IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
At this point I think any guesses would have to leave Crosby off the team for now. If he's this fragile right now I think there is zero chance the Pens let Crosby play.
The tournament is in two years. If, by that time, Crosby has yet to make a full recovery and is deemed too fragile to play Olympic hockey, my guess is he will have already retired from the NHL by then.
I'm not even an Oilers fan in any way whatsoever, but I have to agreed with the poster above who said Eberle will make the team. Eberle is 100% a lock already in my opinion.
I actually think Eberle-RNH-Hall might all make the team, simply because of the chemistry they will already have together. Plus, 2 more years to develop and you can already make an argument based on their results this season alone.
Not to mention they let Marleau/Thornton/Heatley on to 2010 team largely because of the same line in SJ.
Chemistry is a huge thing in these short tournaments.
All 3 of the EDM youth will make it. Eberle 100% though. Worst case scenario bench him the whole tournament. He only plays if you're down by a goal with less than 5 seconds left
Experience is a funny thing. The Kid Line in Edmonton will be great and will represent us for years, but I don't think they'll be ready come the 2014 Olympics. Remember, putting up points alone don't make you an Olympian. A lot more goes into it. If your looking for a line that will be ready, watch the Boston Bruins and perhaps the best two way line in the NHL:
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Tyler Seguin
This is the only line that I think stands a chance of making it as a unit. Performance in crucial scenarios are taken into account when selecting a team of this magnitude. With the potential development of Tyler Seguin and maybe the best two way player in the game right now in Bergy along with the tenacity and aggressiveness of Marchand this line as of right now, has a tremendous chance of representing us in 2014. By the time the Olympics roll around , I can see Seguin getting close to 80-90 points, and this is a team that will battle year in and year out for the Stanley Cup against the best in the world each and every night. This is the line everyone should be talking about, not the Kid Line who'll probably be ready for the 2018 games of if there's World Cup before then. I can see Hallzy or Ebs making this team as a separate addition on another line, but it totally depends on development and if they fit along with their possible role. Can you replace a player on that line? Sure you can but then who knows about the chemistry and whatnot. A lot can happen from now and then but if this line plays the balance of the next 2 years together it'll be very hard to leave this trio off!!!
Last edited by habsrule4eva3089: 01-04-2012 at 11:41 PM.
I'm American, and the one thing I've noticed about Canadian fans choice of defense is that they almost universally ignore that defenders might actually need to defend.
Kudos to you, sir, for bothering to realize that and picking the best ******* shutdown pair in the NHL for your third pairing. My god, I might actually root for Canada in the Olympics if they're smart enough to take Dan Girardi and Marc Staal along.
Cheers. The way I look at it is: If you've got Keith, Letang, Weber and Doughty, that's your PPQBs set in stone right there, not even counting putting a forward back there. And what we saw from the Canada/Russia WJC game is that the top players in the world are here... I wanna shut them down. I want guys that want to shut them down.
I don't think Pietrangelo and Myers will be making the team TBH, too young. I wouldn't want either one of them out there if you've got Ovechkin, Malkin and Kovalchuk breaking in, or Sedin, Sedin and Zetterberg.
However, you'd have to be a complete nitwit (present company excluded) to think that Canada would not choose Luongo. I mean, the guy did alright last time - didn't he?
I see our goaltending as Luongo, Fleury and either Price or Ward
I also wonder how you people are putting "no show" Joe in the line-up! I mean really, haven't we seen him do enough of nothing.
However, you'd have to be a complete nitwit (present company excluded) to think that Canada would not choose Luongo. I mean, the guy did alright last time - didn't he?
I see our goaltending as Luongo, Fleury and either Price or Ward
I also wonder how you people are putting "no show" Joe in the line-up! I mean really, haven't we seen him do enough of nothing.
Luongo will have to play well in the next couple years to get consideration. I would not say that he played well in the tournament. He played adequately, I would say overall Canada won that tournament in spite of their goaltending, not because of it.
Luongo will have to play well in the next couple years to get consideration. I would not say that he played well in the tournament. He played adequately, I would say overall Canada won that tournament in spite of their goaltending, not because of it.
Yes, of course you'd say that. Luongo sucks!, And Miller is, was and always will be better.
The reality is though Luongo, however, has proven that he is the top Canadian goaltender, won the gold last tourney and should be the starter. You don't honestly think that Canada would willingly send a team over to Russia with three goalies who have never played in the Olympics - do you?
Lu will get the same opportunity that Brodeur got.
Yes, of course you'd say that. Luongo sucks!, And Miller is, was and always will be better.
The reality is though Luongo, however, has proven that he is the top Canadian goaltender, won the gold last tourney and should be the starter. You don't honestly think that Canada would willingly send a team over to Russia with three goalies who have never played in the Olympics - do you?
Lu will get the same opportunity that Brodeur got.
Whats wrong with not having a goalie with experience? Broduers experience didn't help us in 2006 or in 2010, and Luongo barely hung on to the win in Vancouver.
I'd rather have the best goalie at the time (who very well may be Luongo), rather than picking a goalie on a mediocre game from 4 years in the past.
I'll give this a whirl even though we're two solid years away.
LW C RW
Giroux-Crosby-Stamkos
Tavares-Toews-Nash
Hall-Getzlaf-Perry
M.Richards-Bergeron-E. Staal
T. Seguin
I know Giroux is on his off wing, but I believe that top unit may be one of the most unstoppable Canada has ever put together. I see Bergeron taking the draws on the fourth line, then switching to LW with Staal. Hall is the best suited of the young Oilers IMO for a big ice tournament with his great speed. I`ve broken up the Richards-Toews-Nash 2010 unit because Toews has become such a dynamic player that I believe throwing the creative Tavares on his line would be magic. You`ve gotta believe Getz will eventually find his usual allstar form again, so Hall and Perry would be a big strong line that would be incredibly hard to contain (size + speed!). The fourth unit is as defensively sound and responsible as can be. All three were in Vancouver and can PK and play physical. I know E. Staal is struggling now but you`ll forget about that very soon. Seguin is my alternate, he can be put in just about any place in the lineup and contribute if need be.
Keith Doughty
Weber Letang
Staal Seabrook
Pietrangelo
Solid D-core. Staal and Seabrook are your shutdown guys. The top four are able to quarterback and chip in offensively on the PP and at even strength without being liabilities. Doughty will find his game again soon, he`s just too talented not to. Pietrangelo can learn the ropes from these guys.
Fleury
Price
Ward
Fleury starts as of now, he`s got more big game experience. But I would not mind at all if Carey Price was our starter (and I hate the Habs soooooo much). Ward is a safe choice as a third.
Captain- Crosby
Assistants- Nash, Weber
I`m also assuming that Crosby will be healthy, hopefully sooner rather than later . . .
I'll give this a whirl even though we're two solid years away.
LW C RW
Giroux-Crosby-Stamkos
Tavares-Toews-Nash
Hall-Getzlaf-Perry
M.Richards-Bergeron-E. Staal
T. Seguin
I know Giroux is on his off wing, but I believe that top unit may be one of the most unstoppable Canada has ever put together. I see Bergeron taking the draws on the fourth line, then switching to LW with Staal. Hall is the best suited of the young Oilers IMO for a big ice tournament with his great speed. I`ve broken up the Richards-Toews-Nash 2010 unit because Toews has become such a dynamic player that I believe throwing the creative Tavares on his line would be magic. You`ve gotta believe Getz will eventually find his usual allstar form again, so Hall and Perry would be a big strong line that would be incredibly hard to contain (size + speed!). The fourth unit is as defensively sound and responsible as can be. All three were in Vancouver and can PK and play physical. I know E. Staal is struggling now but you`ll forget about that very soon. Seguin is my alternate, he can be put in just about any place in the lineup and contribute if need be.
Keith Doughty
Weber Letang
Staal Seabrook
Pietrangelo
Solid D-core. Staal and Seabrook are your shutdown guys. The top four are able to quarterback and chip in offensively on the PP and at even strength without being liabilities. Doughty will find his game again soon, he`s just too talented not to. Pietrangelo can learn the ropes from these guys.
Fleury
Price
Ward
Fleury starts as of now, he`s got more big game experience. But I would not mind at all if Carey Price was our starter (and I hate the Habs soooooo much). Ward is a safe choice as a third.
Captain- Crosby
Assistants- Nash, Weber
I`m also assuming that Crosby will be healthy, hopefully sooner rather than later . . .
Best composition of a team that I've seen so far.
The only ones I question are Hall, I think he'll be hurt a lot, and I'd be more likely to put one of the other two Oilers youngsters on that team, Eberle or RNH. Seguin is also a maybe, not that I question his skill, just that he's young and so far unproven, but I think he is an awesome talent. I've never been a huge fan of Eric Staal, but he can be a big game player, so he'll probably be on the team.
Defense, all your players are really good, I just wonder if Staal and Seabrook make it. Also, I would say that Myers still has a shot, but otherwise those will be the primary group selected.
Ward, I don't know. I think the 3rd goalie will be whoever is hottest at the time. I think Ward is still riding that cup victory.
Giroux - Crosby - Stamkos
Nash - Toews - Perry
Hall - RNH - Eberle
Tavares - Bergeron - Richards
Line 1: Pure domination line, complete, amazing. They can set up the play, score the play, and just own. They are all pretty physical too.
Line 2: Pure scoring with a responsible center. This line may bleed goals, but I can see this line putting games out of reach once a lead has been established. Im not sure how well Perry will be able to skate 2 yrs from now on the big ice. If he fizzles out, I wouldnt mind moving Tavares to that line and putting seguin on the fourth line.
Line 3: The chemistry line. They will dominate with 2 years playing together -- kind of line Marleau Jumbo and Heatley. They will probably be the most basic of the lines and I actually see this line being the #1 PP unit. See, PP is all about chemistry and knowing how to run things and where your teammates will be. I think Stamkos and Weber will play the point while RNH QBs it (sorry Crosby).
Line 4: The shutdown, PK line. They'll play against Ovechkin and the Sedins. They know how to make others frustrated, and I'd like to see Seguin and Bergeron lead the way. They will probably score the least and see little to no PP time.
Defense
Weber - Keith
Phaneuf - Letang
Doughty - Pietrangelo
Campbell (mehhh IDK, he's having a good comeback year...) or M Staal
1. Standard, both amazing. Keith may drop down in the depth chart if his play slips.
2. I think this line has superstar written all over it. Phaneuf has come into his own with his defensive game, and someone said, we need defenders who...defend.
3. Mixed bag. I think they'll work well together...just a feeling
PP1: RNH - Hall - Eberle - Stamkos - Weber
PP2: Crosby - Perry - Giroux - Doughty - Keith/Phaneuf
PK1: Giroux - Bergeron
PK2: Toews - Richards
Goalies:
Fleury
Price
Luongo
HMs: Seguin, Spezza, Benn, Getzlaf, J. Staal, E. Staal, Seabrook
Canada is so good I am going to make two teams. Wouldn't it be great if they took out crappy teams like Latvia and/or Germany and let Canada see if they could meet in the finals. I think Canada's second best team would beat anyone else.
Team 1
Toews Crosby Stamkos
Nash Getzlaf Perry
Hall RNH Eberle
Giroux Bergeron Seguin
J. Staal
Keith Doughty
M.Staal Weber
Letang Subban
Dumba (oh yeah he is that good)
Fleury, Price, Luongo
Team 2
Skinner Tavares Neal
Duchene Spezza Carter
Lucic Couture E. Staal
Marchant M. Richards Couturier
Horton
Line 1. Talented and dominant.
Stamkos Crosby Giroulx
Line 2 Big. Physical.
Perry Getzlaf Nash
Line 3 Defensive and obviously offensive
Staal Toews M. Richards
Line 4 Youth. I know there is veteran guys out there however the way these three have played this season (before rnh's injury) they have been more productive then the veterans an the first 3 lines have a lot of olympic veterans on them. So i think these kids deserve a shot
Tavares RNH Eberle
-Skinner. Why not?
Defense
Weber Letang
Weber is arguably the best defenseman in the game today and letang has played well when he wasnt injured i believe they would compliment each other nicely
keith Seabrook
No reason to split these 2 up.
Pietrangelo M. Staal
I originally wanted to go with girardi and staal because they are probably the best shut down defense pairing in the NHL but a lot of people dont feel as if girardi will have a chance with this team and i have to imagine they are probably right
-Doughty.
Marc Andre Fleury. (Hopefully he doesn't have a 2004 world junior moment)
Carey Price. (If M.A.F does have a moment. Carey Price has to be the most psychologically tough goalie .. playing in mtl.)
Roberto Luongo. ( yes i do not like him. but he has won gold before and i have to imagine he'd still be a good goalie in 2014 and his veteran presence for the other two would be nice.) Tell me what you think!
really don't get why people continue to say "Luongo almost lost us the Gold".
I can't remember seeing Luongo let in any shots from the blueline or give up any 7 goal games, so why does everyone assume that he was so close to doing so?
). Ward is a safe choice as a third.
- RNH - Eberle
