IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Keith - Doughty
Letang - Weber
Staal - Pietrangelo
Myers
I don't have Niedermayer (retired), Pronger (age/mobility of big ice), Boyle (age/performance drop-off) and Seabrook (anticipated performance drop-off) returning from the 2010 team.
Keith and Doughty return from 2010, where they were a really good pairing for us. I'm making the presumption that both guys return to near-2010 form, which may be a bit much to ask from Keith as that appears to be a career-year for him, but Doughty is still young enough to bounce back.
On the 2nd pairing I have Letang playing his off-hand (I think he's the most skilled to move to the opposite side), but essentially I want Weber paired-up with a quicker, puck-moving defenceman - the Niedermayer-Weber combination worked well for us in the medal round in 2010. Of all
Staal is perhaps our only other elite LH defenceman, so I don't want to say that he gets this spot by default because I believe he'll be an elite shut-down d-man by that point, but overall I like the Staal-Pietrangelo/Myers fit as they'll bring enough mobility and puck-moving ability on the big ice surface. Of course, other guys like Seabrook, Green, Girardi, Burns, Hamhuis, Subban could challenge for a spot. This time four years ago Doughty wasn't even on our radar for an Olympic team roster spot (well at least he wasn't on mine)
It's too early as dman's careers can ebb and flow between now and then, even look at Doughty the last 2 years, we used to think he was going to be Ray Bourque 2.0 and he has had some struggles.
Definately Canada has to remember 2006 when they put too slow of a team on the big ice, basically they iced the same team that won the World Cup in 2004 which was on a smaller ice surface. Canada has to pick a fast, highly skilled team to send to Sochi.
Wow have people even bothered to watch Seabrook this season? And he plays with Leddy, not Keith so saying that Keith is going therefore Seabrook will isn't even valid. Subban's been much better this year, trust me. One of Myers or Subban are going before Keith, book it.
It's too early as dman's careers can ebb and flow between now and then, even look at Doughty the last 2 years, we used to think he was going to be Ray Bourque 2.0 and he has had some struggles.
Definately Canada has to remember 2006 when they put too slow of a team on the big ice, basically they iced the same team that won the World Cup in 2004 which was on a smaller ice surface. Canada has to pick a fast, highly skilled team to send to Sochi.
That's all true, but keep in mind that we were missing Niedermayer in 2006; you can't overestimate how huge of a loss that was for us. Plus, Pronger was hurt. I mean, they brought along Boyle on the taxi squad, but chose not to dress him, which was a mistake IMO. But yeah, I agree overall - we can't bring guys like Regehr and McCabe this time around.
People are really suggesting Pronger? Nevermind that he might be retired, but he would be useless on the big ice and he was Canada's worst player at the 2010 Olympics anyway.
People are really suggesting Pronger? Nevermind that he might be retired, but he would be useless on the big ice and he was Canada's worst player at the 2010 Olympics anyway.
He and Niedermayer were both pretty terrible in the round-robin, but both turned it around and were arguably our best two d-men in the medal round. So, yes, inconsistent over the course of the tournament, but played his best hockey when it mattered. Still, he'll be too old by the time 2014 rolls around anyway.
No Staal, Seabrook, or Girardi's (and you can say the same for Tyler Myers but he's just being used in a shutdown role this season, he's capable of picking up the offense again).
Wow have people even bothered to watch Seabrook this season? And he plays with Leddy, not Keith so saying that Keith is going therefore Seabrook will isn't even valid. Subban's been much better this year, trust me. One of Myers or Subban are going before Keith, book it.
Seabrook has been our best defenseman this year (not a ringing endorsement I know), he will very much be in the conversation for Team Canada in 2014
People are really suggesting Pronger? Nevermind that he might be retired, but he would be useless on the big ice and he was Canada's worst player at the 2010 Olympics anyway.
If you think 2010 was bad rewatch the 2006 olympics, Pronger was horrid on the big ice, he was forced to take stupid penalties because he couldn't keep up.
lol you beat me to it. you know it is coming though; that one leafs fan has just finished his homeschooling with his mom and will see this thread and then.... PHANEUF
People are really suggesting Pronger? Nevermind that he might be retired, but he would be useless on the big ice and he was Canada's worst player at the 2010 Olympics anyway.
