TSN - Preliminary Team Canada Olympic Roster

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Yeah, definitely. Luongo and Scott Niedermayer too honestly. He had a brutal giveaway in OT that almost cost Canada the gold medal.

2002 was epic... the entire state of Canadian hockey was being questioned for years leading up to this. The choke job in the '96 World Cup of Hoceky, the total failure of '98 in Nagano and the emergence of the dominating Czech Rebublic had everyone wondering what was wrong with Canadian hockey.

2002 brought back a lot of pride for Canadian hockey and is one of the best moments for Canada on the international stage. The old timers can have their '72, but for me it's 2002.

It's certainly debatable though and anyone making boneheaded definite statements is a moron.

Yeah, more then just the Olympics, we hadn't won a gold in the WJC since 1997, there was some 8th place finish for Canada in one of the big tourneys, the total USA bias officiating in the 2002 women's game... that made things even more epic. Also I thought Iginla was more epic in that game, I can't remember which goal but he has 2 USA d-man on his back as he drove the net on (Sakic? Gagne's?) goal..... that was awesome. Great memories.

[powderjunkie]

Is one 'old guy' in St. Louis enough on this team? I suppose there was only pronger and niedermayer last time, but Marty doesn't strike me as a guy to look up to when times are tough.

Iggy played big in bth gold medal wins. He would also be the only skater on the team from both golds. With a team so loaded on talent, I wonder if having some experience and intangibles wouldn't be a bad thing...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Kaine

Ya, I can't really recall someone dropping so far so quickly. Granted he really has nobody to blame but himself with his performances the past couple of years.

Jim Carey?

[manilow78]

I watched how Nash responded to what was being asked of him in Vancouver. He probably had aspirations of being a star in Vancouver but then realized that the win was more important than his ego and played the best defensive hockey of his career. He belongs based on the fact that he (and Getzlaf) won Canada the gold medal. Crosby and Iginla get the highlighted goal that won the game but don't kid yourself. The three best forwards on the ice for Canada were Getzlaf, Nash and Toews.

Originally Posted by Poe969

Nash is so over rated it's funny. The guy has skill but I don't think I'd have him on the team, especially after how he's been playing. I guess it boils down to how he's doing at the time because it should be about "what have you done for me lately" over "what have you done in the past" The best players at the time need to be on the team, not the ones with a great past otherwise someone like Brad Richards would go over Giroux

[Ruttiger]

You know what's overrated? The term overrated.

And yes - Nash should be there based on past and recent performances.

[dustygoon]

Couture is going to be on that team. He does it all in that Bergeron, M Richards sense.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Couture is going to be on that team. He does it all in that Bergeron, M Richards sense.

Except he should really be playing for the Canucks... Team Canada should be a Flop-Free Zone

[Tinordi]

Did any of the people against Nash watch him at all last season? By far New York's best player.

[Canada 02]

Team Russia Preview
Awesome forwards, average blueline, solid goaltending

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677926

[Canada 02]

Team Czech Preview
Not a medal contender imo

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678233

[Canada 02]

Team Slovakia Preview
handful of great players, but lack depth

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678237

[The Yen Man]

Lol, remember when Darren Pang had Justin Shultz on his Canada Olympic team roster? What a goof.

[sevenarms]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Team Slovakia Preview
handful of great players, but lack depth

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678237

Ziggy Palffy, what a beauty!

[PeteLFan]

@reporterchris: Canada's Olympic coaching staff is official: Mike Babcock as head coach. Hitchcock, Ruff, Julien his assistants.

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Team Czech Preview
Not a medal contender imo

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=678233

I would say any of the 'big 6' are medal contenders. Though the Czechs likely dont have a shot at gold, they have decent forwards and goaltending and could win silver or bronze depending how the medal round lines up.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Magnum PEI

I would say any of the 'big 6' are medal contenders. Though the Czechs likely dont have a shot at gold, they have decent forwards and goaltending and could win silver or bronze depending how the medal round lines up.

Yeah comparing Czech to Russia, I'm not sure Russia is that far ahead. They have some high skilled guys for sure, but it drops of pretty quick, and the need to include KHL players may be their downfall (although admittedly I don't know anything about KHL players, I'm of the opinion that they are generally of lower calibre than most NHL players).

I'm also surprised not to see Kuznetsov (sp?) on any list. Isn't he quite highly regarded?

[Canada 02]

Team Sweden Preview

Stacked team as good as any on the big ice. Great goalie; deep on the blueline, very good set of forwards

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...d=nhl:topheads