to know how to win right now. They need more guys on their team who know how to win, not Spezza or Staal.

 

[mytor4*]

RK Player Pos Team GP G A P +/- ESP SHP PwPP HmP RdP ODvP DvP P/G
1 JAROMIR JAGR R NYR 58 40 48 88 24 51 0 37 42 46 52 36 1.52
2 PETER FORSBERG C PHI 42 15 47 62 20 37 0 25 34 28 44 18 1.48
3 JOE THORNTON C SJS 55 21 60 81 15 48 1 32 48 33 53 28 1.47
4 KEITH TKACHUK L STL 16 11 12 23 -4 13 0 10 13 10 17 6 1.44
5 DANIEL ALFREDSSON R OTT 52 34 39 73 28 36 6 31 43 30 32 41 1.40
6 JASON SPEZZA C OTT 43 14 45 59 21 34 0 25 36 23 24 35 1.37
7 ILYA KOVALCHUK L ATL 54 37 35 72 -12 29 1 42 33 39 46 26 1.33
8 ERIC STAAL C CAR 57 36 39 75 2 43 3 29 42 33 55 20 1.32
9 DANY HEATLEY L OTT 56 34 37 71 29 38 4 29 40 31 37 34 1.27
10 ALEXANDER OVECHKIN L WSH 55 36 33 69 0 35 2 32 38 31 48 21 1.25
11 MARC SAVARD C ATL 58 24 48 72 0 31 3 38 45 27 36 36 1.24
12 SIMON GAGNE L PHI 51 37 26 63 24 40 4 19 32 31 42 21 1.24
13 PATRIK ELIAS C NJD 18 7 14 21 7 13 0 8 12 9 15 6 1.17
14 PAVEL DATSYUK C DET 57 21 45 66 15 33 0 33 33 33 40 26 1.16
15 PATRICK MARLEAU C SJS 56 25 39 64 -6 33 1 30 32 32 40 24 1.14
16 PAVOL DEMITRA C LAK 50 22 35 57 22 27 6 24 31 26 36 21 1.14
17 ALEX TANGUAY L COL 58 24 42 66 5 40 0 26 41 25 40 26 1.14
18 CORY STILLMAN L CAR 48 15 39 54 0 29 0 25 30 24 40 14 1.12
19 MARIAN HOSSA R ATL 58 28 37 65 4 31 4 30 32 33 37 28 1.12
20 SIDNEY CROSBY C PIT 58 28 37 65 -9 33 0 32 34 31 38 27


It's finally time for Team Canada to go with these two creative/offensive guys. Staal has tremendous strength and gets those timely goals in the big games; Spezza is so creative with the puck and can create lightning quick scoring chances.
I think its time Quinn, Gretzky, and Martin should get some more explosive players out on the international ice.
They're more or less sticking with the team that won 4 years ago... it's been FOUR YEARS. Canada couldn't beat the Czechs in the World Cup of Hockey either. I can't see why anyone thinks this team can compete if they're essentially WORSE than in salt lake.
Finland has new faces, Slovakia has a whole bunch of new faces and they're a perfect 4=0.
Team Canada needs to take a chance and quit being so damn "safe" all the time. Sure they added McCabe but that's hardly an upgrade.

It's time.

i agree 100%

 

[The Sensation]

As long as JM is coaching there is no way that Spezza will get in.

Sad but true...

 

[Pangu]

What's with ths I love Spezza but he is a lazy choker stuff? Do you guys just love his manly looks or something? As I said on the Sens board, if he struggles than he could easily be hidden as the 13th forward, but if he plays well he could be dominant. He represents a very differant type of player than anyone else on this team. I would put him in before Staal for that simple reason.