Biggest snub '06 Canada. Staal, Savard, Crosby or Spezza

[JackSlater]

I just don't agree that, because someone was originally named to the taxi squad, they're automatically the player best suited to replace someone who's injured. Frankly, that's a stupid way to make a decision. If Gretzky/Quinn had put a bit of thought into figuring out what skillset needed to be replaced when Niedermayer was injured, they would have easily come to the conclusion that McCabe wasn't the right guy for the job and Boyle probably was. Or perhaps that McCabe shouldn't have been on the taxi squad in the first place. His style of play was really a horrible fit for international ice and refereeing. This all happened before the Olympics even began.

Recall also McCabe's disastrous stint in Sweden during the lockout. Plays ten terrible games, quits and goes home. He was a horrible pick.

As always I've seen Draper mentioned several times as a terrible pick. I'll say this - Draper perhaps shouldn't have made that team, but he was not the worst pick. Even among forwards I can name three worse picks. Draper brought elite skating and defence to a team that lacked both at forward and he had a very strong history representing Canada internationally, even at the best on best level in 2004. Probably Staal/Crosby/Marleau/Kariya should have been there over him, but he was not an atrocious pick.

 

[shelf]

Recall also McCabe's disastrous stint in Sweden during the lockout. Plays ten terrible games, quits and goes home. He was a horrible pick.

As always I've seen Draper mentioned several times as a terrible pick. I'll say this - Draper perhaps shouldn't have made that team, but he was not the worst pick. Even among forwards I can name three worse picks. Draper brought elite skating and defence to a team that lacked both at forward and he had a very strong history representing Canada internationally, even at the best on best level in 2004. Probably Staal/Crosby/Marleau/Kariya should have been there over him, but he was not an atrocious pick.

McCabe did have 40 points in 33 games when the roster was made. It would be hard not to have him there even if it was just as a powerplay specialist.

 

[JackSlater]

McCabe did have 40 points in 33 games when the roster was made. It would be hard not to have him there even if it was just as a powerplay specialist.

I don't know how hard it would have been, but it would have been right. Canada cut Green in 2010 and Letang multiple times. Cutting McCabe was possible and should have been done.

 

[86Habs]

Recall also McCabe's disastrous stint in Sweden during the lockout. Plays ten terrible games, quits and goes home. He was a horrible pick.

As always I've seen Draper mentioned several times as a terrible pick. I'll say this - Draper perhaps shouldn't have made that team, but he was not the worst pick. Even among forwards I can name three worse picks. Draper brought elite skating and defence to a team that lacked both at forward and he had a very strong history representing Canada internationally, even at the best on best level in 2004. Probably Staal/Crosby/Marleau/Kariya should have been there over him, but he was not an atrocious pick.

I don't think he was a bad pick at all. The more inspired choice would probably have been Marleau, but Draper is a selection that I've never found fault with. I was looking back at some email exchanges I had in late 2005 with a good friend and we agreed that he was probably competing with Peca for a roster spot (both had been invited to the summer camp), but was clearly the better choice at that time. Draper had always had a very strong chance to make the team and both of us included him in our roster mock-up.

Off topic, but any idea as to what happened to Eric Brewer in 2006? He only played 32 games for STL, so was presumably injured. He was very good for us in 2002 and 2004, and would have helped significantly on the blue line if he was healthy.

The other name from 2006 I've never been able to figure out is Paul Kariya. Obviously he was passed over in 2004 after a poor season in Colorado, but was humming along nicely in Nashville in 2005-2006 at a PPG clip. His resume at that point spoke for itself. I don't think he was even invited to the summer camp in 2005.

 

[86Habs]

I don't know how hard it would have been, but it would have been right. Canada cut Green in 2010 and Letang multiple times. Cutting McCabe was possible and should have been done.

Indeed. While you can question some of the decisions made by Yzerman / Babcock made in 2010 and 2014, what you can't question is their commitment to actually scouting the players instead of looking at the scoresheet and their contingency/scenario planning. I find it hard to believe that a team selected by Yzerman would be caught short without an elite puck mover on defense on international ice.

 

[JackSlater]

I don't think he was a bad pick at all. The more inspired choice would probably have been Marleau, but Draper is a selection that I've never found fault with. I was looking back at some email exchanges I had in late 2005 with a good friend and we agreed that he was probably competing with Peca for a roster spot (both had been invited to the summer camp), but was clearly the better choice at that time. Draper had always had a very strong chance to make the team and both of us included him in our roster mock-up.

Off topic, but any idea as to what happened to Eric Brewer in 2006? He only played 32 games for STL, so was presumably injured. He was very good for us in 2002 and 2004, and would have helped significantly on the blue line if he was healthy.

The other name from 2006 I've never been able to figure out is Paul Kariya. Obviously he was passed over in 2004 after a poor season in Colorado, but was humming along nicely in Nashville in 2005-2006 at a PPG clip. His resume at that point spoke for itself. I don't think he was even invited to the summer camp in 2005.

I don't really remember anything about Brewer at the time. It's a bit odd that he didn't make the team but Regehr or even Foote did. I do remember finding it weird how Kariya, given his fame and international history, was such an afterthought. He did pick his scoring up in the latter part of the season though.

Indeed. While you can question some of the decisions made by Yzerman / Babcock made in 2010 and 2014, what you can't question is their commitment to actually scouting the players instead of looking at the scoresheet and their contingency/scenario planning. I find it hard to believe that a team selected by Yzerman would be caught short without an elite puck mover on defense on international ice.

Probably, though I am sure that the 2006 debacle affected Yzerman's decisions in 2010 and beyond. It is worth noting that Yzerman was already dabbling in the GM pool in 2006 by calling Gretzky directly and telling Gretzky not to select him for the team when that seemed to be the plan. The 2006 team had a disappointing mixture of poor preparation, misplaced loyalty and bad injury luck. At leat it was informative going forward.

 

[86Habs]

Probably, though I am sure that the 2006 debacle affected Yzerman's decisions in 2010 and beyond. It is worth noting that Yzerman was already dabbling in the GM pool in 2006 by calling Gretzky directly and telling Gretzky not to select him for the team when that seemed to be the plan. The 2006 team had a disappointing mixture of poor preparation, misplaced loyalty and bad injury luck. At leat it was informative going forward.

And with good reason, because as much as I respect Yzerman as a player and a person there was no reason whatsoever for him to have been on that 2006 team. I remember Gretzky coming out and saying in the summer of 2005 that Yzerman and Mario (both of whom were entering their final, injury-plagued seasons) were locks for the Olympic team. That's when I started guessing a little nervous about the undue amount of loyalty that Gretzky had in his former friends, teammates, and members of the 2002 team.

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

im inclined to say that at the time i was really upset that spezza didn't make it. but I'm way to lazy to fact check where he was at that point.

 

[Trap Jesus]

It's easy to say Crosby in retrospect, but, while the team selection was butchered, it wasn't exactly an enviable position to be in to pick the team. What was there, a couple months of play after the lockout before the team was picked? To some degree you have to rely on the veterans, and you didn't really know which ones would have a significant drop-off in play after the lockout.

 

[SenzZen]

Staal. He was an amazing skater with the puck and without at that point, and the wider rink would have suited him fine.

 

[Sky04]

It was obvious Crosby was one of the best players in the league from his very first game. Due to seniority reasons he was not going to get picked that year though.

Which is fine, they didn't lose over one selection. They could've left a rookie Crosby off and still built a gold-medal winner.

 

[Sky04]

Just reading that makes my brain hurt. I can't fathom that a universe exists where Sidney Crosby was cut from a team in favor of Kris Draper and Ryan Smyth. By the end of 2006, Crosby was the best player in the world.

No he wasn't, he wasn't even the best rookie of 2006.

 

[ovikovy817]

It has to be Crosby.

It was also Ovechkin's rookie season in the NHL and at least he made the Russian team that year.

And scored the GWG against Canada in 1/4

 

[TheBradyBunch]

Crosby and Staal 100% should have made it. Spezza imo would be behind Staal because of versatility, and the last of the group would be Savard. There is definitely a solid argument that they all should have been there. I'll say Crosby was the biggest snub, though.

 

[Thenameless]

I know he was still young, but when a potential generational talent comes in strong like that, you put him on the team. His experience from playing in his rookie year would also make future teams stronger.

 

[Voight]

Staal easily. That was his best season.

100 pts, 2nd AST, 28 points in the playoffs. Dude was unreal as a 21 year old that year.

 

[Voight]

people forget that kris draper was selected to the 2006 olympic team and played in every game for Canada

Don't forget Rob Zaumner from the 1998 Nagano team.

 

[nowhereman]

No he wasn't, he wasn't even the best rookie of 2006.

A year is longer than four months.

By December of 2006, Crosby was leading the league in scoring and eventually won the Hart/Art Ross.

 

[Sky04]

A year is longer than four months.

By December of 2006, Crosby was leading the league in scoring and eventually won the Hart/Art Ross.

Oh right forgot we usually track hockey by calendar year and not by seasons.

 

[EK47]

This is a very good topic.

 

[IslesFan2017]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I'm glad to see that Marc Savard got some consideration as a snub on that 2006 Team Canada. Although like BradyBunch said, I think all four of them could have been on the team.

 

[Voight]

Lol at Doan, Nash, and Bertuzzi over some of those guys

Bertuzzi wasn't much of a surprise pick. He scored 71 points that year, and pre lockout was a top 10 RW

 

[Bouboumaster]

Obvious answer is Crosby

Prime Staal should also have been on it

 

[bobholly39]

It's Crosby

He's the X-factor. Generational player, in rookie year and meeting expectations, well on route to becoming the best in the world.

All the other guys may have been deserving, but we'd be arguing if they're a worthy 10th or 12th forward. With Crosby - he could have been a top 3 forward, arguably.

Not that different with current day. If Olympics happened this summer - I'm not losing sleep over whether someone like Suzuki or Barzal makes it as 13th forward - I'd rather find a spot for Bedard, with his pedigree and his own international success. Potential x-factor.

 

[banks]

6 year old thread bump? That might be a record!