International TournamentsDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
If there was a Canada cup right now, what would Canada look like?
*Not playing his actual position
This is, as said above, how players are playing right now. I'm sure Getzlaf and Perry will pick it up, but they are sucking ATM.
I also want to know about what people would think about Sweden, Finland, Russia etc.
Hockey Canada probably wouldn't make many changes to the 2010 team, assuming any World/Canada Cup would be played on the smaller ice surface. The 2010 lineup, with projected returnees for a 2012 post-season Canada Cup bolded:
E. Staal - Crosby - Iginla
Morrow - Getzlaf - Perry M. Richards - Toews - Nash Marleau - Thornton - Heatley Bergeron
Keith - Doughty
Niedermayer - Weber Pronger - Boyle Seabrook
Brodeur
Luongo Fleury
So, in goal, I could see Luongo replaced by Price. Price/Fleury would contend for the #1 spot going in, with Brodeur the reliable, experienced backup. Certainly not an optimal goaltending situation, but...
Price/Fleury
Brodeur
Fleury/Price
On defense, Niedermayer is probably irreplaceable. Kris Letang is the easy (and probably obvious) choice to fill one of the open spots. The other will probably go to one of the youngsters like Pietrangelo or Myers. However, Phaneuf may get a long look too given his strong start this year and the fact that he's a LH shot, which we're unfortunately short on.
Keith - Seabrook Pronger - Doughty Weber - Letang Pietrangelo
Up front, I project Staal, Iggy, Morrow, and Heater to be out. Stamkos and Giroux are the obvious replacements (both RH shots). After that, there's a whole host of talented young forwards like Hall, Skinner, Seguin, Duchene, Carter, Tavares, Benn, Nugent-Hopkins, Eberle, and Neal. Not to mention guys like St. Louis and Lecavalier who are still playing at a high enough level to make this team. I struggled a bit with Thornton and Marleau, but they do enough on both ends of the ice and still have that chemistry, so I think they'll get another tap on the shoulder. Bergeron was excellent in the playoffs last year and has the requisite skill set to fill the 13th forward position IMO. The forwards could line up like this:
Ideally you'd like Crosby and Stammer (RH) to pair up and become our most explosive scoring threat, with a young power forward on the left wing to provide the muscle and corner work. Someone like Benn, Neal or maybe even Hall would work well there, with Neal perhaps having the inside track from playing with Sid in Pitt. Another option would be to have Stamkos playing on his off-wing (to better take advantage of his lethal one-timer) and move up Giroux or Bergeron to play a more defensively-responsible role.
The second line of Richards, Toews and Nash is obviously a carry-over from the '10 Olympics that will match up against our opponents' best line and also provide a scoring threat. They should be brought back as a complete line, at least at the start. The beauty of this line is that any of these guys could play on any of our four lines, and Nash can play both wings.
Getz and Perry are off to a slow-start, but I can't see Hockey Canada cutting them loose at this point in their careers. We saw in 2010 that they were dominant in the medal round of the tournament, but needed Morrow to jump-start them, so to speak. The goal is for this line to be simply nasty to play against, which is why I think someone like Hall or Benn would look good here.
Marleau-Thornton-Giroux would serve as a sort of "do-everything", 2-way line. Giroux would actually be a nice addition to this line, replacing the plodding Heatley and matching Marleau's speed pretty well. Bergeron is the ideal versatile 13th forward, as discussed earlier - he'll take defensive-zone faceoffs on the right side, kill penalties, and can slot in on any of the lines in case of injury or to provide a different look.
So, I'm leaving guys like Tavares, Duchene, Carter, Skinner, Seguin, RNH, and maybe even Hall on the bench. Obviously this will be an extremely tough team to crack, especially only 2 years after our gold medal win. Only a few of our forwards have dropped-off enough, with age, to warrant being replaced. Still, we all know Hockey Canada loves international experience and 2-way ability, which is why I think guys like Thornton, Marleau and Bergeron would be back for a 2012 Canada Cup. Things will change by 2014 of course, so more of our bright young stars will be in a position to crack the lineup by that point.
No to everyone in Bold. Really HATE anyone who is also Underlined. Hate your list buddy.
Is there a way to DOUBLE Underline Spezza, Lupul and Phaneuf???
Did not understand what I am saying.
This is based on Current play. Saying that Spezza, Lupul, Eberle, RNH and Phaneuf are not 3 of the best canadian forwards from the start of this year to right now is ridiculous.
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Loui Eriksson
Johan Franzén - Nicklas Backstrom - Henrik Zetterberg
Gabriel Landeskog - Patrik Berglund - Alexander Steen
Viktor Stalberg - Marcus Johansson - Patric Hornqvist
Niclas Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall
Alexander Edler - Erik Karlsson
Tobias Enstrom - Niklas Hjalmarsson
This is based on Current play. Saying that Spezza, Lupul, Eberle, RNH and Phaneuf are not 3 of the best canadian forwards from the start of this year to right now is ridiculous.
If that's what you want why don't you just go to NHL.COM and find the top 4 point getters for their position?
Eberle RNH and Lupul are off to great starts to the season. No doubt. Are playing great right now. Does that mean they are the best options for an all-star matchup? Nope. Not at all.
Look at WJC as an example. Young players routinely lead the CHL in points, yet fail to make the Canadian team because of the nature of the tournament. Putting up big numbers in the NHL doesn't guarentee that they'll matchup well for an all-star format tournament.
Anyone without Lupul and Phaneuf on Team Canada needs to reread the OP. It clearly states to pick a team based on current play.
Imagine the damage Lupul would create with Crosby, Toews, or Richards as his center? Don't forget the RW either. The way Lupul has played thus far would make him a lock.
Anyone without Lupul and Phaneuf on Team Canada needs to reread the OP. It clearly states to pick a team based on current play.
Imagine the damage Lupul would create with Crosby, Toews, or Richards as his center? Don't forget the RW either. The way Lupul has played thus far would make him a lock.
regardless of where he sits in the scoring race, I think most people agree that if the tournament was today, there are at least 13 forwards that would help Canada win more than Lupul.
There are also most likely 7 defenseman that would help Canada win more than Phaneuf.
Not sure if I completely understand the OP but I'll post Team Canada based ONLY on play this season. (Leaving off guys like Getzlaf, Perry, Iginla, and E.Staal, who haven't played well so far)
I agree that it is difficult to have a different team from Vancouver. Most of the roster is all set. Canada could field 2 teams and the 'B' squad would have the capability to beat the 'A' squad consistently.
The amount of young talent is absolutely nuts. WJC and WC performances would be a big factor if any of the young guys could grab a spot. Tavares and Eberle shoot right to the top of the list with the edge going to Tavares. He's been the leading scorer for Canada in the last two WC's and we've all seen what he did for Canada in the WJC's twice. He's shown that when he puts on that Maple Leaf jersey (not Toronto, sorry), he produces.
With that said, there are pretty much no open forward spots anyway. The absolute key for Canada is who replaces Niedermayer? That's the golden question.
HM's
Jordan Eberle, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards
Dion Phaneuf -- Alex Pietrangelo
Roberto Luongo
Im not joking about the Boston line. Seguin is so dynamic, I could see him killing the int'l game. Bergeron is a defensive beast, and if those two are there you gotta bring along the bull Marchand. And hes not just a throw in, hes very good on the PK
Evander Kane can really skate, he can score, he can hit, and hes a LW. Check
Giroux and Crosby has the potential for magic, and Nash always brings it.
On defence, just watch Girardi play and hes real good. Mobility wise he is fine. Letang in my eyes is the best defenceman in the league right now, and Campbell gets the call over Pietro because of PP skills.
If I was Steve Yzerman picking a team for an Olympics Games in Vancouver in Feb 2012, this would be my team: Giroux -- Crosby 'A' -- Nash 'C' Sharp -- Toews 'A' -- Perry Kane -- J. Staal -- Stamkos Marchand -- Bergeron -- Seguin Tavares Letang -- Weber 'A' Kieth -- Seabrook Girardi -- Doughty Campbell MAF Theodore Price
I like you picks minus Marchand (I worry he will do something stupid) and Taveres (I just can't see him on the big ice). I would add Lucic or Horton to your Bruin's line instead.
I like you picks minus Marchand (I worry he will do something stupid) and Taveres (I just can't see him on the big ice). I would add Lucic or Horton to your Bruin's line instead.
Im definitely bias because most of what I see is from Leaf games and I almost never watch the West, but from last playoffs, when I see Marchand I think of 3 things
1. I absolutely hate him. He is a tool, he is arrogent, and he thinks hes a pimp
2. The kid is a bulldozer. Its hard to think that hes only 5'9, plays like hes 6'1. He outworks people way bigger than him
3. He is soo good at the PK.
And I have always felt the need to have a guy on the edge. I do agree he can take some bad penalties, but I just hate him, and since im a Leaf fan, I think that means hes good
As for JT, my team was for small ice (I said Vancouver ) but I actually think hes just as effective on big ice. I know the Worlds shouldnt be too important on selecting a team, but if you watch him play on big ice, you will notice how well he finds open space
He is probably one of the best North American skaters at using the extra space along the boards to his advantage. He goes wide because he knows it gives him more room to dangle, more time to spot an open target.
I have always said that John could be worse on smaller ice because he doesnt have as many places to go when faster guys are approaching him
Im definitely bias because most of what I see is from Leaf games and I almost never watch the West, but from last playoffs, when I see Marchand I think of 3 things 1. I absolutely hate him. He is a tool, he is arrogent, and he thinks hes a pimp 2. The kid is a bulldozer. Its hard to think that hes only 5'9, plays like hes 6'1. He outworks people way bigger than him 3. He is soo good at the PK. And I have always felt the need to have a guy on the edge. I do agree he can take some bad penalties, but I just hate him, and since im a Leaf fan, I think that means hes good As for JT, my team was for small ice (I said Vancouver ) but I actually think hes just as effective on big ice. I know the Worlds shouldnt be too important on selecting a team, but if you watch him play on big ice, you will notice how well he finds open space He is probably one of the best North American skaters at using the extra space along the boards to his advantage. He goes wide because he knows it gives him more room to dangle, more time to spot an open target. I have always said that John could be worse on smaller ice because he doesnt have as many places to go when faster guys are approaching him
What about Skinner instead? Like I said, Marchand worries me. I remember the time he ALMOST cost us the WJR's.
) but I actually think hes just as effective on big ice. I know the Worlds shouldnt be too important on selecting a team, but if you watch him play on big ice, you will notice how well he finds open space
