Olympics: 2014 - Canada Roster Discussion (Part VI)

[bobbyflex]

Oh Toronto fans, how I love thee. Tell me how that Clarkson signing goes.

what's funny is your team was offering more!

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

what's funny is your team was offering more!

and thankfully he said no cause we're not gonna be stuck with a 5 million dollar player who scores 40 point max

let us know when a Leaf has a chance to make Team Canada

 

[JoeyBeans]

and thankfully he said no cause we're not gonna be stuck with a 5 million dollar player who scores 40 point max

let us know when a Leaf has a chance to make Team Canada

Technically a leaf has a CHANCE to make Team Canada

 

[Systemfel]

How about this as the #1 PP:

Giroux - Crosby - Stamkos
Subban - Doughty

Where's the net presence?

 

[86Habs]

Forward:
Tavares - Crosby - Bergeron
E. Staal - Stamkos - St. Louis
Nash - Toews - Giroux
Richards - Getzlaf - Carter
Sharp
Duchene

- Four well-balanced lines that I'd feel comfortable rolling out in any ES situations, each with a strong defensive component to it, and each with both a RHed and LHed faceoff man.
- Lines could be shuffled (specifically, drop down Bergeron to the Toews line) in critical lead protection / shutdown situations
- The Crosby line would likely attract the toughest defensive assignments from the other team, leaving the Stamkos line to (hopefully) take advantage of favourable matchups
- Getzlaf's line would present a totally different look than the other 3 lines; Getzlaf and Richards are physical players who I think would work well together down low, and Carter has the shot and scoring touch to finish Getzlaf's passes. Both Carter and Richards are solid defensively, and can play the PK. This line would be hard to contain, especially considering they'd probably draw the other team's 3rd pairing under most matchup scenarios.
- I'd want the Toews line up against the opposition's top scoring line in normal situations, with Sharp, an excellent defensive player, mixing-in regularly on either wing.
- Duchene can mix-in in case of injury of poor performance by one of the top 13, but I wouldn't expect him to see much ice time.
- My borderline picks are Richards and Carter...Couture and Hall being next up for me.

Defence:
Keith - Doughty
Hamhuis - Weber
Bouwmeester - Pietrangelo
Subban
Letang

- Very mobile 8-man unit, all great skaters, all with above-average to outstanding puck-moving skill
- Hamhuis may be a questionable pick to some, but he's played in 5 World Championships on the international ice, is positionally excellent, reliable defensively has great speed and is a good puck-mover. Plus, he paired up with Weber in Nashville.
- Similarly, Bouwmeester has a ton of international experience and has been excellent in his time in STL (paired with Pietr)
- Subban can anchor the PP, and mix-in regularly throughout the top-6.
- Letang is my 8th man, but can easily step in as needed. Defensive play is a bit of a concern, but not enough to keep him off the team IMO.
- Marc Staal can grab a spot (in replace of Hamhuis, IMO) if he returns to his old self early next season. We'd gain some physicality, and lose nothing in terms of speed.
- Aside from Staal, next up on my depth chart is Seabrook. For him, its a numbers game..we need at least 3 LHed D on the team IMO. He'd add some physicality and toughness that we may otherwise be lacking.

Goal:
Luongo
Price
Crawford

- Not much to say, it is what it is I guess

 

[Jabba11]

I don't understand why Jamie Benn wasn't invited. They want big, fast, versatile player...euh that's Benn all written over him.

 

[DyerMaker66*]

Dude, give up; everything you have brought to the table has been pathetic. This is beyond ridiculous. Canada has sucked at the WC for the last 5+ years. We don't even care about the tournament. The fact you are trying to look into at as a sign of how good a veteran NHL coach is, is completely laughable.

It's merely in addition to his terrible team's play. In what way is Lindy Ruff a good coach? The guy has never won anything, and for more than half of his tenure the team didn't make it through (or to) the first round.

So he underachieves with the second best Team Canada, and does nothing for his last 6 years in Buffalo and he should be considered a "good coach"? Give me a break.

 

[NyQuil]

Forward:
Tavares - Crosby - Bergeron
E. Staal - Stamkos - St. Louis
Nash - Toews - Giroux
Richards - Getzlaf - Carter
Sharp
Duchene

- Four well-balanced lines that I'd feel comfortable rolling out in any ES situations, each with a strong defensive component to it, and each with both a RHed and LHed faceoff man.
- Lines could be shuffled (specifically, drop down Bergeron to the Toews line) in critical lead protection / shutdown situations
- The Crosby line would likely attract the toughest defensive assignments from the other team, leaving the Stamkos line to (hopefully) take advantage of favourable matchups
- Getzlaf's line would present a totally different look than the other 3 lines; Getzlaf and Richards are physical players who I think would work well together down low, and Carter has the shot and scoring touch to finish Getzlaf's passes. Both Carter and Richards are solid defensively, and can play the PK. This line would be hard to contain, especially considering they'd probably draw the other team's 3rd pairing under most matchup scenarios.
- I'd want the Toews line up against the opposition's top scoring line in normal situations, with Sharp, an excellent defensive player, mixing-in regularly on either wing.
- Duchene can mix-in in case of injury of poor performance by one of the top 13, but I wouldn't expect him to see much ice time.
- My borderline picks are Richards and Carter...Couture and Hall being next up for me.

Defence:
Keith - Doughty
Hamhuis - Weber
Bouwmeester - Pietrangelo
Subban
Letang

- Very mobile 8-man unit, all great skaters, all with above-average to outstanding puck-moving skill
- Hamhuis may be a questionable pick to some, but he's played in 5 World Championships on the international ice, is positionally excellent, reliable defensively has great speed and is a good puck-mover. Plus, he paired up with Weber in Nashville.
- Similarly, Bouwmeester has a ton of international experience and has been excellent in his time in STL (paired with Pietr)
- Subban can anchor the PP, and mix-in regularly throughout the top-6.
- Letang is my 8th man, but can easily step in as needed. Defensive play is a bit of a concern, but not enough to keep him off the team IMO.
- Marc Staal can grab a spot (in replace of Hamhuis, IMO) if he returns to his old self early next season. We'd gain some physicality, and lose nothing in terms of speed.
- Aside from Staal, next up on my depth chart is Seabrook. For him, its a numbers game..we need at least 3 LHed D on the team IMO. He'd add some physicality and toughness that we may otherwise be lacking.

Goal:
Luongo
Price
Crawford

- Not much to say, it is what it is I guess

Not bad at all.

 

[HarrisonFord]

If Kunitz, Marchand, Methot, Eberle, Ladd, Lucic, or Holtby make this team, I have 0 faith in this hockey program.

 

[Intangiblezz]

If Kunitz, Marchand, Methot, Eberle, Ladd, Lucic, or Holtby make this team, I have 0 faith in this hockey program.

Ladd might be a real underdog. I would take him for the shutdown line over a guy like Perry. Ladd is a leader and disciplined gritty player with offensive abilities.

Andrew Ladd - Patrice Bergeron - Mike Richards

Thats a pretty sexy 4th line.

 

[Rangediddy]

Not sure it's been discussed yet, but who's going to be captaining the team?

Crosby's a lock for C

A's are a bit trickier. I can see any of Toews (probably a lock), Bergeron, Weber, Getzlaf, E. Staal or St. Louis getting an A.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Bergeron and Toews should be the As IMO.

 

[Atomos2]

I'll take a crack at it for the time being...

Eric Staal (A) – Sidney Crosby (C) – John Tavares
Martin St. Louis – Claude Giroux – Steven Stamkos
Taylor Hall – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Mike Richards – Jonathan Toews – Rick Nash
Patrice Bergeron

If Canada was taking into account LHD-RHD

Duncan Keith (A) – Drew Doughty
Dion Phaneuf – Shea Weber (A)
Dan Hamhuis – Alex Pietrangelo
PK Subban/Kris Letang

Taking into account strongest d pairings, which I would like to see

Duncan Keith (A) - Drew Doughty
Kris Letang - Shea Weber (A)
PK Subban - Alex Pietrangelo
Dan Hamhuis/Marc Staal

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

Stamkos Crosby St Louis
Hall Tavares Giroux
Marchand Bergeron Toews
Staal Getzlaf Perry

Hoping Duchene brings his game to the next level and supplants Marchand or Staal.

Keith Seabrook
Subban Doughty
Pietrangelo/Hamhuis Weber

Really feel Weber's gotta step his game up. Could get supplanted by young guys or more mobile shutdown D-men.

Goalie: Crapshoot. Just go with the hot hand.

Tough omissions: Nash, Richards, Thornton, Iginla. Just feel they’re slowing down and would struggle on larger ice.

So excited to see all this talent together.

 

[buddahsmoka1]

It's merely in addition to his terrible team's play. In what way is Lindy Ruff a good coach? The guy has never won anything, and for more than half of his tenure the team didn't make it through (or to) the first round.

So he underachieves with the second best Team Canada, and does nothing for his last 6 years in Buffalo and he should be considered a "good coach"? Give me a break.

Name me a bad NHL coach who has over 1100 NHL games? This is ****ing ridiculous.

It's pretty simple. Bad coaches don't last that long in the NHL.

I don't understand why it is so hard to grasp this simple concept.

 

[HarrisonFord]

Stamkos Crosby St Louis
Hall Tavares Giroux
Marchand Bergeron Toews
Staal Getzlaf Perry

Hoping Duchene brings his game to the next level and supplants Marchand or Staal.

Keith Seabrook
Subban Doughty
Pietrangelo/Hamhuis Weber

Really feel Weber's gotta step his game up. Could get supplanted by young guys or more mobile shutdown D-men.

Goalie: Crapshoot. Just go with the hot hand.

Tough omissions: Nash, Richards, Thornton, Iginla. Just feel they’re slowing down and would struggle on larger ice.

So excited to see all this talent together.

Weber as anything besides your top D is

Marchand is pretty facepalmish too

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

Weber as anything besides your top D is

Marchand is pretty facepalmish too

3rd line is a two way forward line. Not every line is pure offense. Marchand and Bergeron were probably the best two-way tandem in the league this year. As a Habs fan, I despise them both out of principle, but you gotta give respect where it’s due. People don’t seem to understand that you don’t send Rick Nash out to kill a penalty.

Also, as I stated, wasn’t impressed at all with Weber this year. Hope he proves me wrong though.

 

[duul]

3rd line is a two way forward line. Not every line is pure offense. Marchand and Bergeron were probably the best two-way tandem in the league this year. As a Habs fan, I despise them both out of principle, but you gotta give respect where it’s due. People don’t seem to understand that you don’t send Rick Nash out to kill a penalty.

Also, as I stated, wasn’t impressed at all with Weber this year. Hope he proves me wrong though.

I don't see how you can break up the Richards-Toews-Nash line that was so dominant the last Olympics. Keep them together and run a third line with Bergeron centering whoever you want.

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

I don't see how you can break up the Richards-Toews-Nash line that was so dominant the last Olympics. Keep them together and run a third line with Bergeron centering whoever you want.

That was 4 years ago? Have they played together since? Both Nash and Richards have regressed in my opinion. Especially Nash. If this was North American ice I'd have Richards in there, but his skating is my biggest concern.

 

[86Habs]

That was 4 years ago? Have they played together since? Both Nash and Richards have regressed in my opinion. Especially Nash. If this was North American ice I'd have Richards in there, but his skating is my biggest concern.

Although Richards is a much better skater than Corey Perry, who you have on your team....

 

[undertow]

couture crosby tavares
stamkos giroux eberle
hall toews perry
ladd bergeron marchand
spezza carter

weber doughty
subban pietrangelo
seabrook keith
boyle

loungo
price

 

[duul]

That was 4 years ago? Have they played together since? Both Nash and Richards have regressed in my opinion. Especially Nash. If this was North American ice I'd have Richards in there, but his skating is my biggest concern.

What makes you say Nash has regressed, especially? Both players aren't even 30 years old yet and are near the top of their teams in points. Richards is an elite PKer who is not slow by any means.

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

Although Richards is a much better skater than Corey Perry, who you have on your team....

I was actually tempted to throw someone like Sharp or Eberle in Perry's place. But I think it's unlikely. Perry will make it in for the same reason I put Seabrook and Marchand in there. Prior chemistry can be a huge advantage in a short tournament.

 

[Frank the Tank]

My first take on the forwards (I reserve the right to change my mind about a thousand times the next couple of months):

Eric Staal(L)|Sidney Crosby(L)|Steven Stamkos(R)
John Tavares(L)|Ryan Getzlaf(R)|Claude Giroux(R)
Michael Richards(L)|Jonathan Toews(L)|Rick Nash(L)
Andrew Ladd(L)|Joe Thornton(L)|Patrice Bergeron(R)
|Patrick Sharp(R)|
|Matt Duchene(L)/Taylor Hall(L)|

Things I considered:

• We need at least 4 strong faceoff takers who are a mix of L/R shooters - Crosby, Toews, Bergeron, Thornton, and Giroux qualify
• At least 4 forwards who play the PK regularly in the NHL and can easily transition to that role in Sochi - Bergeron, Toews, Duchene, Richards, and Staal qualify
• Try to have a one shot goal-scorer on the forward passing side of the center

I feel that Canada, once again, has too many centers that are elite. I kept toying with the concept, for example, is Giroux playing RW better than Corey Perry playing RW? Or Eric Staal at LW better than Taylor Hall at LW? I do not know the answer.

 

[RussCourtnallsGhost]

What makes you say Nash has regressed, especially? Both players aren't even 30 years old yet and are near the top of their teams in points. Richards is an elite PKer who is not slow by any means.

I’ll admit I’ve never been a huge fan of Nash, I find he’s too much of a floater, and doesn’t use his size enough, just my opinion. However, I’ve always been a big fan of Richards, but last year it looked like he lost a step. His -8 plus-minus is pretty glaring on a team full of positive players. Hopefully he bounces back.

My main concern with the team is that they’ll take players based on reputation, and not how they’re actually currently playing