Team Canada Predictions

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Jason MacIsaac

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Jan 13, 2004
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With the emergence of a few young Canadians it is going to be tough for Gretzky to pick a team without letting some vetrens go. Here is what I say should be the team based on today's NHL.

LW Eric Staal
LW Simon Gagne
LW Paul Kariya
LW Mario Lemieux
C Joe Thornton
C Jason Spezza
C Vincent Lecavalier
C Sidney Crosby
C Brad Richards
C Joe Sakic
RW Danny Heatley
RW Jarome Iginla
RW Joffery Lupul

D Scott Niedermayer
D Chris Pronger
D Rob Blake
D Wade Redden
D Bryan McCabe
D Dan Hamhuis

G Roberto Luongo
G Martin Brodeur
G Manny Legace
 

joe_shannon_1983*

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Jason MacIsaac said:
With the emergence of a few young Canadians it is going to be tough for Gretzky to pick a team without letting some vetrens go. Here is what I say should be the team based on today's NHL.

LW Eric Staal
LW Simon Gagne
LW Paul Kariya
LW Mario Lemieux
C Joe Thornton
C Jason Spezza
C Vincent Lecavalier
C Sidney Crosby
C Brad Richards
C Joe Sakic
RW Danny Heatley
RW Jarome Iginla
RW Joffery Lupul

D Scott Niedermayer
D Chris Pronger
D Rob Blake
D Wade Redden
D Bryan McCabe
D Dan Hamhuis

G Roberto Luongo
G Martin Brodeur
G Manny Legace

Good team. I just have a one comment though:

For Kariya: He will probably not be on the team. I would love to see it (since he is my favourite player), but I think Gretzky has some gripe with him considering Kariya was left off of the 2004 World Cup team (which he definitely should have been on). I do not think Gretzky likes Kariya too much, and thus will pick someone else besides Kariya.

I hope I am wrong. But I just think Kariya will be passed over.

Lupul and Hamhuis will both be left off the team as well.
 

Tricolore#20

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ferns8916 said:
For Kariya: He will probably not be on the team. I would love to see it (since he is my favourite player), but I think Gretzky has some gripe with him considering Kariya was left off of the 2004 World Cup team (which he definitely should have been on). I do not think Gretzky likes Kariya too much, and thus will pick someone else besides Kariya.

I hope I am wrong. But I just think Kariya will be passed over.

It is an interesting point, but I don't agree with it. I believe the reason Kariya wasn't chosen for the World Cup team was that he had a poor 2003/04 season and suffered numerous injuries, including an ankle injury which kept him out of the entire playoffs, except for the final game. In May 2004, when the team was named, there were players who had performed much better than Kariya in the previous season.

I think Kariya will make the team, only if he continues his current output (which I believe he will). Since there is way more competition for roster spots now amongst young players, it wouldn't surprise me if Kariya made it, because 1) he's playing well and perhaps more importantly, 2) he is aware of and has succeeded in the Olympic environment (one silver, one gold). Many of the young players vying for spots have yet to play a game for the full national team, so preference could be given to those who have had some experience (at the Worlds, World Cup or prior Olympics). Gretzky also mentioned Kariya by name, when asked if players who weren't invited to the camp would have a legitimate shot at making the team (in 2002, only players at the camp made the final roster, including Iginla, who was a late invite).
 

therealdeal

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Apr 22, 2005
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Paul Kariya won't make the team because he's just not playing well enough, he's only got 10 points, and he's -1 on a 8-1 team, thats not good stats, Sullivan should make the team before Kariya.
 

espo*

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Jason MacIsaac said:
With the emergence of a few young Canadians it is going to be tough for Gretzky to pick a team without letting some vetrens go. Here is what I say should be the team based on today's NHL.

LW Eric Staal
LW Simon Gagne
LW Paul Kariya
LW Mario Lemieux
C Joe Thornton
C Jason Spezza
C Vincent Lecavalier
C Sidney Crosby
C Brad Richards
C Joe Sakic
RW Danny Heatley
RW Jarome Iginla
RW Joffery Lupul

D Scott Niedermayer
D Chris Pronger
D Rob Blake
D Wade Redden
D Bryan McCabe
D Dan Hamhuis

G Roberto Luongo
G Martin Brodeur
G Manny Legace
It's early,they are going to take it right down to the wire before making picks.I think locks are Rick Nash,Thornton,Gagne,Lecavalier,Richards,Sakic,Iginla,Neidermayer,Pronger,Blake,Foote,Redden,Lemieux is a lock if he IS SURE he will still be able to contribute.Heatley is playing himself on,Spezza is making a serious case,they need more time to decide on Staal,Crosby is still a long shot but not totally out of the picture like before the season,McCabe has no chance IMO.There are some serious discussions and evaluations that have to go down that will center on youth/veterans and the way the game is being called now before guys who are not locks get their name pencilled in for this team.Kariya seemed like a for sure no go before the season but now has a chance.Hamhuis? I doubt they pick him with all the veteran guys ahead of him.I'd be stunned if Lupol got to go.

You most likely watch a ton of games and from the games you've watched these guys (based on their play from what you've seen)they may very well look like the guys who should be picked but i trust the final team will look different from the guys you have down here.

Interesting call on Legace,he's actually a good pick for this team,can accept a third string role yet is still capable of doing the job should he be pressed into duty,he is used to being the back-up guy.
 

Jason MacIsaac

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Jan 13, 2004
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Halifax, NS
cyclops said:
It's early,they are going to take it right down to the wire before making picks.I think locks are Rick Nash,Thornton,Gagne,Lecavalier,Richards,Sakic,Iginla,Neidermayer,Pronger,Blake,Foote,Redden,Lemieux is a lock if he IS SURE he will still be able to contribute.Heatley is playing himself on,Spezza is making a serious case,they need more time to decide on Staal,Crosby is still a long shot but not totally out of the picture like before the season,McCabe has no chance IMO.There are some serious discussions and evaluations that have to go down that will center on youth/veterans and the way the game is being called now before guys who are not locks get their name pencilled in for this team.Kariya seemed like a for sure no go before the season but now has a chance.Hamhuis? I doubt they pick him with all the veteran guys ahead of him.I'd be stunned if Lupol got to go.

You most likely watch a ton of games and from the games you've watched these guys (based on their play from what you've seen)they may very well look like the guys who should be picked but i trust the final team will look different from the guys you have down here.

Interesting call on Legace,he's actually a good pick for this team,can accept a third string role yet is still capable of doing the job should he be pressed into duty,he is used to being the back-up guy.
I totaly forgot Rick Nash.....He would be on the team and centerman Sidney Crosby would be taken off my list. Lupul is so underated among young players. He is basicly a slightly poor mans Rick Nash. A younger faster Glen Murray may be a better comparison.

Hamhuis is the main reason that Nashville is 8 - 1. He is their best defensmen and should be considered to be a Norris threat if Nashville ever gets the media attention they deserve. Hamhuis is a beast.

Spezza is good, too good to be left off. McCabe I would take just for the PP. No matter how bad you think McCabe is even strength (I agree, in his own end he is horrible) McCabe is a PP specialist on the point much like McInnis was for the team later on in his career.
 

Jason MacIsaac

Registered User
Jan 13, 2004
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Halifax, NS
One question that needs to be asked. Will the refs call the game like the NHL or like previous international tourneys. If they call it like the NHL no obstruction and use NHL rules then we will see some of the best hockey ever wittnesed on the big ice.
 

time

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Feb 26, 2005
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Jason MacIsaac said:
One question that needs to be asked. Will the refs call the game like the NHL or like previous international tourneys. If they call it like the NHL no obstruction and use NHL rules then we will see some of the best hockey ever wittnesed on the big ice.

My question too.

My gut tells me that the Olympics will follow the clutch and grab regime of European hockey. This means that for the fist time since the advent of TV dinners the NHL game will be far more entertaining than the international one!
 

espo*

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Jason MacIsaac said:
One question that needs to be asked. Will the refs call the game like the NHL or like previous international tourneys. If they call it like the NHL no obstruction and use NHL rules then we will see some of the best hockey ever wittnesed on the big ice.
I've been wondering about this a lot too and was talking about it with another poster here last week.i'm worried about it myself because i'm not sure who the new obstruction rules favour on big ice :dunno: It'll have to be considered when selecting the team that's for sure.I'm also not sure yet if it will make for a better game either,i thought the level of play was really good last Olympics and you could still hit and compete out there with NHL refs on board,made for some nice hockey i thought.Are we going to see the real hockey battles combined with more open ice or a penalty fest with marginal physical challenges like right now in the NHL?.If not,my gut says this does'nt favour Canada at all,our game is about a hybrid of skill and getting our nose dirty and forcing teams to get in those battles with us.

I've also heard that(don't know if this is true yet) there will be no restrictions on the goalies gear in Italy..............the goalies can go back to what size gear they feel comfortable with come game time in torino.Not a big deal maybe but something to consider.

Lupol i don't get to see too much but if he is a fair description of what you say then that's fine by me.He is a long shot however,Spezza and Staal are not really long shots anymore,they've got a real shot.Hamhuis has apparently played great this year but he's still in tough IMO....................lot's of veteran guys in the mix on defense and Wayne and company like veterans,veterans that can still play that is.
 

joe_shannon_1983*

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cyclops said:
I think locks are Rick Nash.
Jason MacIsaac said:
I totaly forgot Rick Nash.

With the huge amount of worthy Canadian players vying for spots, Nash is going to have to prove that he is more than just a one-dimensional goal scorer if he wants to prove that he is deserving of the Olympic Team.

Nash should not get on the team ahead of: Lemieux, Sakic, Iginla, Thornton, Lecavalier, Richards, Gagne, St.Louis, Bertuzzi, or Heatley. All of these guys have much better track records than Nash and much more experience than Nash.

Gretzky has also said that Yzerman is a lock as long as Yzerman wants to play. You also have to figure that a checking line specialist (Draper, Peca, Primeau, etc.) will be in the mix.

That only leaves 1 spot if they take 13 forwards (no spots if they only take 12 forwards, like they have mentioned of doing).

And at this point, there are a lot of guys who could (and probably should) claim that 1 spot ahead of Nash: Kariya, Lindros, Spezza, Staal, Crosby, etc.

Considering all of this, I think Nash should be forced to play his way onto the team, rather than make him a "lock" at this point.
 

joe_shannon_1983*

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I think the team will be:

F = Lemieux
F = Sakic
F = Iginla
F = Thornton
F = Lecavalier
F = Richards
F = Gagne
F = St.Louis
F = Bertuzzi
F = Heatley
F = Yzerman
F = Draper

And if Canada picks 13 forwards (it could come down to one of the following making the team, for different reasons):

F = Nash: might get on based on what he did at the World Championships last year.
F = Crosby: is scoring, plus might have the slight advantage of possibly being a PR pick
F = Spezza: is scoring a ton, plus has great chemistry with Heatley, not to mention the fact that Gretzky sometimes likes to take younger players who will be there for the next Olympics.
F = Staal: is scoring a ton, not to mention the fact that Gretzky sometimes likes to take younger players who will be there for the next Olympics.
F = Smyth: it is hard to imagine a Team Canada without this guy, could get on solely based on past international experience and dedication.
F = Doan: could get on based on past international experience and dedication, as well as the fact that he plays for Gretzky's team and thus politics might play a factor.

Out of the picks above, St.Louis is the one who could get bumped off if he does not pick up his scoring pace. However, his Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy make him too hard to ignore as of this moment, and I am sure Gretzky and Co. would agree as of right now. If St.Louis gets bumped off, two of players listed above will make the team, the two who best combine current performance with past track records.

D = Pronger
D = Niedermayer
D = Blake
D = Foote
D = Redden
D = Jovanovski
D = Regehr

And if Canada picks 8 defensemen:

D = McCabe/Boyle/Hannan (Whatever one is playing best at the time the team is chosen)

G = Brodeur
G = Luongo
G = Theodore/Turco/Legace/Belfour (Whatever one is playing best at the time the team is chosen)
 
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therealdeal

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Apr 22, 2005
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Unless something changes dramatically in the next little while, Yzerman won't be making the team, and he'll make that call, he's a class act, and he knows when the game has passed him by.

Canada doesn't have to take a checking line forward like some of you have mentioned, and if they take anyone, it certainly won't be Peca, Primeau, or Draper, because none of them have done anything worth noting so far this season.

At this pace, Bertuzzi is playing himself out of a spot, he's just not playing like he's capable of playing, however, that obviously could turn around at any moment because of Bertuzzi's unlimited potential.

The only way Regher will make the team is if he comes back, and the Flames put it back together and start winning some games. That is entirely possible, because I honestly believe that Regher is the heart of that D, when I saw him in the preseason, he was far and away the best defenseman, Hamrlik and Leopold didn't hold a candle to him.

Players that have a good outside shot are Smytty, look at what Edmontons done without him, and then look at what they've done with him, the record speaks for itself. Lets face it, I'm sure Team Canada execs are just itching to put Crosby on that roster, and he's making a case, as far as I can tell, he's been the best player on the ice every game he's played. And what can you say about Spezza and Staal, these kids are just ridiculously talented, if they aren't already, they will be Franchise forwards in 2 years max.

As much as I love Doaner, I just don't see him making it, he's a great player, but this is a tough list to crack, hopefully he'll make a better case for himself in 2010.

The good news and bad news for Canada and its fans, is that a lot of really, really good players will be left off this list of players, but thats only because the players that make it are just that good.
 

time

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Feb 26, 2005
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Nash is a lock for this team unless he really sucks when he returns. Not only did he win the Rocket Richard but he lit up the international ice in Europe and at the Worlds. He was supposedly really good at the summer camp too.

You just don't go into this kind of tourney and leave that kind of talent behind (unless you're picking the '98 Canadian team!).
 

joe_shannon_1983*

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time said:
Nash is a lock for this team unless he really sucks when he returns. Not only did he win the Rocket Richard but he lit up the international ice in Europe and at the Worlds. He was supposedly really good at the summer camp too.

You just don't go into this kind of tourney and leave that kind of talent behind (unless you're picking the '98 Canadian team!).

Nash's best season is only 57 points. Who cares if you score the most goals if you only get 16 assists?

I would much rather have a 30 goal scorer who gets 50 assists, rather than a 40 goal scorer who gets 15 assists.

And as of right now, Nash has not proven that he is anything more than a 40 scorer who gets 15 assists.

But you are right, unfortunately he may get on the team due to his play in the Swiss league last year and the World Championships.

I say "unfortunately" because the Swiss league is second-rate and so are the World Championships, thus it is irrelevant in my personal opinion how a player performs in those settings. I am sure that Hockey Canada disagrees though.

All I was saying is that Nash should have to play his way onto this team. He should not be a lock at this point. But, of course, the should's and should not's may make no difference in determining if he actually makes the team or not.
 

Wondercarrot

By The Power of Canadian Tire Centre
Jul 2, 2002
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Gagne-Sakic-Iginla
Staal-Thornton-Bertuzzi
Heatley-Spezza-Nash
Lemieux-Lecavalier-Richards

Niedermeyer-Pronger
Blake-Foote
Jovanovski-Redden


Rest of the world, prepare to eat it.

Seriously....look at those lines. its absurd. Everyone one of those lines has the potential to be the best one in the tournament.
 

espo*

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time said:
Nash is a lock for this team unless he really sucks when he returns. Not only did he win the Rocket Richard but he lit up the international ice in Europe and at the Worlds. He was supposedly really good at the summer camp too.

You just don't go into this kind of tourney and leave that kind of talent behind (unless you're picking the '98 Canadian team!).
i agree,if he performs anywhere even near to how he performed in his last nhl season you can be sure he'll be there.Thornton IS a lock for torino and i don't see anyway Team Canada brass can forget about Nash and Joe's work together at the last worlds(not to mention Nash's pure goal scoring ability,size and skating) He'd have to really underperform this year not to be picked but i am confident that if his ankle is fine then it can't happen because he's too good.
 

espo*

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ferns8916 said:
Nash's best season is only 57 points. Who cares if you score the most goals if you only get 16 assists?

I would much rather have a 30 goal scorer who gets 50 assists, rather than a 40 goal scorer who gets 15 assists.

And as of right now, Nash has not proven that he is anything more than a 40 scorer who gets 15 assists.

But you are right, unfortunately he may get on the team due to his play in the Swiss league last year and the World Championships.

I say "unfortunately" because the Swiss league is second-rate and so are the World Championships, thus it is irrelevant in my personal opinion how a player performs in those settings. I am sure that Hockey Canada disagrees though.

All I was saying is that Nash should have to play his way onto this team. He should not be a lock at this point. But, of course, the should's and should not's may make no difference in determining if he actually makes the team or not.
Give me a guy with his size and strentgh and skating ability who is a natural goal scorer anyday of the week.It does'nt matter if he can't pass like Peter Forsberg,he can score goals better then most others.........................EVERY team wants and needs that!! let someone pass him the puck and watch him score.If your team wins 5-3 and Rick Nash has scored two of your goals.................who cares whether he has any assists? I sure don't.His playmaking is of no concern,Canada has lot's of playmakers.................what is needed is someone for those guys to make plays to!! Nash is one of those guys.

I'm not saying he should'nt have to play his way on.I mean,if the guy has a terrible or at least far below his ability type season then maybe he should'nt be picked but i am saying if he plays like we know HE CAN play(Rick Nash is not a one year fluke!!) ...................he's there,garunteed.
 
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Rocky Saginuts

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Jul 21, 2004
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Jason MacIsaac said:
LW Eric Staal
LW Simon Gagne
LW Paul Kariya
LW Mario Lemieux
C Joe Thornton
C Jason Spezza
C Vincent Lecavalier
C Sidney Crosby
C Brad Richards
C Joe Sakic
RW Danny Heatley
RW Jarome Iginla
RW Joffery Lupul

I like your forwards for the most part - it's similar to the 2002 team where Gretz was saying, "screw the checkers, let's make the rest of the world deal with an offensive onslaught".

They do look a bit soft and inexperienced though - beyond Joe T and Iggy, there's not much "sand paper" there.

They'll need size up front, so he'll take Nash and Bert (not my fav player, but good luck moving him). And I saw someone write that Nash is just a "one dimensional goal-scorer" - well THANK CRIPES! Last time I watched an ice-hockey game, goals figured prominently with regards to the outcome. :shakehead

I also think it's too ealy to write off St. Louis - slow start, but he can score and skate.

Bottom line, I'd drop Crosby, Kariya and Lupul for Bert, St.Louis and Nash.

If Spezza or Staal slows down, in comes Marleau/Morrow/Morrison/Doan (they're all the same player, aren't they?).

GO CANADA EH!?! :yo:
 
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mazmin

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May 15, 2004
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Wondercarrot said:
Gagne-Sakic-Iginla
Staal-Thornton-Bertuzzi
Heatley-Spezza-Nash
Lemieux-Lecavalier-Richards

Niedermeyer-Pronger
Blake-Foote
Jovanovski-Redden

Pretty much how I see it. I had this:

LW - C - RW
Gagne - Sakic - Iginla (were awesome in '02)
Staal - Spezza - Heatley (Having great years)
Nash - Thornton - Bertuzzi (Impossible to defend against)
Richards - LeCavalier - St. Louis (Proven chemistry)
Extra - Mario Lemieux (PP specialist, rotates through roster)
- D -
Niedermeyer-Pronger
Blake-Foote
Jovanovski-Redden
- G -
Brodeur
Luongo
 

jekoh

Registered User
Jun 8, 2004
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ferns8916 said:
But you are right, unfortunately he may get on the team due to his play in the Swiss league last year and the World Championships.

I say "unfortunately" because the Swiss league is second-rate and so are the World Championships, thus it is irrelevant in my personal opinion how a player performs in those settings.
The NHL is second-rate to the Olympics too. The World Championships rosters are certainly closer to what Canada will face in the Olympics than NHL rosters are, not to mention the ice surface, therefore Nash's performance at the Worlds is more relevant than what he does in the NHL.
 

TORRUS

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May 31, 2004
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Guys you have to be aware that the time is running out. Nash is injured again and I don't know when is he about to return. The deadline is december 22nd! That means not more than 45 days of proving himself.

Anyway, I do think that he will make the team, but it won't be as easy as some here think. He should make sure to have a monster november and first half of december...
 

joe_shannon_1983*

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TORRUS said:
Guys you have to be aware that the time is running out. Nash is injured again and I don't know when is he about to return. The deadline is december 22nd! That means not more than 45 days of proving himself.

Anyway, I do think that he will make the team, but it won't be as easy as some here think. He should make sure to have a monster november and first half of december...

Nash may be out for 4-6 weeks.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=141923&hubname=nhl

Even more reason not to take him. He may be out until early-to-mid December, which is around the time that the team is going to be picked.

Do you take a guy who has only played 5-10 games for the season? Do you take a guy who may only have 1-2 points, if not 0 points, for the season? As of right now, Nash has 0 points in 3 games.

Taking such a player would be a slap in the face to all of the guys who have played all year, and have played really well. Especially when one considers the fact that Nash hasn't really proven anything in his career as far as a point-scoring track record is concerned.

I could see taking a player with 5-10 games and only 1-2 points if that player has proven in the past to be a PPG player. But Nash hasn't proven this.
 

espo*

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TORRUS said:
Guys you have to be aware that the time is running out. Nash is injured again and I don't know when is he about to return. The deadline is december 22nd! That means not more than 45 days of proving himself.

Anyway, I do think that he will make the team, but it won't be as easy as some here think. He should make sure to have a monster november and first half of december...
You have a point but still,do you think if this was the situation with Kovalchuk they definately would'nt take him(Russia) I doubt it myself because of his TALENT.It's the same deal with Nash,the Canadian brass knows how good the guy is,he'll be seriously considered right up until the last possible moment if their is even a chance he's healthy enough to go.I know every other team in the olympics is hoping Nash WON'T be there.........................they know how good he is too.
 

joe_shannon_1983*

Guest
cyclops said:
You have a point but still,do you think if this was the situation with Kovalchuk they definately would'nt take him(Russia) I doubt it myself because of his TALENT.It's the same deal with Nash,the Canadian brass knows how good the guy is,he'll be seriously considered right up until the last possible moment if their is even a chance he's healthy enough to go.I know every other team in the olympics is hoping Nash WON'T be there.........................they know how good he is too.

Nash and Kovalchuk aren't in the same league. They shouldn't even be compared at this point.

Yes, Nash tied Kovalchuk in goals, but Kovalchuk beat him by 30 points and has also been a huge scoring threat for more than one year.
 
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