OT: Predict 2014 Olympic Team Canada

[Royal Canuck]

Just to see what everyone thinks Yzerman will field for the upcoming Olympics in Socchi.

Here's what I got:

Sharp – Crosby – Nash
Toews – Stamkos – Perry
Tavares – Bergeron – Giroux
Lucic – Getzlaf – Staal
Neal

Weber – Doughty
Keith – Seabrook
Subban – Phaneuf
Pietrangelo

Luongo
Price
Crawford

What about you guys?

Click to read more...

 

[Wilch]

No Phaneuf.

 

[canuck4life16]

hamuis will make the team

 

[Royal Canuck]

I'm not sold on it, but I'd love for it to happen!

 

[Addison Rae]

Stamkos-Crosby-E.Staal
Hall-Tavares-Giroux
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Richards-Toews-Bergeron
St.Louis, Couture

Keith-Weber
Doughty-Pietrangelo
Hamhuis-Subban
Letang, Seabrook

Luongo
Price
Crawford

 

[BoHorvatFan]

Stamkos Crosby Giroux
Tavaras Toews Staal
Perry Getzlaf Nash
Richards Thornton Bergeron
Hall

Keith Pietralangalo
Doughty Weber
Letang Seabrook
Subban

Luongo
who cares


People really think Hamhuis will be ahead of Seabrook, lol really, a guy that plays more minutes and was on the team last time. Right homers.

 

[Virtanen2Horvat]

Stamkos - Crosby - Giroux
Nash - Toews - Staal
Hall - Tavares - Sharp
Perry - Getzlaf - Richards

Keith - Seabrook
Pietrangelo - Weber
Doughty - Subban
Letang

Luongo
Price
Crawford

I was so tempted to put Hamhuis with Weber but I feel like it will be Piet. I don't know this is kind of like a rough lineup I didn't put a lot of time into it.

 

[Pip]

Stamkos Crosby St Louis
Hall Tavares Giroux
Nash Toews Perry
J Staal Bergeron Couture
Getzlaf, Richards

Doughty Weber
Keith Pietrangelo
Hamhuis Subban
Letang Bouwmeester

Luongo
Crawford
Price

although Hamhuis may be more of a hope than an expectation.

 

[Addison Rae]

People really think Hamhuis will be ahead of Seabrook, lol really, a guy that plays more minutes and was on the team last time. Right homers.

Seabrook had a really rough regular season this year, I watched Chicago play numerous times last year and he was shaky at times. Seabrook played less minutes than Hamhuis this year so that's factually incorrect. Hamhuis also outscored Seabrook this year. The conception on the main board is Seabrook and Hamhuis are equal. You have to look at different variables Canada is very thin at LHD while loaded with RHD, with the tournament being played on international ice skating will also be a factor on team selection, Hamhuis blows Seabrook out of the water in that aspect. A really compelling argument could be made for taking Hamhuis over Seabrook.

 

[StringerBell]

Stamkos-Giroux-St Louis
Tavares-Crosby-E.Staal
Sharp-Toews-Bergeron
Nash-Getzlaf-Perry
Hall, M.Richards

Keith-Doughty
Hamhuis-Weber
Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
Subban, Letang

Luongo
Price
Smith

 

[Pip]

People really think Hamhuis will be ahead of Seabrook, lol really, a guy that plays more minutes and was on the team last time. Right homers.

Did you watch Seabrook this year? He was just dreadful.

I think Bouwmeester or Staal might have a chance over Seabrook or Hamhuis.

 

[Addison Rae]

Aren't teams allowed to carry 14F and 8D?

 

[StringerBell]

Aren't teams allowed to carry 14F and 8D?

Yeah, due to the travel. I think they only dress 13 and 7 though.

 

[Pip]

Aren't teams allowed to carry 14F and 8D?

yes.

 

[Addison Rae]

Yeah, due to the travel. I think they only dress 13 and 7 though.

yes.

Thanks for the confirmation. So numerous lineups with less player and thought I was wrong.

 

[Reverend Mayhem]

My ideal roster:

Nash-Crosby-Perry
Giroux-Stamkos-St. Louis
Eberle-Toews-Richards
Benn-Couture-Bergeron
Sharp, Tavares

Letang-Weber
Keith-Seabrook
Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo
Hamhuis, Doughty

Luongo
Price
Crawford

 

[PG Canuck]

Don't know why, but I have a gut feeling we don't see a Keith - Seabrook pairing.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

Stamkos Crosby St. Louis
Nash Tavares Giroux
Staal Toews Duchene
Bergeron Getzlaf Perry

Keith Pieterangelo
Hamhuis Weber
Jbo Doughty
Letang

Luongo

 

[BeardyCanuck03]

Don't know why, but I have a gut feeling we don't see a Keith - Seabrook pairing.

Well considering they got broken up in 2010 and Seabrook was the odd man out on the blueline in the medal round, I think that's a good possibility.

Weber, Keith, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Subban are my locks right now

That leaves 3 spots. With only Keith as being a left shot in the top 5. I think Letang makes it as the 7th, PP Specialist. So that leaves the 6th spot and the spare. To me it makes sense to go with a left shot safe defense first D for the 6th spot, so Alzner, Bouwmeester, Hamhuis, Staal and Vlasic all fit there. Bouwmeester and Hamhuis are the best skaters IMO so they would be the front runners. Remember Staal is still a question mark, he took that puck to the face last season. For the 8th spot, who ever isn't #6 among that group above and Seabrook would be my short list.

 

[PRNuck]

Don't know why, but I have a gut feeling we don't see a Keith - Seabrook pairing.

I have a gut feeling Seabrooks' jacket will be making the trip if he doesn't make the team

 

[arsmaster*]

Seabrook is a righty, and would be the 6th righty with only Keith to play the left side in most of these circumstances. I just don't see it happening.

I especially hate the lineups with him and Keith together, they tried that last time and Seabrook ended up stapled to the bench waving pom poms while other guys were playing big roles.

They need lefties and looking at the lineup, they need some defensive or at the very least two way guys.

Hamhuis has a better shot than the haters want to give him. Smooth skater, big ice experience, shut down defensman, calming presence (might be needed - see Letang and Subban).

 

[PRNuck]

Seabrook is a righty, and would be the 6th righty with only Keith to play the left side in most of these circumstances. I just don't see it happening.

I especially hate the lineups with him and Keith together, they tried that last time and Seabrook ended up stapled to the bench waving pom poms while other guys were playing big roles.

They need lefties and looking at the lineup, they need some defensive or at the very least two way guys.

Hamhuis has a better shot than the haters want to give him. Smooth skater, big ice experience, shut down defensman, calming presence (might be needed - see Letang and Subban).

Regarding Hamhuis, I wonder if there's any stock put in the fact that he's the likely starting goalie's #1 d-man? Can't underrate chemistry in a short tournament.

Please note, that is still no reason to consider Bieksa

 

[arsmaster*]

Regarding Hamhuis, I wonder if there's any stock put in the fact that he's the likely starting goalie's #1 d-man? Can't underrate chemistry in a short tournament.

Please note, that is still no reason to consider Bieksa

No, I don't think that will effect Hamhuis' chance. I hope they learned from bringing Keith-Seabrook last time that proven "chemistry" isn't better than having the best fits on the team.

That said, Seabrook isn't a bad player, if he was left handed I'd put him ahead of Hamhuis, but you can't bring 1 LH dmen to these things. Although, on big ice, I don't see handedness being as big of a factor as it would be on NHL sized rinks.

 

[GoalDeny]

Steven Stamkos – Sidney Crosby – John Tavares
Eric Staal – Claude Giroux – Martin St. Louis
Rick Nash – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Jonathan Toews – Patrice Bergeron – Logan Couture
Joe Thornton, Mike Richards

Alex Pietrangelo – Shea Weber
Duncan Keith – Drew Doughty
Dan Hamhuis – P.K. Subban
Kris Letang, Brent Seabrook

Roberto Luongo
Carey Price
Corey Crawford

 

[stromboner]

Here's what I'm thinking:

Forwards

Stamkos - Crosby - St. Louis
Nash - Getzlaf - Perry
Eberle - Tavares - Hall
E. Staal - Toews - Bergeron

Couture, Giroux as spares

The 3rd line here could easily be Couture-Tavares-Giroux depending on production and injuries (Eberle and Hall aren't exactly bullet proof). Couture could even supplant Nash depending on in-season production. The Getzlaf-Perry duo doesn't really need any added size, so their left winger will need to be a good scorer.
Guys like Kunitz, Ladd, Lucic aren't complete enough players to make this team, or particularly good skaters for the big ice surface. Marchand stands a decent chance as he would be a valuable penalty killer and has familiarity with Bergeron, but the coaching staff (minus Julien) might be concerned about his discipline, which would negate his PK ability. In any event, expect Toews and Bergeron to take most, if not all, 3rd period defensive zone face-offs late in close or important games. They will also be feature prominently on the PK.

Defensemen

Weber - Doughty
Keith - Subban
Bouwmeester - Pietrangelo

Hamhuis, Letang as spares

I put Doughty, Subban and Pietrangelo above Letang on the RH depth chart (Weber is above them all, but he's played the left side for Canada before and we're lacking on that side). So, unless the coaching staff is willing to risk Letang on his off side, I think he will be a spare. Bouwmeeter has an edge in that he will have familiarity playing with Pietrangelo on his natural side, which he didn't get to play on Calgary, and he has a lot of team Canada experience. I put Hamhuis as a spare LH above Marc Staal and Dion Phaneuf. Kieth and Subban should be an excellent, dynamic pairing. Both are Norris winners and excellent skaters with tons of offensive ability. Weber-Doughty are just two of the most complete, big-minute defenceman in the game... easy top pairing selection IMO.

Goalies

Luongo
Price
Crawford

Luongo gets the starter position if he plays like we all expect him to during the season. If he has one bad game, or possibly even a single bad goal (depends how short the leash is), during the group stage, Price will take his place forever. Just like what Luongo did to Brodeur.