As Hockey Canada is announcing its Olympic roster today, here is my lineup for a best on best Olympics, if such a thing was happening:
Marchand Crosby Bergeron
Benn McDavid Seguin
Hall Tavares Stamkos
Giroux O’Reilly MacKinnon
Toews, Stone
Vlasic Doughty
Rielly Pietrangelo
Giordano Subban
Burns, Hamilton
Price
Crawford
Holtby
Keep in mind that this is what I would want, not what I think that Hockey Canada would do. I think that Hockey Canada would include Getzlaf and Keith, at the very least, since Hockey Canada tends to be conservative. Regarding injury, I am considering Scheifele, Weber, Carter and Schwartz injured. I would seriously consider each of them if healthy, with Scheifele as a lock. I seriously considered Couture, Couturier and Keith for the team.
Regarding the forwards, I would use them the same way that Babcock did in 2014, with even strength minutes pretty evenly distributed. The first line would actually be used in more defensive situations as Marchand Crosby Bergeron has all the necessary pieces to succeed and dominate possession against any line. If an elite line already works, just use it. The second line has two players who have played a lot together in the NHL plus McDavid. McDavid is a bit of a disappointment this year, but a fair amount of that has to do with how putrid the Oilers are. I still suspect that he generates offence more than any other player. Benn gives him a better version of Draisaitl and Seguin is a speedy scorer to complement him. I would use this line against easier competition if possible. The third line is another pure offence line. Tavares has probably been the best Canadian player in the NHL this year. Hall makes the team as a strong play driver on this line and with a bit of a more refined two way game. Stamkos I am not overly high on, as I think he has been overrated this year due to playing with Kucherov and getting some easy points that way, but he is still good enough to make the team in a supporting role. It would be ideal if he could go back into sniper mode. The fourth line is a bit of a surprise. Giroux has been surprisingly strong at LW this year, while MacKinnon has really had a breakout this year and is a lock for the team. It's a nice luxury to have two guys tied for second in NHL scoring on the fourth line. O'Reilly is a bit of a surprise but I think that he is the best fit here. O'Reilly is a very good defensive player who can be used against top end forwards on other teams. O'Reilly is also a proven commodity internationally and has had quite a few impressive performances for Canada. He has also successfully played with Giroux on a dominant line for Canada at the 2015 IIHF WC and at times with macKinnon in Colorado. Another important factor is that O'Reilly can slide over to LW. I would have O'Reilly deployed as centre and he would take on the centre's defensive responsibilities, but in the offensive zone I would have Giroux take on more of the centre role and paly with more freedom with O'Reilly taking on more of the LW role. Both players are smart enough to pull this off. Toews makes it as thirteenth forward. He's just been okay this year, but he always plays well internationally and is a safe option if a centre isn't working out. Stone makes it as the forward in the press box because he is having a strong year and brings a different RW element than any of the forwards on the roster. I like the versatility of this forward group, with each line having RH and LH centre options, and each line either has a natural winger or at least a player with years of experience playing wing in the NHL. I am also a bit surprised at how strong Canada is at LW. Canada is always the strongest country at centre, but right now no country is better at LW. The team would rely on Bergeron and Marchand, O'Reilly and Giroux, Toews and Benn as PKers. PP could sort itself out.
Vlasic and Doughty is an obvious pairing. Vlasic isn't having a great year this year but still plays a defensive game very suited to international hockey. Doughty is having a very good year and can handle top minutes. Pirtrangelo and Subban are also having good years and can carry their pairings. I don't like Canada's LHD this year, as it looks like the only hole in the roster in terms of skaters. Rielly makes the team as he is having a good year and is a strong skater. It helps that Babcock is the likely candidate to coach the team and Rielly is at least familiar with him. Ideally I would want a bit better but I don't see who there is. Giordano is consistently good, but I have some questions about him internationally. Beggars can't be choosers though. As Subban will be required to carry the puck on this pair, Giordano serves as a babysitter if needed. Burns makes the team purely as an offensive weapon. I wouldn't want him playing regular minutes in most situations. If Canada was down a goal in the third however I would want Burns taking shifts. Hamilton makes the team in the press box because someone has to and he is at least good and young.
