Olympics: 2014 Mens Olympic Roster Projections

[Delta Cubes]

I would hate to be in charge of making Team Canada in 2014. So many players to choose from.

 

[garbageteam]

http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/...e-younger-faster-if-nhl-returns-in-sochi.aspx

Canada will be younger, faster if NHL returns in Sochi:

One of the biggest complaints about the Canadian men's hockey team heading into the Vancouver Olympics was that the team was too young and lacked Olympic experience. If — probably when — the NHL decides to return to the tournament for Sochi in 2014, the team will get younger, but experience won't be an issue.

Twelve members of this year's gold medal-winning squad are in their early-to-mid twenties, and all of them should be in or near their career prime heading into the Russian competition. An older pair — Roberto Luongo and Dan Boyle — would be strong contenders to return regardless.

The rest of the team would likely come from a group of emerging young stars who are already making their mark in the league.

Here is a look at what Canada could look like four years from now:

FORWARDS: Returning

Sidney Crosby
Age in 2014: 26
The biggest star on the biggest stage scored the biggest goal of his international career two Sundays ago. He'll be entering his prime in Sochi — a mildly scary thought. Then again, so will Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin.

Jonathan Toews
Age in 2014: 25
Canada's best forward in Vancouver might find himself between two familiar linemates in Russia.

Rick Nash
Age in 2014: 29
If you think Nash is smart as a 25 year old, wait until he really starts throwing his weight around in a few years.

Mike Richards
Age in 2014: 29
Mr. Does Everything is a lock. He could be there for his chemistry with Toews and Nash alone.

Ryan Getzlaf
Age in 2014: 28
Getzlaf might be the most dominating power forward since Eric Lindros. And he has Joe Thornton's passing touch to boot.

Eric Staal
Age in 2014: 29
After a rough start to the 2010 tournament, Staal turned out to be one of Canada's most durable forwards.

Corey Perry
Age in 2014: 28
Presuming he and Getzlaf are still one of the NHL's most reliable tandems in four years, their built-in chemistry will make the trip overseas.

Dany Heatley
Age in 2014: 33
The only member of the Sharks' big line to survive the four-year leap will be its most consistent — and youngest — member. Heatley will thrive with anyone.

On the bubble: Jarome Iginla will be 36 and his production is already slipping. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton will be 34, but only the former has a real shot given the latter's tendency to disappear both in the Vancouver tournament and in the playoffs, annually. Brendan Morrow will be 35 and rust is already showing there. Patrice Bergeron would have to become a true star to get another shot.

FORWARDS: Incoming

Steven Stamkos
Age in 2014: 24
The Lightning star's already-explosive speed and quick release will make him indispensable four years from now.

John Tavares
Age in 2014: 23
The future face of the Islanders' franchise has tailed off in the second half of his rookie season, but his puck sense is sound.

Matt Duchene
Age in 2014: 23
The most consistent rookie from the 2009 draft class has already shown superstar swagger.

Jeff Carter
Age in 2014: 29
After a near-miss in 2010, Carter will have to ignore the pressure to make the team and score as often as he is supposed to leading up to the selection date.

Jordan Staal
Age in 2014: 25
Patrice Bergeron was a reach for the 13th forward slot and his inclusion almost proved detrimental. Staal is a far stronger defensive presence who will own the penalty kill and the dying minutes of close games.

On the bubble: Taylor Hall will be the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and he could be one of Canada's best skaters in four years. Chris Stewart is showing signs that he's an excellent power forward in Colorado. Stephen Weiss could have had a shot at this year's team if he was in the midst of a breakout season, but his numbers were status quo. Milan Lucic will have to shake off a sophomore slump and find the net a lot more in the next three years to enter the conversation again.

DEFENCE: Returning

Dan Boyle
Age in 2014: 37
The blue line's elder statesman will be counted on for leadership as a winner of the Stanley Cup, World Cup and the Olympic gold.

Drew Doughty
Age in 2014: 24
By the end of the Vancouver tournament, Doughty had more fans than every other defenceman on the team combined.

Duncan Keith
Age in 2014: 30
Keith was one of Canada's most reliable defenders in Vancouver. His partner, Brent Seabrook, was not.

Shea Weber
Age in 2014: 28
Weber was Team Canada's folk hero in 2010, blasting a slap shot through the mesh of the net in the game against Germany. And he's still just 24.

On the bubble: Only Brent Seabrook (hard to imagine either Scott Niedermeyer or Chris Pronger will be playing), who failed to raise his game on the Olympic stage this year.

DEFENCE: Incoming

Mike Green
Age in 2014: 28
It's going to be too hard to ignore Green's offensive ability in 2014, especially given the fact that you can just play him on the power play if you want to.

Tyler Myers
Age in 2014: 24
The Texas-born Sabres rookie will likely get the call from both Canada and the U.S. for Sochi, but he has consistently committed to Canada in the past. At 6-foot-8, he might be the most important defenceman for either squad in 2014.

Alex Pietrangelo
Age in 2014: 23
The Hockey News ranks him as the top prospect not playing in the NHL right now. His performances for Canada at the world junior tournament have been nothing short of clutch.

On the bubble: Karl Alzner has been called up and sent down by the Capitals too often to show real consistency this season, but he should be a regular starting this fall. Luke Schenn needs to develop more offensive prowess. Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester both have time to turn into all-stars again. Kris Letang has steadily improved his defensive play and could be a legitimate top-tier defenceman for the Penguins in a few years.

GOAL: Returning

Roberto Luongo
Age in 2014: 34
The king of Vancouver will return to the starting job barring a collapse in his game, but his first misstep will hand the starting job to ...

Marc-Andre Fleury
Age in 2014: 29
... the heir apparent, Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup-winning star, who served as the third backup this year in Vancouver but never saw the ice.

GOAL: Incoming

Steve Mason
Age in 2014: 25
The 21-year-old heated up enough before the Olympics that he was the standby goalie for Team Canada if any of the three pre-tournament selections were injured.

On the bubble: Cam Ward will be 29 when the tournament starts. Carey Price will be 26, but question marks about his consistency will have to be erased by then.

 

[amnesiac]

Sochi 2014 Projected rosters (TOP 7 Nations)

**Note: to be played on international ice


CAN

Stamkos-Crosby-Giroux
Tavares-Toews-Seguin
Hall-RNH-Eberle
Duchene-Spezza-Perry
E.Staal

Weber-Letang
Doughty-Pietrangelo
Myers-Keith
Staal

Price-Luongo-Fleury


other notables: Getzlaf, M.Richards, Sharp, Benn, Couture, Skinner, Nash, E.Kane, Carter, B.Richards, St.Louis, Thornton, Marleau, Lucic, J.Staal, Subban, Seabrook, Green, R.Murray, Ward


USA

Parise-Kesler-Kane
Ryan-Stastny-Kessel
Pacioretty-Pavelski-Callahan
Pominville-Backes-Brown
Oshie

Yandle-Suter
E.Johnson-Byfuglien
Shattenkirk-Carlson
J.Johnson

Quick-Schneider-Miller

other notables: JVR, Wheeler, Cole, Dubinsky, Stepan, Umberger, Okposo, Foligno, Connolly, Wilson, Fowler, Orpik, McDonagh, Bogosian, Martin, Wisniewski, Goligoski, Gardiner, Howard,


RUS

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin
Kovalchuk-Malkin-Radulov
Kuznetsov-Schipachev-Tarasenko
Zaripov-Burmistrov-Yakupov
Grigorenko

Markov-Kulikov
Nikulin-Orlov
Emelin-Tyutin
Grebeshkov

Bryzgalov-Varlamov-Bobrovsky


SWE

Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Zetterberg-Backstrom-Landeskog
Franzen-Berglund-Steen
Stalberg-Backlund-Hornqvist
Paajarvi

Edler-Karlsson
OEL-Kronwall
Enstrom-Larsson
Rundblad

Lundqvist-Markstrom-Gustavsson


FIN

J.Jokinen-M.Koivu-T.Ruutu
Leino-Filppula-Granlund
Hagman-Immonen-Korpikoski
Hartikainen-Nokelainen-Bergenheim
Petrell

Pitkanen-Timonen
Lydman-Salo
Lepisto-Salmela
Niskala

Rinne-Rask-Kiprusoff


CZE

Michalek-Krejci-Vrbata
Hemsky-Elias-Hudler
Havlat-Plekanec-Fleischmann
Voracek-Hanzal-Erat
Rolinek

Kaberle-Kubina
Zidlicky-Z.Michalek
Kindl-Polak
Rozsival

Pavelec-Vokoun-Neuvirth


SVK

Nagy-Handzus-Gaborik
S.Ruzicka-Kopecky-Hossa
Svatos-Tatar-Radivojevic
Olvecky-Cibak-Panik
Bliznak

Chara-Visnovsky
Meszaros-Sekera
Kudroc-Jurcina
Valabik

Halak-Budaj-Krizan

 

[Muuri]

Already about million threads about this...

Your version of Finnish team is OK, but there few things wrong here. Olli Jokinen is retired from the national team and you projected roster lacks good shutdown fourth line which usually have been one of Finland's strengths in the international tournaments.

 

[WayneBruce]

SWE

Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson
Zetterberg-Backstrom-Landeskog
Franzen-Berglund-Paajarvi
Backlund-F.Forsberg-Hornqvist
Omark

Edler-Karlsson
Enstrom-Kronwall
Hedman-A.Larsson
Rundblad

Lundqvist-Markstrom-Gustavsson

Paajarvi, Backlund, Forsberg and Omark are longshots and have a lot to prove before they make the team. I would also put OEL on the team and skip Rundblad. Alex Steen is a lock imo and Tony Mårtensson who is one of the best centers in the KHL could also be there. Marcus Johansson and Viktor Stalberg also have good chances. My personal joker is Jakob Silfverberg, I think he could be great by that time. A lot can happen in 2 years though so we´ll see.

 

[amnesiac]

Already about million threads about this...

Your version of Finnish team is OK, but there few things wrong here. Olli Jokinen is retired from the national team and you projected roster lacks good shutdown fourth line which usually have been one of Finland's strengths in the international tournaments.

Finnish shutdown men? Like???

Jarkko?

 

[Muuri]

Finnish shutdown men? Like???

Jarkko?

Jarkko Ruutu? Yeah he could work but I'm thinking he will be too old in 2014. Something like Petrell-Nokelainen-Komarov as a fourth line would be my guess.

 

[vorky]

CZE

Michalek-Krejci-Hemsky
Havlat-Plekanec-Fleischmann
Voracek-Hanzal-Erat
Vrbata-Elias-Hudler
Frolik

Kaberle-Kubina
Zidlicky-Z.Michalek
Kindl-Polak
Rozsival

Pavelec-Vokoun-Neuvirth

czech roster without Rolinek? nonsense

 

[tikkanen5rings*]

there is no way Jalonen takes Leino. He hates that type of players.

 

[tuozzi]

there is no way Jalonen takes Leino. He hates that type of players.

This. Also, I bet Granlund won't be our only prospect to make the team by then. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we'll see 18yo Barkov in Sochi.

 

[Muuri]

there is no way Jalonen takes Leino. He hates that type of players.

?

Leino was one of the key players for Jalonen's team HPK when they won the Finnish championships back in 2006. If Leino is doing well come 2014 (and Jalonen is still the coach), he will make it to the team.

 

[FiLe]

If Leino is doing well come 2014 (and Jalonen is still the coach), he will make it to the team.

We'll be wiser in a few months I suppose. With the way Buffalo is doing, Leino will likely be available for WHC. If he gets picked there and does well, he's taken huge strides towards the olympic team as well, Jalonen or no Jalonen as a coach.

 

[afrobomber11]

czech roster without Rolinek? nonsense

looking at the posters picks, i really believe there is a limited concept of some of the khl players

what about a guy like blatak on d as well?

 

[RealHartTrophy01*]

Original Poster forgot Switzerland - Who beat Canada in 2006 and shootout in 2010. They finished in 8th Behind the Czechs.

Top 8 is really a top 8 now

 

[dan1el]

Take out Benn and give me Duchene for Canada
Drop Shattenkirk for Byfuglien for the Americans.
I doubt Paajarvi or Rundblad makes it for Sweden.

I say Sweden takes the Gold, Canada Silver and Russia Bronze. I love Canada but history has proven that we are not as good on the big ice.

 

[coursy17]

Original Poster forgot Switzerland - Who beat Canada in 2006 and shootout in 2010. They finished in 8th Behind the Czechs.

Top 8 is really a top 8 now

I agree that you could call it a top 8. Swiss finished 6th in 06 ahead of canada and usa. and even at the junior level they have had recent upset of russia in 2010. and this year they took sweden to a shootout so i think its safe to say they are a top 8 as long as they consistently keep making some noise

 

[rypper]

You're kidding yourself if you don't think roberto luongo will be one of the three goalies going. The starting job will be his to lose, like it or not that's how it works in the olympics.

 

[Tomas W]

Paajarvi, Backlund, Forsberg and Omark are longshots and have a lot to prove before they make the team. I would also put OEL on the team and skip Rundblad. Alex Steen is a lock imo and Tony Mårtensson who is one of the best centers in the KHL could also be there. Marcus Johansson and Viktor Stalberg also have good chances. My personal joker is Jakob Silfverberg, I think he could be great by that time. A lot can happen in 2 years though so we´ll see.

Yeah, Silfverberg have a bigger shot on the team right now than Paajarvi, Forsberg and Omark at least, maybe also Backlund.

 

[joe89]

Paajarvi could be a good weapon though on big ice with his speed, if he gets back on track. He has been really good in the World Champs twice, both on big ice. He's really been amazing in any International competition to date, 108 points in 105 games! I don't see that many locks on the forward side outside of the Sedins, Backstrom, Zetterberg, Franzen and Eriksson. Landeskog would be the next obvious name, but after that we'll have to look at who's hot and who's not. I have a feeling an entire European league line could be possible.

 

[pouskin74*]

Take out Benn and give me Duchene for Canada
Drop Shattenkirk for Byfuglien for the Americans.
I doubt Paajarvi or Rundblad makes it for Sweden.

I say Sweden takes the Gold, Canada Silver and Russia Bronze. I love Canada but history has proven that we are not as good on the big ice.

out of medals

 

[ToBBa]

Finland

Armia - M Koivu - Granlund
T Ruutu - Filppula - J Jokinen
Korpikoski - Barkov - Leino
Komarov - Salomäki - Bergenheim
Hartikainen

Timonen - Pitkänen
Lydman - Vatanen
Niskala - Hakanpää

Rask/Rinne

As you can see, I have huge trust on our prospects.

 

[espo*]

We win the important medals though................Gold.

you know, that medal Russia can't win despite telling everyone how great they are.

out of medals

 

[Natey]

Korneev not on Russia is a joke.

 

[mbowman]

thing to remember about russia is that they like to have a mix of NHL and KHL players. On the 2010 team I believe they went for almost a 50/50 split. Not sure that'll be the case this time, as I don't closely follow Russian hockey, but that team Russia is almost all NHL'ers.

Also, this might just be the leafs fan in me, but to not include phaneuf in the list of "maybes" seems unrealistic. there's a very real possibility that he picks up his play in the next year or two, and when he's on his game, he's just as good as lots of those guys you mentioned. though his game may not translate so well to the larger ice surface

 

[David Suzuki]

Pretty sure Patches will make the US and Emelin will make Russia.