[19Yzerman19]

Here we go. Please note that, though ostensibly designated lines 1-4, these are in fact three first lines and a line I call the "Nightmare" line. Crosby's will no doubt see the most ice, but it'd be nice if they could all play quite a bit; these lines are designed to be rolled.

The point is to have one line whose general purpose is to match up against the opposition's best players, and at all other times be rolling three lines who are more or less equally lethal as offensive threats. This is the rationale for not having Stamkos out when Crosby is, except on the power play. For me, this is particularly important in a tournament where the biggest advantage Canada has is depth, especially on defense.

As I have said before, what I want from team Canada is never to feel like I'm waiting for the truly dangerous players to be on the ice - which happens all too often with HC teams. This lineup is designed to make that a reality. In other words, if you're the opposition coach, whatever defense pair you decide to put on the ice, they should never once be thinking "well, at least we don't have to deal with that other line". Instead, I want them thinking "wow, thank God we got through that shift, now who are they putting out nex- Oh, f%*@!"

I just want them all to hate life. Is that too much to ask? I think not. So with that in mind,

Tavares - Crosby - Giroux

Basically, this is the "Crosby" line, and given that whoever makes this team will be elite, it's sort of a "fill in the blanks" on his wings. However, given where others fit in on this lineup, I think the fill-ins turned out rather well. Giroux, after his slow start, has been carrying the Flyers to a playoff spot, and Tavares has been consistently elite for three seasons. The added bonus here is you have three guys who can not only create plays at the highest level, but can finish at the highest level, too. It's tough to know who's going to be taking the shot. The other bonus is Tavares shoots left and Giroux right.

But in any event, it's the "Crosby" line, there's no particular worry that it won't be productive.

Duchene - Stamkos - St. Louis

While this is the second line nominally, it might play the fewest total minutes, though given my team concept I hope that the ice time will be pretty well spread out. Whatever minutes this line gets, though, it should play them against the weakest competition possible, starting shifts against third and fourth lines and less-than-elite D men... and devour them. This line is absurdly fast, deadly in transition, and boasts maybe the best pure scorer in the world alongside the guy who routinely sets him up for 60ish goals. I love Duchene on international ice where he has more room to do what he does (guy is lights out below the face off dot), and I like St. Louis for his creativity and playmaking ability with wider passing lanes. Imagine having to play Volchenkov and some KHL'er against this line? Terrifying.

E. Staal - Getzlaf - Perry

I'm pretty sure Getzlaf and Perry is a line on everyone's team and it would be a pretty big shock for something like this not to happen. The LW on the line is up for debate, but I'm taking Eric Staal over Rick Nash based on his last 10 games - barring injury, as he's currently day to day. This line is an absolute freight train and should be asked to play a wrecking-ball style, which is exactly what the Ducks guys are good at. It's nice being able to have two of the top 10 scorers in the NHL on your 3rd first line, isn't it?

Benn - Toews - Bergeron

This is the one I call the "Nightmare" line, simply because it sounds so completely awful if you had to line up on the other side of it. The two best two-way centres in the NHL (except Datsyuk) along with Benn, whose entire style of play seems to be predicated on going right through everyone. I can't imagine a more horrendous situation for elite opposition to find themselves in that trying to score against these guys. They not only want it much more than you do, they have high scoring potential, too. This line exists to make people utterly miserable, and they're uniquely equipped for the task.

Thornton - Hall

Thornton is there because you don't leave a veteran centre who's scoring at a top 10 rate and can slot in on basically any of your lines at home. Ideally, any ice time he sees is either on Crosby's or Getzlaf's line as he fits quite nicely in either situation. Hall, meanwhile, is there as a gamebreaker who can fill in on that full-speed second line if changes need to be made, i.e. Duchene isn't working or something. Everyone hates the Oilers and he's pretty one dimensional, I know, but given his one dimension is "probably the best skating winger in the league" and it's a big ice surface I can't not bring him. He doesn't have to do it all, he just has to do his one thing.

Either way, he's an extra, so if you want to bring Marleau instead I'm not much fussed (Marleau could also substitute for E Staal on line 3 if Staal's not 100%).