Quinn Sets Team Canada Lines

[Big Mama*]

A look at the forward lines Team Canada men's hockey coach Pat Quinn and his staff put together for the opening game against Italy on Wednesday.

DRAPER-SAKIC-IGINLA

GAGNE-THORNTON-NASH

HEATLEY-LECAVALIER-ST. LOUIS

SMYTH-RICHARDS-BERTUZZI

*STAAL-*SPEZZA-DOAN


The process of putting lines together started with the coaches writing four sets of names on a blackboard: Nash-Thornton; Iginla-Sakic; Lecavalier-St. Louis; and Richards-Bertuzzi. Then came the job of finding a third player to line up with each of those pairings.

"We're still experimenting, but I was intrigued by the possibility of Richards and Bertuzzi playing together," Quinn said. "Richards is a real thinking player out there and Bertuzzi's a horse."

There is no question experience played a role here, especially in the first (three)," Quinn said. "Combinations that have succeeded in the past are important.

"Having said that, flexibility was a vital component to our success in Salt Lake and it will be the same here. We won't hesitate to switch things around."

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/2006/02/13/1440263-sun.html

Click to read more...

 

[EliCash]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/2006/02/13/1440263-sun.html

I will guess that at least 50% of the scoring will come from that second line.

 

[Gags1288]

Draper on the 1st line?

 

[Future_KLM_Pilot*]

I thought the Gagne-Sakic-Iginla line had the best chance of staying together (remember '02?)

 

[shawn_kemp*]

this is ridiculous. Team Canada is pushing it a little bit too much.

what are they trying to say? that Canada is actually so good that it doesn't need a single practice to set the lines? that's ridiculous.

couldn't they wait 2 more days?

 

[Gags1288]

What's Draper doing up there with Sakic and Iginla? I thought the Gagne-Sakic-Iginla line had the best chance of staying together (remember '02?)

The more I think about it, Draper being on that line makes a little bit more sense. They obviously want him to play a defensive role and let Sakic/Iginla work their magic as well as providing the speed that Gagne did to that line. They believe that Draper can play the role that Simon did in '02 and it will have the same type of success. My question is, why name Draper to the team if it isn't for the shutdown line?

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

I'd put Heatley on the first line, Richards on the 3rd with the other Tampa players, and Draper on the 4th.

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I'd switch Smyth and Draper.

 

[Wondercarrot]

Draper on the first line, great idea, i mean that's why they brought him right?
I thought if you brought role players the idea was to play them in that role.


Memo to Pat:

Try your best not to overthink, or better yet let someone else think for you. This is the same guy that feels Sundin is best served with scrub A on one side and scrub B on his other.

 

[Moosetache]

I'd put Heatley on the first line, Richards on the 3rd with the other Tampa players, and Draper on the 4th.

That doesnt make much sense putting two natural centers on one line. they dont normally play together anyway, I dont think you are gaining much.

 

[VanIslander]

I will guess that at least 50% of the scoring will come from that second line.

Let's hope it doesn't give up 60% of the goals against.

I'd love to see the defensive unit pairings.

Remember guys: this is for the Italy game! in other words, a practice game. It's by no means premature to have a tentative starting lines announced now.

 

[Borlag]

That doesnt make much sense putting two natural centers on one line. they dont normally play together anyway, I dont think you are gaining much.

The same thing could be said about Draper and Sakic also, both natural centers and they obviously don't play together normally.

I wouldn't count too much on these lines being used, the quoted bit did say that they're still experimenting. And I'd be willing to bet that once the tougher games start, Draper will be used to stop the opponents top scoring line.

 

[NFITO]

The lines I'd go with:

Gagne - Sakic - Iginla (has shown chemistry before)

Heatley - Thornton - Nash (Thornton and Nash have clicked and Heatley would be a good fit here IMO)

Richards - Lecavalier - Bertuzzi/St. Louis (play the RW that is playing the best at the time, while the other can come in and out of the lineup depending on how the 2 are playing)

Smyth - Draper - Doan (strong defensive and physical presense - use in all shutdown assignments).


I would keep Gagne though with Sakic and Iginla... and keep Thornton and Nash together... this team really has 3 #1 lines, and a top end physical line capable of shutting down the opposition.

Whatever the lines are though, I think we'll see lots of mixing and matching as they play through the tournament to see which trio has the best chemistry.

 

[Injektilo]

this is ridiculous. Team Canada is pushing it a little bit too much.

what are they trying to say? that Canada is actually so good that it doesn't need a single practice to set the lines? that's ridiculous.

couldn't they wait 2 more days?

I think you're reading into it a bit much. Team Italy will essentially be Canada's first practice. And they're not "trying to say" anything, just that these are the lines they'll probably go with. Anything else, you're just reading into.



As for my picks, I'd switch Draper and Gagne or Draper and Smyth.
The lack Mario and Yzerman really jumped out at me, it's like the team suddenly looks really fresh and new all of a sudden. I'm definitely glad Sakic is still around.

 

[Injektilo]

Let's hope it doesn't give up 60% of the goals against.

I think Thorton is decent enough in his own end to make up for any failings that Nash might have in that area. Nash is also better than he's been in years past, though this year he's definitely helped by playing with a former Selke winner.

 

[Ronald Pagan]

Quinn must be excited to coach a good team for once this year.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Seems a bit dd that St. Louis is playing with LeCavalier, since he plays with Richads in Tampa.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Seems a bit dd that St. Louis is playing with LeCavalier, since he plays with Richads in Tampa.

He plays with both from what I've seen. Everytime I tune in, Torterella has the lines switched up.

 

[The Kingslayer]

Bertuzzi-Thornton-Nash that would be scary.

 

[Cath]

Quinn must be excited to coach a good team for once this year.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Anksun]

DRAPER-SAKIC-IGINLA

GAGNE-THORNTON-NASH

HEATLEY-LECAVALIER-ST. LOUIS

SMYTH-RICHARDS-BERTUZZI
____________________________

Gagne-Sakic-Iginla
Heatley-Lecavalier-Nash
Doan-Thornton-Bertuzzi
Smyth-Richards-St-Louis

I would have like those lines but whatever...

 

[Metallian*]

Draper on the first line, great idea, i mean that's why they brought him right?
I thought if you brought role players the idea was to play them in that role

If you've watched the Leafs at all this year, Pat has no care for "common sense" when it comes for lines

I mean he's had Domi on the 1st line and the PP for a lot of the season.

The guys off his rocker...

 

[Metallian*]

Bertuzzi-Thornton-Nash that would be scary.

thats the line i was expecting

 

[Lecavilier_4]

Ummm... Why is Richards is a checking role? I know he is a good defensive forward... But I don't know... Maybe Team Canada knows something about line combos that we don't... but I don't like Draper on the top line at ALL

 

[pei fan]

Ummm... Why is Richards is a checking role? I know he is a good defensive forward... But I don't know... Maybe Team Canada knows something about line combos that we don't... but I don't like Draper on the top line at ALL

I'm not sure that's actually the order the lines will be and I don't think that it's final anyways. I'm pretty sure the Thorton Nash line will be the top line at least in the games where it matters.